San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-06-20
NUMBER Is.


lutely declined all such advances, but In
the afternoon she reached ncross tho
aisle and laid It upon tho open leaves Of
tho book where he was studying. With
graceful bow he acknowledged tho
gift. and raised It to his lips, whom loi .
tiny dead mouse dropped from its folds
and universal giggle ran through the
room. In desperation tho master called
them 10 order. and thcro was q sharp
ring. as Of pain, In tho grave, stern tones
which said, Faith Grcy can stop after
school tonight" That was all. and,
without casting look In tho direction
Of tho young girl, tho business Of the day
went on as usual, but each and all under
stood that trifling was at an end, and
oven Faiths rosy cheeks paled littlo as
sho glanced shyly at the stern, quiet
face.
It had been hard day for tho young
master, and II was no wonder II his pa
tienco was exhausted. In tho morning
ono Of his largest scholars, half witted
Frenchman, had entered late and Inn
mediately commenced to laugh, and all
tho information that could be elected
from him was that he guessed "the two
year-old would get full by and by" and
again his fat sides would shake with
laughter. He was great, overgrown
fellow Of sixteen, who worked for his
board at farm about milo from school,
and at noon his employer presented him
self ut the schoolhouse, and In loud, an
cry tones ordered him never to darken
his doors again.
1t appeared that tho spring whore tho
cattle had been In tho habit Of drinking
was formed by lowering q barrel into
the ground, and oil around II was very
slippery with Ice, and rs tho clown had
driven them to drink, tho "two-year-old"
had slipped and fallen In head first, and
being unable to got out alone, tho French.
man had left II to "get fulp while he
went to school. When found by the
farmer tho animal was drowned. Al
though the schoolmaster could not blame
tho farmer for his Indignation, yet tho
circumstance annoyed him exceedingly,
and II ono might DO allowed to judge by
the look Of determination on his white,
stern face, Faith was likely to feel the
full force Of his authority, and even her
stout heart quailed little as the shadows
heightened and tho day drew near ita
close.
Tho last lesson had been recited, tho
last class had stood up to spell; the even
Ing hymn had been sung, and at last
school had closed, tho scholars fling out
Of tho house In good order and with o
strange quietness and dispatch, wrap
ping about them their shawls, hoods and
comforters. Faith, with the roses oil
gone from her dimplod cheeks, was dt
ting at her desk, white and still. For
few moments, which seemed like IN eter-
nifty to her, tho master sat at his desk
with head bowed upon his hands. The
short winters day was drawing to o
close, and ono solitary sunbeam, red as
blood, streamed through the window and
lay across tho desk exactly In front of
her, and to the day OF her death Faith
will carry q vivid inward picture Of that
little schoolroom, for every article which
1t contained was indelibly Impressed
upon her mind In those few moments.
At last tho master raised his head and
In low tones said:
"Miss Faith, you may como here"
At tho sound of yhis v6ico tho blood
rushed back to the cheek which had been
so pale but n moment ago, aud her cour-
age revived. She arose and with firm
step walked across tho room and stood
before him, and as their eyes met she re-
turned his gaze unflinchingly. His was
q sad. beseeching look, as though ho
would urge her to beg his forgiveness.
Hers was mixture of fun and anger
combined, but certainly they showed no
signs Of sorrow. AS he arose to his feet
his huge form lowered like q giant abovc
her, and reaching over his desk he grasp
cd his ferule.
"Hold out your handI"
And moro In sorrow than In anger he
looked to see II hiscommand was obeyed.
The words were jerked forth as though
they caused the speaker untold pain.
Faith obeyed, although tho white lids
covered tho brown eyes and the long
eyelashes swept over checks as white as
the snow outside. Sho had never re-
ceived q blow in her life, and she shivered
as tho tips Of her slender fingers were
firmly grasped, md ono short, sharp,
blow descended upon the white
palm, leaving crimson mark that curl
ously reminded her Of tho blood red sun
beam az II lny across the desk. The ferule
was raised for another blow when again
their eyes met, but from the brown ones
the anger was gone, and they were full
Of tears and mute pleadings, and with
dull thud the ferule dropped to the floor,
and tho girl was clasped to his heart In
wild, passionate embrace.
In after years, when sho was the loved
and honored wife Of tho statesman who
began his career as q district school !.
.eacher, Faith was wont to say that the
keeping up Of appearances so that Others
might not know what had occurred was
.ho hardest lesson she had ever learned. Il
was impossible TO become tho dociis pu-
pil which she now longed 10 be without
exciting suspicion, and for eight weeks
he acted her part In a manner worthy
u the most finished actress; and 10 this
lay Il Is an unsettled question between
hem as 10 which eonquered--Tfue Flag
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est, ON the theoretical grounds for The
Of induced currents, as their
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fron-ost IN tha anla Of the crrrnu&