The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-19

I ions with grin of triumph.
 .'l Ii you do not obey me shall be obliged so punish you said Alice brave ly. though she could scareiy stand up.
 guess all the punishment you could do wouldn't break any of my bones," re- piled the ruffian. leering at her impu- denily.
 But can break your bones for you m half a minute, and I'll do if fl you don't staad up and read as the teacher asked you to- said a voice at the other end of the class, and Alice looked in that direction and saw Jim Turner step from the class and face the astonished Mose.
 Moses insolent manner abased in an instant, his face turned pale and he rant- tered something about not being bossed by other boys" but he stood up as he was commanded.
 Alice could have kissed her young champion for very gratitude, but she mustered all the dignity she could com mand and said:
 Mir. Turner, cannot allow you 10 in- terfere in the management Of my school l; take your seat.'
 The youth obeyed without word. but kept his eye on Nose, as if watching for any delinquency. After this little cpl soce the exercises proceeded without in- terrup,ion till noon.
 Alice had no appetite for dinner. She leaned her ,hrobbing head upon the desk and wondered wearily how long she could endure this.
 She was aroused by one of the little girls running up to her, exclaiming Teacher, teacher, the big boys are fight ing" She followed the child, exclaim- ing, oh. why did ever come into such den of wild beasts 2" At the rear of the school house stood Jim Turner en- gagged in 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 to the earth and then turned like a lion upon his two remaining assailants. They rushed at him from two sides, but Jim was as active as panther, and Bill Brad ley fell as if shot, from left-handed blow, and his brother Tom followed him in an instant, By this time Nose had secured ball-bat and rushed upon linn. bu, the latter evaded the blow, and wrenehing the bat from his hand knocked Nose headlong with blow of his fist.
 As the diseomhted trio arose linn laughed lightly and asked them "how they liked 1t as far as they had got" picked up the bat he had taken from Nose and called out. Come on. boys. let's have game Of ball
 The combat ended so quickly that Mice had TO chance to interfere, but she fel, that it would not do to ie, this open violation of school rules pass unpunished. :. so she rang the bell. When the pupils were assembled she called the oulprits up to the desk, and asked what the fight was about and who began it. The Brad leys stood sullen and silent, but Jim an sSered, '' would rather not tell what il was about, bu, began il by knocking Nose Bradley down." Alice knew the fight was the result of Jim's cspousal of her cause in the reading class, and her voice ialtered as she said Then shall have to punish you; hold out your hand.s
 Jim obeyed Ter instantly. She took up the ruler with trembling hand and began the punishment. Ilm's face never changed . muscle. The look upon II was one Of quiet obedience in which there was no trace of either bravado or sullenncss. As Alice inflicted the blows upon the hand 50 quietly held out to her. the thought rushed upon her mind iha, she was smi,ing the only hand that had been raised 10 befriend her in ,ha, law less region.
 Her face grew pale, the blows fell fal- ,eringly, the tears began 10 run down her cheeks, the ruler fell from her hand, she sank into her seat, buried her face in her hands. and ours, into a storm of sobs.
 Then lim's countenance changed. Ills lip quivered. he dashed his hand across his eyes 10 clear them of unnatural dim- ness and the great lump in his throat seemed 10 choke him. A chuckle from Nose Bradley recalled hls seli-posse ssion, however. and he took step or two to- ward the latter with eyes that fairly blazed with hot indignation.
 Nose rapidly re,reated step or two. and his ohuckle died an untimely death, and for full minute silence reigned over head and m broken voice dismissed the pupils 10 the play ground.
 As ihe children passed out she heard some say, '' So you got whipping after all. jim, and Iim's reply, ''Yes, and 1 got enough 10 pass some of it around II anybody is anxious about it."
 At one o'clock Alice rang the bell with feeling of utter despair but no school ever moved more smoothly than did her school that afternoon. Quiet obedience. study, good lessons and respectful a,ten- ton were universal. But Alice had de- termned 10 quit the school ; she felt as if she would rather be the poorest washer woman than to be bAdgered. pulled and tortured for months at a time by sei of brutal ruftians, whose parents employed her for the sole purpose of enduring this martyrdom.
 So when Alice locked the school house dsor that evening |; was with A mingled feeling of relief and humiliation that she started to offer her resignation to the d. recfors. As she lefs the school house she saw Jim Turner few yards ahead of her walking rapidly toward home. She called