Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-08-06
missed, and she could not bear to hear

hard, to tins far-away Friend in the sky
to help John.
"Oh, dear, only get him over
tho Latin, and them Vingians
He'll manage the arithmetic him
SELF
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 decisision. The
little negroes crowded up to the school
house steps.
Lou stood up and threw her calico
sun-bounet OIL 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 few brief words But she
did not catch them. They sounded to
her like John has won-John Ere
moy."
Suddenly there was cheer
inside. Then the negroes took
it up.
bob Sewer! Cunncl Bob Hooray
for Bob ~
Lou sat down and covered her face
with her hands Her brother came to
her in Il moment.
Get up, and come along home,' he
said roughly
She caught his arm and pat
ted it,
"Don't you mind it Johnny" she
said. "You kin do lots OF things Bob
Sewer knows nothin' about, " she cried,
iierccly.
mo, Bob won it fair" he said,
sturdly, "l'm Ounce; didn't do
serve 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 eX-
animation. sent for Sewer, and prom
iscd him the appointment.
He then went out to the farm which
he owned, near to Cabel Frcmoy's,
Johns uncle. The boy crept over, to-
ward night, to catch glimpse of the
grca: man who might have made him
happy for life, but had not done it.
He hung miscrably about the place
until evening, and then set on' home
ward.
Coming to the edge of C.aggy
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 plowing
with the negroes.
"It's all yer fit for his uncle said.
"Yc'd chance for West Point, an yo
didn't take it. So yer ken kennel with
the darkcys for the rest OF yer life.
I'll feed yer no more
John sat moOdlly ilnging pebbles
into tho water, until dusk came on,
and an owl began TO hUOt.
Suddenly the boy stood up, trembling
with excitement, holding n stone in his
hand up to the fast fading light. 1t
shono with brilliant lustcr like Il
great drop of dew in the morning sun.
As he moved it, it flashed Il blood
red star in his dirty palm. John had
heard of the ruby which had once
been found in the next gorge
at was worth thousands OF dol
larsh he sobbed, rather than spoke.
81 heard Judge Peters tell my uncle
there was a corundum ON his farm, and
a ruby is kind of cOrundum. | am
rich for life"
lie sat down brcathcsS, carefully
rubbing the brilliant lump in his hand,
as Aladdin might have done his lamp.
What was West Point to this? Money,
beautiful houses, glimpse of the
world, an easy, happy life for himself
and Lou.
Poor Lou! | was so cross to her
to-day! I'll 80 and tell her"
Then he stopped as if some one had
struck him. The ruby was not his; he
was on Judge Peters land.
The boy sat down again, and for one
whole hour the tcmptcr strovo with
him. If there was one quality strong
and dominant in John FremOy, it was
his honesty; but this was temptation
such as seldom comes in the way OF
any man.
The next morning Judge Peters was
mounting his horse TO 20 into the vii
lage, when boy came across the
yard. He walked quickly as If driven
by some force from behind.
The Judge waited, ono foot in the
stirrup. As long as John Fremoy
lived, he remembered, like a sudden
terrible picture, the glaring light of
the little muddy yard, the starring
negro boy holding the horse, and
portly, kind-looking old man awaiting
his approach.
When John reached the judge, h,
stopped and was silent. He had hi
little speech all ready, but his tongue
was stiff and his throat parchcl.
"Well, my boy, what is itP" asked
the Judge kindly.
John thrust out his hand.
"a ruby, sir. l's worth grea
many thousand dollars. found it oI
your land"
Judge Peters took the stone and eX
amined it eagerly; then he turned t.
John, and looked at him as curiously
{ "Why didn't you keepit, if its wortl
SO much?"
~ had mind to, but it's yours"
He turned away.
Stopped my boy! Who are youP'
John Fremoy, sir"
"0hol Uncle Job spoke of you t,
me. You are uncommonly quick a
figures, ehP"
"lf | am, I'm Ounce at everythin,
else. If had not been l might hav,
gone to West Point"
"Yes," looking very thoughtfully q
John. "Very well, Fremoy, I'm very
much pleased with your honesty
Good morningp' And the Judge rod,
abruptly away.
He rode directly to Uncle job
house and was closeted with him TO
an hour. The next day the village
was electrified by hearing that Judg,
Peters was going to take John Ere
moy to Annapolis to pass an examina
tion in the engineers department o
tho Naval Academy, and that Lo,
was to be put to school in Raleigh BY
tho same kind friend.
John Fremoy is now middle-aget
man, ranking high IN his profession.
He met Judge Peters about yea
ago, at his sisters house, for Lou mar
ried planter IN Virginia, and is I
happy wife and mother.
II have often wondered, judge" h
said, "why you hefriended me as yol
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