Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-06-25

tried to be encouraging. The hour
passed s~lowly-very slowly, but it was
at last.
You may 60" said Baroko. ..Miss
will you stay a moment?"
One or two of the girls cast svmpa-
thetic glances at Molly as they went
out. Alicia wore exactly the look of
mingled hatred for sin and pity for the
sinner which was appropriate under the
circumstances. The professor saw her
expression, and it did the culprit very
good service. AS for Molly, she re-
manned alone, feeling a little stubborn.
utterly determined not to break down.
however exquisite might be the torture;
and sarcasm always narrowed her feel
ings most deeply. How could she have
cried for that odious man? Why did he
not speak, 1t was another method of
torture. The professor spoke:
81 think you are not quite equal at
present, Miss Drummond, to the work
of the class" He paused.
"No, indeed, l am not" said Molly
proudly. 'Thank you, l will not re-
turn to it."
The professor smiled, in spite of him.
self, at the idea that any OF his pupils
should adopt a tragedy TO smooth the
satire out Of his voice.
"4ou misunderstood me. I think all
you need is a little help at the Begin
ming. 'Ce most que lie premier pas aui
coute,' you know, Miss Drummond.
(Does she know? he wandered men
tally.) Your natural faculty is quite
equal, | think, to that of any of the pu-
pills. but rs yet you have not chosen to
apply yourself to the subject. But if
you will come to my DON once or
twice we will just run over the old
ground together; and you will soon be
qualified to take your share in the class
work. Let me see-when could O
Gomez"
Molly looked astounded. 1t was, in
deed, an unusual offer for Professor
Brandon, who seldom troubled himself
with his pupils out of class time, unlike.
Madison, whose spare hours were filled
up with coaching. Had she been mis-
taken after all? Baroko's tones were
not wholly reassuring; there was a very
faint under-current of amusement in
them that she recognized Immediately.
The professor had not been used to deal
with such q quick perception. But her
glance met q kindly CLEAN in his eyes
that disarmed her at once.
cit is very kind of YOU" she said,
humbly.
ooh, not at all. I shall be pleasedto
give you any help. But 1 should like
you to make an effort, Miss Drummond.
1t will repay you"
His tones were more humanity cordial
than Molly could have believed pos
sible. She forgot how his satire had
frightened her.
Il will,' she said, earnestly, looking
up at him with her candid eyes. Il am
sorry about the exercise. And I am
afraid ought to tell you'll made you
believe-I might have tried a little more
but there was-a party!"
The professor laughed out. He would
never have done it if he had not been
taken by surprise, but somehow Molly
had thawcd him completely, unawares.
His laugh cleared tine air. Molly
laughed herself, merrily, with an in
slant perception Of the humor OF the
thing, but she regained her gravity at
once.
II will not do it another time" she
said. humbly, looking up into his face
again.
How long was it, wondered Baroko
dimly, since any one had raised such
clear and trustful eyes to his?
II will do my best" she added, earn
estly, and the professor said:
II am sure you will"
1t was with some trepidation that
Molly Knocked ut Baroko's door the
next morning. She hah been trying to
get up logic, but the attempt had
Been unsuccessful, and the ordeal was
rather formidable. But there was a
fire burning in the small room; and
though Baroko seemed to have frozen
UP since yesterday, his frigidity melted
before Molly's frank girlish gratitude.
One by one the difficulties vanished.
Baroko found that it was pleasant work
to explain things to Molly. The girl
had brains, and II large share of intui-
ton. They got on eNcellantly. and the
professor did not cavil at the dainty ruff
files at Molly's throat and wrists, nor at
the knot Of scarlet geranium. And
Molly was fascinating. Schoolgirl as she
was, the arts of fascination were-had
always bcen-natural to her. She had
never been suggestive of bread and but
ter. Her instinct was to try to win peo-
pies liking, male or female, ysung or
old; she could no more help it than she
could help her hair falling in pretty
brown waves. One couldnot Justly call
her Il coquette-though, by the by, very
many d;d-her charm was too spon-
taneous; and it lay to a great extent in
the consciousness that she would have
suffered or sacrificed any thing for one
who had been kind to her, and whom
she loved. She cared Il great deal too
much, probably, to win affection; but
she was certain to repay it in full meas
ure. On this occasion her desire to
win Baroko's liking, and her desire to
please him because he was good to her,
were blended beyond the possibility of
discrimination. To do her justice, she
regarded him rs about sixty, and never
dreamed Of what might happen. The
lesson went off brilliantly, and Molly
rose to 60.
.'Thank you so very much" she said.
81 am sure | shall manage now. And
thank you for not laughing at me-" she
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