Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-12

student from BrlggsTllle, "but IL due
the best l kin, an if you don't under
stand any word all you hat to due is
not to tackle it ontil you due, an don't
be any ways bashful beout havin' it
give out agin."
In half an hour more the curious
words which the Deacon had managed
to find secreted in old McGuffey had
thinned the ranks until but single
speller remained on each side. Soon
one of these, in the excitement of the
contest, interjected superhuous ''h''
into ''exorbitant" and sank into shame
faced obscurity with the instant dis
cOvery of her mistake.
The second spell down after recess
was held more important than the first
in that the capacity of the contestants
had been somewhat tested and they
could be more evenly matched. Mr..
Joel Douglass, himself an ex-teacher,
gave OUT for awhile, leaving the
teacher in charge the honor of the
closing. There was an evident tensity
of feeling as the contest deepened that
was not observable before recess. Each
speller endeavored to be careful and
self possessed and to bring no avoid
able disaster upon his or her side.
Nearly half the spoilers were down
when Mr.. Douglass pleaded WEAKNESS
and turned the book over to Mr.. Frost.
.'Breakfastn was the word he gave
out next and it was big Bilr' Bru-
bakers turn.
"B-r-e-c-k, brek, fast, fast, break
fast" he sang out with the prompt con-
fdence OF easy mastery. But before
the word was all out of his mouth
pretty Ruth Turner. on the other side,
snapped it up with ''b-r-e-a-k, break.
feast, fast, for breakfast" and as
instantly Lucinda Sweet, standing next
to Bill, took it back from Ruth by
spelling it correctly, amid an enthusi-
asm at the rapid and brilliant work
that could not be wholly repressed.
Ruth sat down in a confusion OF mortl-
fcation which mantled her cheeks and
suffused her eyes at thought of her
| foolish mistake, and the teacher pal
liatingly suggested:
You see, Miss Ruth, it isn't break
ing ones feast, but breaking ones
fast"
1t was noticed, however, that Bill
Brubaker had not sat down, as the
perception of his failure should have
| led him to do, but remained stolidly
standing in spite of the efforts of those
around him to pull him down.
81 didn't understand the word, no
how" he said, sullenly.
Didn't understand it, the teacher
exclaimed How could you help I'M
Outstanding it? You knew what the
word meant, L hope"
At this sally of Briggsville wit, there
was a general litter of derision from
the other side, which added to Bills
discontinue.
"You said brock, not brake" he de-
clared, recklessly, IAN speltit as you
give it out. l reckon l know how to
spell brake as well as any on EN-"
You fairly missed the word" the
teacher said, decisively, and you must
take your seat like the rest. Mr.. Bru-
baker" Even the exceptional honor
implied in this deferential address did
not wholly appease Bills wounded van
ity.
I'll take it if waunt tew, an not
otherwise" he muttered, sinking down
with an ugly scowl on his face.
Big Bill was hardly third-rate
speller at best, and usually was among
the first to 60 down, but his unprece-
denied good fortune at keeping on his
feet so long had imbued him with a
staggering confidence in his powers
and induced the vain hope of a possible
emergence as one of the champions of
the contest.
When the spelling was finished and
the preliminary preparations of bund-
ling up, blowing out the candles, and
lighting the hickory-bark torches pro-
vided for lighting the homeward way
were going forward amid much con-
fusion and merriment, two of the
smaller boys drew the teacher aside to
say with bated breath:
Say, master, Big Bills a threat'nin'
of you an sayin' It he kin lick the
boots often you an not hat try, nuther. >"
They wished-such at least was the
pretense-to put the master on his
guard against a possible surprise.
You tell Big Bill" the master said
quietly as he went on completing his
preparations for departure, that l
say he's bully and a coward, and
that if he wants any thing of me he
can be accommodated in mighty short
order"
The boys carried such a message
with proud alacrity, as what boys
would not? The version that reached
Bills ears outside moment later was
something like this:
''Th' master says t you're a cowerd
an'-an" (the other term was not in
| familiar use at the Corners -''what
was it, Jim?"
"a bully" Jim declared from care
fully-stored memory.
"Ya-as. An 'tef you want any thing
of him you kin git it mighty quick"
"Huh!" grunted Bill. Hes peart
enough with his tongue, but he'll fine
It smart tongue haint no match for
these two fists"
He fourished them in the air as if
to assure himself that they were in