Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-01-06

not rise from his seat, but began TO read
in 4 thick, iEdistinct voice from a book
hidden in his lap.
"&r. Bradley, will you please standup
when you read ?" asked Alice.
II kin read just as well settin' down."
replied the fellow. with dogged air.
But it is one of the rules in Il reading
cla,s to stand up 10 read said Alice, her
heart quaking with fear rs she foresaw
the incipient rebellion.
Il reckon you'll have to make a new
ralc for ME, then" impudently answered
Nose, giancing sideways st his compan-
ions with grin Of triumph.
IF you do not obey me | shall be
obliged to punish you, said Alice brave
ly, although she could scarcely stand up.
~ guess all the punishing You conld 'lo
wouldn't break any OF my bones" re;ort-
cd the rutfitn, leering at her impu Iently.
But | can break yOnr bones for you in
half minute, aud III do it too, If you
don't stand up and read as the teacher
asked you to-" said voice at the other
end of the class, and Alice looked in that
din ecIion and saw Jim Turner step from
the class and face the astonished Nose.
Moses insolent manner abated in an
instant, his face turned pale, and he NUT
tered something about not being "bossed
by other boys" but he stood up MS he was
commanded.
Alice could have kissed her young
champion for very gratitude, but she mus
tered all the dignity she could command
and said: MIR. Turner, can not allow
you to interfere in the management Of my
school; take your seat" The youth
obeyed her without word, but kept his
eye OH Nose, as if watching for amy de-
linquency. After this liltle episode the
exercise proceeded without interruption
till noon.
Alice had no appetite for dinner. She
leaned her throbbing head upon the desk
and wondered wearily how long she could
endure this.
She was aroused by one Of the little
girls rushing up to her aud exclaiming,
Teacher, teacher, the big boys ale fight
ing" She followed the child, cxclaim-
ing, "Oh, why did ever come into such
a den of wild beasts?'
At the rear of the school house stood
Jim Turner, engaged ia hand-to-hand
combat with Nose Bradley and his two
brothers, both of whom were grown. As
Alice stepped around the corner Jim sent
Nose reeling 10 the earth, and .hen turn
ed like lion upon his two remaining AS
sailants. They rushed at him from two
sides, but Jim was as active as panther,
and Bill Bradley fell as ii shot, from Il
left-handed blow, and his brother Tom
followed him in an instant. By this time
Nose had secured a ball bat and rushed
upon jim, but the latter evadel the blow,
wrenched the bat from his hand, and
Knocked Nose headlong with blow OF
his fist.
ed lightly and asked them chow they
liked it rs far rs they had got" picked dp
the bat he had wrenched from Nose aud
called out, Come Oh, boys, let's have
game of ball"
The combat ended so quickly that Alice
had no chance TO interfere, but she felt
that it would not 10 TO let this open vo-
latiOn of school rules pass unpunisIcd, so
she rang the bell. When the pupils were
assembled she called the culprits up TO the
desk, rnd asked what the fight was about
and who began it. The Bradleys stood
sullen aud silent, but Jim answered, II
would rather not tell what IL was about,
bull began ii by knocking Nose B.ndley
down." Alice knew the light was the
result Of Jim's espOusal Of her cause In
the reading class, aud her voice falIered
as she said: "Then shall have TO punish
you hold out your hanl."
Jim obeyed her instantly. She took mp
the ruler with trembling hand and began
tile punishment Jim's face never chang
ed muscle. The look upon II was one
of quiet obedience, In which there was no
trace either of bravado or sullenness. As
Alice inflicted the blows upoL the hand
so quietly held out to her the thought
rushed Upon her mind that she was smit-
ing tile only hand that had been raised 10
befriend her in all that lawlcss reign.
Her face grew deadly pale, her blows
fell falteringly, the tears began to run
down her cheeks, the ruler fell from her
hand, she sank into her seat, buried her
hands, aud burst into Storm OF sObs.
Then Jim's countenaDce changed. His
lip quivered, he dashed his hand across
his eyes to clear them from an unnatural
dimness, aud a grea, lump In his throat
seemed TO choke him. a rhuchle from
Nose Bradley recalled his self possession,
however, and he took a step or two tow
ards the latter with eyes that fairly blazed
with hot Indignation.
Nose rapidly retreated a step or two,
and his chuckle died an untimely death,
and for full minute silence reigned over
the school room. At last Alice raised her
head and in broken voice dismissed the
pupils TO the playground.
AS the children passed out she heard
some one say, 80 you got whipping
after all, Jim," and Jim's reply, "ies,
and I got enough to pass some OF IL around
If anybody Is anxious about It,"
At one O'Clock Alice rang the bell with
a feeling Of utter despair; but no school
ever moved more smoothly than did Ter
school that evening. Quiet obediebce,