Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-27


changed AGAIN, and that her dark brows were
knitted with the former unpleasant express
sion She said nothing, however, for some
minutes.
Our first visit was 10 the top of a high knoll
! behind the house whence we could see the
surrounding country, and, some miles TO the
| southwark, the distant sea, with a white
| frost of pillows on the edge OF liyer.cOlOred
| sands.
| 1t was quiet, sunless day; but far away
| there were CLEANS Of watery light on the
white sails of ships passing by under full
| canvas.
The girl looked seward at the passing
sails with much the same peculiar expression
| she rad worn on our first encounter.
! How could fathom her thoughts? guess
cd she was thinking of her home, but was
wrong.
Are you cLcUer7" she asked Suddenly.
This was question which |, as modest
boy felt totally unpreparad TO answer
looked mt the ground, pccped mt her, and
laughed. Her expression did not change.
81 mean do you know much, she cOntin-
nod in explanation. "Ilaye you learned
much before?'
lcXpaued TO her, as well as possible, that
my acQuilcmcnts were very slender iDaGcd,
and merely consisted OF the stray crumbs Of
knowledge which had been enabled TO picl,
uD at day schools IN the various towns where
my father had resided during my childhood.
In point Of fact, | was thoroughly uncuIti-
waited little boy, and had never been cram
med with the solid pabN!um so much IN vogue
at our public schools could read ana write,
OF course, and knew arithmetic as far as the
rule Of three, and had got through the first
four dcrIrnsiOns in the Latin grammar; but
all was a Chaos and | had no accomplish
mGnts.
! did not explain all this TO my interroga-
tor; for ! was too proud
of You are not clever and know so llttIe,'
observed the girl, thoughtfuIly, "tgl,e care of
the other boys, Why don't you make friends
with them? Why do you Ike to sit alone,
and be sulcnP If there were CIR $ here,
should make friends, / know. But boys are
different; they have cruel ways, and they
hate each other"
All this was said in a tone rather Of reilec-
ton than Of conversation; and she still Kept
her eyes on the distant ships, as If from some
secret source far away the current OF her
thoughts was flowing.
"rho boys hate me-, she pursued, "bccausr
they think me proud. am not proud, but
am quicker and CIeyerCr than they are, and
como from better place. beat them IN the
class and vt all things, except figures; ana !
have helped the biggest of them sometimes,
when they were too stupid to understand"
All this was u revelation 10 me. Until that
moment had never supposed that my com
pnnOn9 place was among the common schoI-
mrs. During my first two days In school she
had been absent-a circumstance which she
soon explained to mo without any question
ing
II have been away on visit and only re-
turned this morning. | do not come to school
every day, because have headaches, and my
father will only have me learn when please.
Now lct rs 80 down and look at the garden.
There nrG irutbushes there, and some Of
the fruit h ipe."
Still respectful and submissive, | followed,
and we were soon wandering side by side IN
the quiet garden in the nelghbDrhOOd OF the
sChOOlhOusC. Ever and anon, as we walk
ed, heard the shouts and cries Of my play
mates; but they were waited to me rs from
some IOrSnlOn life.
A spoil had been passed upon me- and |
wits IN dream. AS write, tho dream sur
rounds me still. Years ebb backward, clouds
part, the old horizons come nearer and near
cr, and am again wandering in the quiet
shade of trees with the shining young face at
my side, I can no longer recall looks and
words. All becomes II trcmOr see the ono
face only but tho voice becomes inarlculatc
What remember last Is n sudden sound
dissoIving II spell. A bell rung loudly from
the house, and my companion uttered an OK
clnmaJOn-
"lhut IL the bell for tea" she exclaimed.
"A L.. a I...tI.