Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-03-22


preston on his face. Suddenly he
raised his hand:
Can go. please? There's some
wood over by the old shed that 1
wanted to get here this noon. It's a
good way to carry it through the
woods. The team broke down there
yesterday and they left it. and I'll
need some to make the fire to-mor-
row. perhaps"
Miss Wilkes glanced at the we'll
filled wood box, then out at a small
wood-pile in the yard.
There is enough to last" she said.
quietly, and in a tone from which Jack
knew there was no appeal
In the afternoon he forgot again,
and did not feel the gentle touch of
Dolly's hand on his arm. as she
passed him on her way to the black
| board.
Come here, jack
Jack stopped his performance, and
| went forward
Stand by me and fiddle"
The children all stopped the ir work,
and stared at teacher and pupil alter
nately.
Eyes. stand by me here on the plat
form. Now. 60 on, and don't stop till
| l give you leave"
Jack began blithely enough, though
with a crimson face, smiling back at
the smiling faces before him; but sud
denly catching sight of Dolly's sober
expression his smile died, and his
eyes sought the floor. Gradually his
hand stopped moving
Don't stop" said the teacher gen.
tie voice. You must keep on stead
ily"
His favorite amusement Tin school
hours) lost all zest as the slow minutes
went by; the others grew tired OF
watching him. and returned to their
work; and Dolly's face was hidden be-
hind book. Presently Jack saw her
stealthily put her handkerchief to her
eyes, and the face which emerged from
behind the geography looked suspi-
ciously rosy.
Poor little Dollr' he thought,
as he dispiritedly dragged the
ruler back and forth. Il s'pose
she's ashamed of me-" He looked
out of the window. feeling the moist
ure unpleas antly near his own eyes,
and was surprised to see the snow.
flakes falling steadily. He had been
standing on the platform but a short
time when he first saw the snow, and
amused himself by watching the
quickly-rising line of white on the
top rail of fence near by. He wa;
astonished to see how fast it grew.
Presently it was nearly all blown off.
and the old school-house seemed tC
shake before q fierce gust of wind.
You may take your seat now. The
next time you feel like iddling come
up here and try again"
Miss Wilkes did not know it, bu
Jack was cured. He was sensitiv,
boy in his odd way. and what he us
ly felt to be his ridiculous position
and still more. Dolly's sad little face
he would not soon forget.
| After he had returned to his desk
the teacher continued:
This is going to be severe storm
/ will dismiss you now, and l wan
you all-every one-to go home direct
", and as fast as you cam"
She touched the bell, the children
filed out, and five minutes later Mis-
Wilkes. with a child clinging to eacl
hand. had started on the path leading
to the woods. Dolly waited while tn,
janitor fixed the fire and locked up tn,
sch ool- house, then, seated on the sled
she was drawn towards home. But TIN
Dart" did not 60 as easily as it die
in the morning. The warm noonda.
sun had softened the crust of ice. ant
the sled did not run easily over TIL
newly-fallen snow. The wind blew
fiercely. and the snowflakes wer
dashed in the children's faces. ant
blinded their eyes as they pushed on
"Guess I'd better get off," sai'
Dolly.
No, don't; stick on. 1 can't get OIL
fast. but we're all right. Phew! how
it blowsr'
The wind, which was fortunatel,
at their backs. grew stronger ever.
minute, and before the children
reached the wood there was gale
from the northwest. Jack needles
all his strong young muscle to dra:
his burden. He knew how hard
would be for the lame girl to max
her way through the heavy SNOW, ant
would not listen to her entreaty 10 b
allowed to walk. When they reached
the wood they were somewhat shell
tered from the wind, and the boy wen
on sturdily. Storr's Hill stretched
before them, an unbroken sheet o
white. Jack suddenly realized tina
he could see no houses on top; the al
was so thick that he could see but
few yards in any direction.
Now 1 shall walk, said Dolly, ant
slipped to her feet.
Pm awful sorry, but 1 don't be
lieve 1 could get you up that hill now
Why. how cold you lookr'
Il am cold, but when l walk a littl
I'll be all right"
The children toiled up the hi
through the soft snow. the crust be
meath, where it was not slippery
frequently breaking beneath thel
weight.
Seems to me we ought to be nea
home" the little girl said. YEARLY.
Poor Doll. you're tired. Ora
hold of my hand. It's lucky you did.
as the wind nearly lifted them OF
their feet .You look frozen. Dolly.
, with little choke in his voice, 'an'
r., ofro;,J rro,ra Lost our WOW Th