Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-10
Gales ar,o Skfttbes.
Arxr KArE.s BIG BOT.
Continued from Yesterday

Inc kcDOidTS DT1SHteDeu WIFI cNptctd-
ton. Georges face was red with anger.
was wondering how it would end. when !
thought saw a way out OF the difficulty.
Closing my book. said:
The class is dismissed. Boys, 90 to
your places"
They went back to their desks. George
going with them. For an instant il SEEM
ed that was the victor. Then | knew.
and every pupil in the room knew ais
that hail been beaten A class of girls
came up for lesson in geography Me-
chemically went through the questions
and rose TO explain something on The map.
While my back was turned ! heard the
sound OF gigyling. Looking quickly
around saw that George Crates had pinn-
ed To black board The figure Of a tall thin
female, clipped from u picture paper. Cn-
der il was written. '.Our school-ma am. :"
Now | was thoroughly angry. must
either master the situation or dismiss the
sch1.l for the afternoon.
George Gales" | began in rapid.
angry tones, IL have horne with your an
n'ysnce as long as l propose to. am
perfectly aware that You came here with
The intention Of having some fun with The
tea, her You shall not succeed. You are
an rlSbitHt hiN t'' "
leave this Immediately. Never. while
am mistress. will You set foot in it again.
In nv excitement had rushed To the
door and thrown it wide open. The mo-
ment the word loafer dropped from my
lips regretted it. George started as if
he had been shot, took his hat, walked
toward me in his easy. careless way, his
face as white as death. and as he was pass
L. - SsatI
coolly. Thank you," and was gone. |
closed The door and went back to my place.
The scholars were amazed. A sharp tap
with the ruler brought them to their
senses, and sat down. quivering in every
nerve, but feeling that had conquered.
Now that The climax had passed four d
it no easy task to bring my mind back to
class duties. In vain tried to fix my at
teniion on book. 1t was useless. All
at once the room seemed to have grown
dull After little while my thoughts
went straying to my bani-hed pupil. How
ing that, perhaps, had gone too far, re-
solved to send George note
that evening, saying that l would
overlook what had occurred and
reinstate him. Never doubling that he
would come. wrote few kindly lines,
and when school was dismissed called one
of the boys and gave him my missive. wi h
instructions 10 deliver it. The next morn
ing my refractory pupil did not appear.
nor did my messenger. The hours glided
slowly past. In the afternoon II sister Of
the boy to whom had entrusted nv COM
mission handed me an envelope. It, was
addressed simply Miss Barkley." in
Georges handwriting. Here was the
We branch at las'. | qi ky tore it
apart when out fell my own note-un-
orened-no,hing more. NV first feeling
was one of bitter modification. Then
came another of intense sadness, for
saw that my big boy would return no
more. never knew until that moment
how much | liked him. Every time
looked at his vacant place pang shot
thro ugh my heart. The days wore on.
New pupils appeared. hut no one sat in
Georges seat. kept it sacred.
July dawned at last. and with it vaca-
tion. Glad was |. Occasionally, in ,he
quiet country street. saw George. but he
always Stunned me. though | longed tn
speak to HIM. August brought scorching
days. broke down, and for two weeks
was seriously i'll. The good-hearied
farmers wife with whom | boarded was
Kindness itself. One evening, she brought
me beautiful bouquet, left. so she said.
by one of my boys. II was arranged with
good deal of taste, and wondered who
the giver was. Another came the follow
ing week. Ten days later ! was able to
sit in an easy chair. On the first evening
of my beltered condition ! was propped
up by an open window. Twilight was be-
ginning to fall when child belonging to
the house entered my room with IA large
bunch Of lilies. She said they were from
one of my pupils. Feeling grateful Tor
the attention. told Ger to send the bov
up. She went below and heard her call
"Mister." Then there was some lite
parley. An instant later a step came slow
~ up the stairs and along the narrow pas
sage. There was knock at the open
door raised my eyes, and in the gather
ing dusk saw George Gates. For once in
my life l was tongue-ted. lie spoke
first
"Of COURSE" he said. "you did not sus-
pect who brought the flowers, or you
would not have asked to see me-"
My power of speech came back.
You arc right" answered. II had no
suspicion. but q kindness il the same no
matter whence il comes, and why should
| not be rs grateful to You rs to another ?
Will you believe me when ! say that
would rather have had the flowers come
from YOU than from any BODY else? 1t
shows we are To be friends again"
lie was standing at the window directly
opposite to me. lnoking out into the twi-
light, and playing norvously with his hat.
How old he seemed to have grown since
the day we last spoke.
Miss Barklev,'' he said. after n mo-
ment. IL don't deserve to be your friend
now, but some d ny may merit that pleas
ure. ! was anxious 10 see you. this even
ing, TO ak If you would try to forgive me
for what is past ?"
George" broke in. "sav no more
about it. The fault was perhaps rs much
mine as yours. I may have been too
hasiy. At all events we will E.rges what
has gone, and ia September l shall see
You hack in your old place"
No. he answered. Il cannot come
back"
And why moi ?"
liam going away" he said. Father
has procured u position for me with an old
friend of his in New York. and leave to-
To hs,a he ,,rx,h.ll,-