Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-09-04


Won don't yet Il. why, them
s.Then Uncle Bill win Get me to plow-
| inc iii the Fall. Re said only this
morning he'd wasted enough money On
our schoolin', and you and De 70 SO @
work 70 earn our salt.
John took up the book and went e
the lesson with ! desperate energy while
Lou sat crying silently.
The children were orphans and lived
with their uncle. a farmer, 81 Mount
Craggy. He We wretc dly IKE
all the other mountaineers. and 49,, be-
side, coarse, hard naturcd man.
The school-bell rang.
Its coming now, " said John. as DC
got up and shut the book.
you're powerful on 'rithmetic, John
ny, mind that Jest you keep up,
eagerly whispered Lou, running along De-
side him.
The bows crowded into the hot
little school-room, and the girls, fOi-
lowed, excepting Lou, who hung BACK,
and finally went to the woodplle again.
She knew she should not be missed.
and she could not bear to hear Johns
examination.
The poor little girl had but one friend
in the world, her brother. She sat down,
her hands shaking as is in chill.
"He'll fail know he'll failp' she
said. looking up to the sky and talking
out loud.
81 can't stand It'll Oh, Heavenly
Father / can'tl'
AS with most Southern children,
{" Heavenly Father was very real to
Lou. Then she began to pray, fast and
hard, to this PARKWAY Friend In the sky
to help John.
uOh. dear, only get him over the
Latin, and them Vingians! He'll man
age the arithmetic himself
She sat there an hour or more, hearing
only droning voice now and then from
the open window.
! At last there was hush. Uncle Job
was going to give his decision. The
little negroes crowded up to the school
house steps.
Lou stood UP and threw her calico
sun-bonnet off her head. She did not
know what she did, She was sitting
with sudden, terrible heat. Her strained
eyes were on the door.
Presently she heard Uncle Jobs voice
in a few brief words. But she did not
catch them. They sounded to her like
g John has won-John FremOy."
Suddenly there was a cheer inside.
Then the negroes took it up.
bob Sevierl Cunnel Bob2 Hooray
for Boil"
Lou sat down. and covered her face
with her hands. Her brother came to
her in a moment.
ssGet up, and come along home" he
said roughly.
i She caught his arm and patted it.
Don't you mind it, johnny she
said. You kin do lots of things Bob
Sewer knows nothin' about" she cried,
fiercely.
s'No, Bob won it fair, /" he said, stur-
Oily. I'm Ounce; didn't deserve it;
that's the worst Of it."
His face was colorless, even to his
lips, but he showed his disappointment
in no other way.
Judge Peters came to the village the
next day, heard the report of the exam
ination, sent for Sewer, and promised
him the appointment.
He then went out to the farm which
he owned. near to Cabel Fremoy's, j ohn's
uncle. The boy crept over, toward
night, to catch glimpse of the great
man who might have made him happy
for life, but had not done it.
He hung miserably about the
place until evening, and then set out
homeward.
Coming to the edge of Craggv Creek,
just where it turned from the mountain,
he sat down on the bank, and put his
hot feet into the water. Tomorrow he
was to be set blowing with the negroes.
Its all yer fit for" his uncle said
ssYe'd chance for West Point, an We
didn't take it, So We ken kennel with the
darkeys for the rest of yer life. I'll
feed We no more.
John sat moodily flinging pebbles
into the water, until dusk came on, and
an owl began to boot.
Suddenly the boy stood up, trembling
with excitement, holding stone in his
hand up to the fast-fading light 1t
shone with brilliant luster, like a great
drop Of dew in the morning sun. As he
moved it, it flashed bloOd-red star in
his dirty palm. John had heard of the
ruby which had once been found in the
next gorge.
1T was worth thousands of dollars 70
he sobbed, rather than spoke. Il heard
Judge Peters tell my uncle there was a
corundum on his farm, and ruby is q
kind of corundum am rich for life .
He sat down breathless, carefully rub
bling the brilliant lump In his hand. as
Aladdin might have done his lamp.
What was West Point to this9 Money.
beautiful houses, glimpse of the world,
en- easy, happy life for himself and Lou.