St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-04-21

SAID WlJn smile
You will not object to waiting here
until this recitation is over"
As if one who had just come out of
the place of torment would object to
an hour of paradise and the company
of hOuris
She pointed me to a seat in front of
the desk of two girls and turned her
attention to her class. | watched the
recitation which was in progress for
some time, and was just becoming in
terested in some of the demonstra
tions accompanying it, when | became
aware that | was the subject of a whls-
pered conversation behind me. If any
ones ears ever burned, surely mine
did at the lively comments, only half
understood, of those merciless tor
mentors, as they bent over book and
slate and divided their attention about
equally between algebra and the new
disciple. A problem seemed to trouble
them. At length one said:
"Let's ask him to do it," | knew
she referred to me with nod or wink or
some sort of grimace.
sob, no ~ came the answer i'll Il
shocked whisper. Don't do that !"
VIII, Sdlu IHt HISl, WIN Sau'N
determination.
"Oh, don't Liza, don't" importuned
her companion.
Il will, | will, won't it be fun ~
"But perhaps he don't know how"
"Who cares? He ought to-"
"But Miss Bell will find it out"
"Bother Miss Bell I'll tell her |
did it just to entertain the stranger"
There was a smothered laugh.
"Oh, Liza Kane. You are the bold
est girl ever saw. Please don't now,
that's dear"
II will. Give me the slate. | am
going to write and ask him to do it for
us"
''Don't, don't. l am sure he don't
know"
''Oh, yes, he does. You never saw
such scrubby little fellow but he
thought he knew everything and was
glad of Il chance to show off"
felt the corner of the slate pushed
against my shoulder, but | paid no at
tentiOn to it. Again and again | was
logged but would not look around
How | hated that eliza Kane" as
heard her called. She should not
llldht game Ol me. vi lll6tl L W dS uO
termined. Punch came the slate i'll
my back and moved to the other end
of the seat, in front of the girl who did
not want me harried. 1t was of nc
use. | soon felt the slate upon the
other shoulder.
Miss Bell had been walking about
the room while this little episode haC
progressed and | had quite forgotten
her whereabouts, when all at once she
spoke just at my side.
"Have you ever studied algebra 2
eyes," | answered, in surprise.
'EMiss Kane,n she said, "is very dul
in her algebra and is very anxious thai
You should assist her. ! should bt
glad if you would do So"
There was a litter all about the
room. | knew it was meant as re-
proof to the froward girl, but 1t wa'
most embarrassing to me as well.
looked up at the great brown eyes o
the teacher and would have stood OF
my head if she had asked it.
''If cam" | stammered.
ooh, there's no doubt you can teacl
her if you ever opened an algebra
Sit over here, Miss Kane" she added
pointing to the seat beside me, ''an'
let him show you how to do your ex
amples while go on with the recita
ton" | shot a glance at the univer
sal grin which was flying from mOutl
to mouth about the room, as darl
merinO dress came draggingly into III,
field of vision and found a lOdgmen
on the extreme end of the seat | Occu
pied. | dared not look at the wearer'
face, but managed to articulate
"What is it ?' as | reached out m!
hand for the slate and book she held
took the slate and happening to turi
it over, read on the other side:
MISTER WHATs-YKRNAME:
Wouldn't You be kind enough to solve numbe
35-an awfully hard prOblem-fOr the very prett
est girl in Lee Academy. MATTE HILLYER.'
had Just glanced at it when, per
ceiving what | was doing, my sea
mate snatched the slate from me AM
rubbed ont the writing. | looked u
at her then and saw face all atiame
set in IA mass of clustering curls, G
that peculiar tint which may be calle
''redn in despite, or "auburn" in adu
lation, without either term being col
rect as a description. Above the mos
! DtlI vi lABS "hiN
ever tempted an anchOrite was tn
most delicate of noses with decide
upward tendency, which was garnist
ed, so to speak, with the most becOn
ing freckles from its base to its detiaL
+ tip.
"What can | show you ?' | aske,
! beginning to enjoy the fun.
"You can't show me anything" sh
whispered spitefully. 81 don't wal
+ any help"
'Iet me look at number thirty five
said, taking her book.
| soon worked the problem, edge
! myself little nearer the spiteful d
= vinity and showed her the solution
! under which l had written, "FOr I'll
very prettiest girl in Lee Academy
''YOu are real mean," she said, Gan
I so is Miss Bell. just did it to worl
); Matie.n
81 looked up and saw the soft bit
: eyes were just ready to fall. | reacl
ed over and rubbed out the offendiI
> sentence.
= "Never mind" | whispered 81 d
not mean anything. knew you we
:, only i'll fun, and so was |. Let II
I | nelp you 10 uIle Iesu. % lcll W uI
: on the other problems, and when Il
bell rang at the end of the hour | ha
! filled her slate with examples and r.
y u ceived a really pleasant "Thank yol
a and shy smile from the ripe lips.
" Before the winter was half over ii
= Academy, which had so dreaded, hi
become almost a paradise to me by re
F. son of my hot bOy-love for Eliza Kan
- There was something marvellous
. sweet i'll it. There are tunes we lear
T. ed together at the singing schO
- - which will set my eyes afOat when
hear them even yet. | have had Il
share of experience with the tend
.-..:.... IL l.n,h l.nrrI. n. 4.