Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-06-09

aBe wise Is . serpent, and harmless
as dove,'" mother quoted, As she
kissed me goodbye
Ruth met me at the school-house
door with her smile of welcome. and
with the usual bunch of flowers. No
matter how poor might be the inside
of their house, Mrs. Mason and Ruth
were such ardent lovers of flowers that
their yard looked like fairyland
through all the warm season.
As the day wore on I saw that Ruth
seemed either very much depressed or
languid, and, for the first time since
she had been my pupil, she missed in
one of her lessons.
It was one of those very warm days
of early summer which come upon us
when we are wholly unprepared for
such heat, and attributed the change
in Ruth to the weather
The next day and again on Wednes-
day she was not at school Wondered
at this, and felt some anxiety, too, for
she had never been absent before.
After the close OF school went to her
house. Her mother met me at the
door with grave face.
Ruth is very SICK" she said in an
swer to my inquiries. "She has spoken
of you several times, and will be glad
to see you"
I found my little pupil looking wan
and wasted by even SO short an illness.
A quick, happy look flashed over her
face as she recognized me, and both
hands were stretched out in eager well
come.
tits SO good of you to come, Miss
Graham" she said, softly, as I bent to
kiss her.
She was so weak that even this little
attempt at conversation seemed to ex-
haust her, SO I sat beside her holding
her feverish hand in one of mine, while
I passed my other hand over her fore
head and beautiful brown hair, think
ing of the great things had hoped for
her.
II fear she has studied too hard, >"
Mrs. Mason said, while the look of
anxiety deepened in the careworn face,
"but she is so fond of her books, and
especially since you came, she cannot
bear to lose single lesson. If it were
not for"
please don't, mother!" Ruth inter-
rupted gently, and the mother was ST.
lent
What was il? had the girls been tor
menting her again, wondered, but did
not like to ask her.
The next night I called again, but
Ruth was delirious and no longer rec
ognized me. She lay with closed eyes
and flushed face; he1 head and hands
in constant, restless, motion, talking
incoherently to herself. Suddenly her
eyes opened; she shrank back upon her
pillow, while her hands were out
stretched entreatingly.l
II can't go, mother!" she cried, pite-
ously. "Oh, I can't go; the girls talk
so about my old dress, and my sunbon-
net, and shoes, and it hurts me SO!
Please let me stay at home" Then
her voice fell to plaintive moan. Oh,
no, I must go! I must learn all can
so I can teach and help mother. I
mustn't mind them. Oh, Miss Graham!"
in an agony of entreaty which wrung
my heart, "don't let them! please,
don't let them! It hurts me sol"
ooh, Ruthie, dear, they shall never do
it again!" cried, dropping on my knees
beside her bed, while the tears
streamed down my face. I took the
fever-hot hands in mine and kissed the
little flushed face, but she did not heed
me; for moment, only, she remained
quiet, then began again her piteous
rawlings
"She has been so all day." her
mother said, with groan that cut ne
to the heart. "She came home Mon
day night and cried herself to sleep,
because the girls were so unkind to
her. They were vexed over your re-
proof Friday, and then got her alone
on Monday and talked to her worse
than ever. They seemed to have a.
spite against her because you took her
part She was almost broken-hearted
over it and was too sick to leave her
bed by morning. think the heat and !,
so much study have weakened her, but
she would have come out all right only
for the girls-they have killed her."
There was terrible bitterness and
SORROW in Mrs. Mason's voice as she
turned away to hide her emotion.
II will bring Anna and Matte here
and let them see the effect
of their cruelty" I said Indignantly
fast-falling tears; hope it may
teach them lesson.
The next day I told the girls of Ruth's
illness, and asked them to
go with me to her home. They were
reluctant at first, but without giving my
reasons for desiring their company, I so
wrought upon their feelings that at last
they went with me.
There was no change in the poor
little sufferers condition. She lay as
with head and hands in con-
slant notion, scarcely for a moment
ceasing in her low, incoherent rawlings
bent over her and spoke her name,
but, though the large. dark eyes at last |
opened, there was no sign of recogni-
ton in them. Her glance moved slowly
from one to the other in the room, but
It was evident her mind was wandering
and ahe did not know them