South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-25

You understand, Bert said Miss
Benson at last, when she had gained
control of her voice, that il isn't Je.
cause want you TO GO. l had ho-
ped much for yon. But l cannot
have the others sroilel anl the dis.
cipline of the school broken. So take
yonr place i'll the middle OF the room
and when you 20 home'-
Miss Benson said bert. desperate.
~ dbl you ever know me to tell lie p
No
Then why shout YOU think would
tell one this time?' Bert had drawn
himself mp proudly agair.
The other times you knew YOU woull
only he punished hut this time you
knew you were ut tho en- of YOUR rope.
aud you remembered what threatened
las, time. Miss Benson. believe me
just this once. ] dhln'l set those rags
burning, and have not told lie, said
Bert. solemniy.
III badn't seen you comm out of
tue empty school.room just before, ami
u hadn't known there was no one else
in 49,
There was - said Bert, and could
have bitten his tongue oat The next in
stan'.
'Who.'
Bert looked at the copper toes again
in SILENCE.
This m rning,' Miss BENSON con,in-
ucd. when | asked If any OF The sch,l-
airs knew about this matter, they ali de /.
MED tut You. How did that haDpen?'
because Some one else lied,' saii Bert
10 himself, but lie only answered, -
illss henson, had no hing TO do
with IT. ! had Just been in The room
an instant to get my top out Of my desk
when YOU net me.'
Miss Benson leaned back aud looked
steadily at the boys earnest face. just
then she glanced at her watch. Ru-
ress time was up. She rang the bell.
You may take your seat, she sad W
Beet.
Bu. BeiL vent and st ,ol in the mid
die of the rUom. Miss benson put her
Elbows on the desk aul leaned her face
in her hands. When she rose, after
few M meLts. and looked upon the as
S, nhled scholars, she was very pale.
Boys she said, you remember that
tory IN the Bible about Christ raising
the widows sonf'
'les';n, cried chorus OF voices.
why did lie 10 tha:?'
cause he was Eor only son, an she
was & widua,' said orc Clear, steady
voice.
Cause she felt badly, an lie was
sorry for her. sail ano,i her.
do Jon know of any Que in this room
WI o Is the only son oil his mother, and
she is q widow
All eyes turned to Bert, WHO was
looking a. them ali, with blazing blue
eyes SIT in a white face.
'ies'm' they answered, with q little
pity lii their faces.
And can you rot imagine that moth.
&c wol!i feel great deal worse TO
have her boy disgraccd in all his future
lie !han to have him dic Z
fes'm. Only few'voiccs this time,
and eager, questioning faces.
Did you ever know Bert 10 tell an
unrrutht'
'Eo'mY cried every voice.
Bat IL looks as 1t he did this morn
iug?'
'Yes'mr 'Nomm! There was fair.
~ battle Of voices.
iou remember ] said that | saw lin
come out OF the room, ani that no one
else WAS Il erc!' .Yes'm.'
But nevertheless. Bert says he had
nothing To do with tue ca, enue pepper
Yesterday, Gni, boys, | BELIEVE uIM.
Now, Tor The sake OF that widowed mo.
thcr, l ask the real wrong .doer 10 &C
cusc himself and clear Bert
There was long silence.
III any boy here knows anything a.
bout this, let hil speak
Another silence.
Bert gave enc quick, bescccliiug, and
compelling glance at Hal Howard, vino
was white and nervous.
Miss Benson saw the glance.
For tho sake Of BerIs future life,
Tor The sake OF lis IT other she said,
looking straight at Hal.
Slowly, rs II under spell he could
not resist, Hal, rose to his feet.
You did il, lIal?' said tue teacher.
when she saw he could not sptuk.
He bowed bis head.
NV tell me all about it, before tac
whole school
Ill was behind tho do, when YOU
came ~ the room, All au'-as YOU
stood with your beck 10 ine aud spoke
to Bert. ] slipped out an game in with
The crowd
Did you know this, BerT
'lcs'n.' 'llow 2
saw bin slip out as vas ding
Out with my top; an as soon as the
sneezing began kne6 who had done H.
ANA you wouldn't have told even TO
save being expelled?'
No, m@aR, he answered, holding
up bis be q, proudly.
Tuere was Dreathlcss silence as Miss
Benson stepped t otn her platform and
walked over to Bert.
Bert, ask your forgiveness she
said, for even doubling your word.
lou are 40 honorable hoy.
Inen The tears rushed 10 BerCs eyes.
lie grasped Miss Benson's ba1j so
tightly that he hurt her. lilo made Que
Val 4 80 e..