Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-02-26

0hVN' but IL was HOl SHOW, anu MISS
Grey arranged her crocheting and began
to work.
She had thought of the possibility of
this awkward incoming when she
selected this especial piece of work
before leaving home, and half smile
dimpled the corners of her mouth as one
after another of the girls gathered about
her with shy. inquiring eyes.
Tilury Kent leaned against the window
casing, the sullen look deepening on her
face, and the teacher shrewdly guessed
that this was the girl to be most afraid
of. She wished to engage her attention
and bring her into the crowd of girls that
were now chattering all about her. but
how could it be done? The girl would
not bear coaxing, would scorn soft
word. and as for dainty crocheted fasci-
majors, she hated the sight of all manner
of pretty things. Had she not worn
coarse, faded clothes. and that horrible
old brown ''pumpkin' hood ever since
she could remember?
Suddenly bright thought occurred to
Miss Grey. The old box stove was ugly.
as well as immense, and the door hung
by one hinge, so it had been the custom
of the teachers to set the larger boys to
put in the big 'chunks" of wood, and
close and prop the door, a thing that was
always accomplished with bang and
tlatter. Now Miss Grey, laying her
work aside, went down to the stove and
began putting in one of the huge blocks
1t was too heavy for her small hands. and
tore the delicate skin with its Jagged
splinters. Looking up ito filury she said.
"Will you help me, please? it is so
heavy"
1t is doubtful whether any one had
ever addressed the girl in that way before.
for pleasant words and small politeneSSes
had not fallen to her lot in life. She
sprang forward eagerly and caught the
great stick in her hands, and with the
strength of a small Amazon flung it into
the bed of burning Goals. and kicked the
door together after it.
"Why, how strong you are :" Miss Grey
exclaimed in unfeigned establishment, as
she wiped the drops of blood from her
lacerated fingers. Then seeing rilurv
draw her hand across her dress front. the
teacher noticed that her hand also bled.
"lou have torn your hand. too, " Miss
Grey said; ''come here and we'll patch
up our wounds together. I've some
court plaster in my satchel.'
The girl laughed and tucked her hand
behind her a. She resumed her place at
the window.
"See." the teacher said. holding out
her hand. "I've three scratches on this
hand. Let me see yours, for am to
blame for your getting hurt. Please let
me look at it
Tilury glanced at the palm of her hand
and then suddenly held it out "ltaches. :
she said, bluntly.
"Why. poor child" the teacher cried
II should think it would ache. That is {
dreadful silver; let me Try to get it out
I'm so sorry"
Miss Grey got her tiny pcarl-handled
knife and began to dig it out.
"Can you bear the PAIN" She asked
holding the hand tightly in her own.
"Y-yes," the girl answered, making
! light of it. But the hurt was Il severe
one, and "A woman of less nerve than Mis-,
Grey could never have succeeded in tax
ing out the silver. and Il Girl with les,
strength of will could never have borne
it so hcroically. Miss Grey bathcd the
wound with a strip of c0urt-plaStcr
while she praised the girl for her courage
and pettcd her because of her pain. until
for once, rilury was the heroine of the
school-rOOm.
1t was almost time to call the schoo
for the afternoon session when Miss Grey
took Il final look at the disabled hand
now carefully wrapped up in one of hel
own prettiest handlerchiefs The girl,
still clustered about them.
"Why, Tilury Kent, what lovely finger
nails you have" she cried. "lOu mus
not bite them off once again, and let mt
show you how to trim them prettly.
never saw prettier nails, did you girls 2
Tilury snatched her hand away anG
hid it behind her.
9Th amt" she said Grossly; "Jabe,
calls 'em cats'-claws, an Polly say,
they're skeleton bones, jcS' like Sally
Thomases. | hate EN-"
"Jabez calls them so because they art
so thin. And that is one great beauty OF
a flngernail, and Polly-well, | don't
know what she meant, but tell you they
are lovely. And I'll tell you Lou
will call you Lou because that is Il short
pet name-I will make you present OF
this little knife if you will let me show
you how to take care of your nails. lor
deserve the knife anyway, after letting mt
dig after the silver as | did, and not com
planning one word. Here's the knife, and