The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-11

exempt from the discriminating retort
Of Mr.. McKinstrys shotgun alleged that the
seminary at Sacramento had declined to receive
her. but the majority accented her return with
local pride as a practical compliment 70 the edu-
cational facilities of Indian Spring. The Tuo-
lumne Star, with breadth and eloquence
touchingly disproportionate to its actual size
and quality Of type and paper, referred 70 the
possible growth OF grove OF Academus at
Indian Spring. under whose clustered boughs
future sages and statesmen were now meditas-
ing, in a way that made the master feel ex.
ceedingly uncomfortable For some days the
trail between the McKinstry's ranch and the
school-house was lightly patrolled by reliefs OF
susceptible young men, to whom the enfran-
chised Cressida. relieved from the dangerous
supervision OF the Davis McKinstry clique, was
-sn object of ambitious admiration. The young
girl herself. who, in spite OF the mas
ters annoyance, seemed to be folio wing some
conscientious duty in consecutvsly arraying
herself in the different dresses she had bought
however she may have tantazed her admirers
by this revelation of bridal finsry did not vent
ure TO bring them near the lfnits OF the play
ground. It. struck the master with some sur
prise that Indian Spring did not seem to trouble
itself in regard to his own privileged relations
with its rustic enchantresS; the young men
clearly were not jealous of him; no matron had
suggested any indecorum in q young girl OF
Cressys years and antscedents being iptrusted
to the teachings OF young man scarcely her
senior. Notwithstanding the attitude which
Mr. Ford had heen pleased TO assume towards
her, this implied compliment to his supposed
monastic vocatiops affected him almost as un-
comfortably as the STARS" extravagaut. eulo-
GUM He was obliged to recall certain foolish
experiences of his own to enable him to rise
superior to this presumption OF his asceticism.
In pursuance of his promise to Mckinstry, he
had procured q few elemen tary books of study
suitable to Cressys new position, without, how
ever, taking her out of the smaller classes or the
discipline of the school In q few weeks he Was
enabled to further improve her attitude by max
ing her q monitor" over the smaller girls.
thereby dividing certain functions with Rupert
Filgee. whose ministrations to the deceitful and
''silly" sex had been characterized by perhaps
more vigilant scorn and disparagement than was
necessary. Grossly had accepted it as she had
accepted her studies, with an indolent
good humor, ana at times a frankly supreme
ignorance OF their abstract or moral purpose
that discoureeipg. What's the good
Of that" she would ask, lifting her eyes
somewhat embarrassed by her look
which always, sooner or later. frankly
confessed itself an excuse for perfectly irrele-
want examination of his features In detail
would end in giving her some severely practical
answer. Yes If the subject appealed to any
particular idiosyncrscy of her own, she would
speedily master the study. A passing predilsc-
ton for botany was provoked by a single Incl
dent The master deemine this study q BARN.
less young lady Like patton, had one day IN
usual answer. But suppose" he continued
artfully, somebody sent you anonymously
some flowers"
Her boz" suggested Johnny Fieee hoarsely.
with bold, bad recklessness- Iguoring the re-
mark and the kick with which Rupert had re-
sonted it on the person of his brother. the mas
ter continued
sand il you couldn't find out who sent them,
you would want at least to know.what they
were and where the grew"
''Ef they grew anywhere bout yer We could
tell her that said a chorus of small voices.
The master hesitated He was conscious Of
being on delicate ground. He was surrounded
by dozen little keen eyes from whom nature
had never yet succeeded in hiding her secrets
up OF the earliest flowers: little fingers that had
never turned .he pages of a textbook, but knew
where to scrape away the dead leaves apove tho
first anemone. or had CROPPED painfully among
the lfeless branches in forgotten hollows for the
shy dog rose; unguided little feet that had in
stinctively inside their way to remote southern
slopes for the first mariposas, or had unerringly
threaded the tule hidden banks OF the river for
flower de-luce. Convinced that he could not
hold his own on their level he shamelessly struck
at once above 1t
'Sup7ose tina. one OF those flowers" he con-
timed. ''wss net like the rest, that Its stake
aud leaves insrp at of being green and soft were
white and st-.ocv lko ilannsl a. il TO protect IL
from cold wouldn't l, be nice 10 be able 10 say
at once that 10 hal lived only III the saow, and
that some must have gone all that way up
there. above the snow liEs to pick it'll The
children. taken back By this unfair introduction
Of . floral stranger, were silent. Cressy
thoughtfuly accepted botany on those possi-
bilitissL week later she laid on the msster's
desk limp looking plant with a stalk like
heavy fraysd worstsd yarn. 'It Amt much to
hex 81. After al. y itP abe said. II reckon /