The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-03-21

played together great deal
Hnt the worst came when one Of the
committeeman addressed the school, and
In the course Of his remarks said dis
tinctly that intellect was not to be meas
ured by size, and he often noticed that
the smallest scholars had their lessons
much better than those who were taller
and older. Jane felt that he referred to
her and little Hattie Baker and the
bounding Of Uruguay.
Her cheeks burned hotter and hotter.
Maria Starr, who was three desks OF In
the same row, leaned forward until she
could see her, and Uttered. Mary Eta,
in the seat behind. pulled her sisters arm
to make her stop. but she did not heed.
Jane saw the committee and the
strange lady and gentleman go out,
while the teacher stood courtesying at
the door, and all through a nearing cloud
Of tears. When the door closed after
the companyshe hooped her arms around
her face, and laid IL down on the desk.
The teacher came and stood beside her,
and asked her what the matter was.
Jane only shook her head and wept.
Are You sickg' asked the teacher,
bending low over her.
mo, ma am sobbed Jane. She would
not say another word, and the teacher
went back to her desk and called class.
"Jane," she said presently. in clear,
authoritative voice, "You may go out
and get pail Of water"
The teacher meant it very kindly; it
was considepd quite q privilege to get a
pail of water, and then pass it around in
o tin dipper; she thought it would serve
to distract James mind from her grief,
whatever it might be.
But it was dreadful for poor Jane to
pull herself up to her full height and
crawl slowly down the aisle, with her
arms crooked in q pink ring around her
face, and all the school looking. She
stumbled over protruding nail, and
everybody Uttered, and the teacher called
out, "Hush!' sharply.
Jane went out with the water pail, hui
instead Of filling it from the pump neal
/ the school house she sat 1t down on the
platform and fled desperately down the
road to little bridge over q brook.
Her mind was made up, she would
not 60 back to school, she had never
been so miserable in her life, and the
| misery was all the greater because she
was ashamed Of it and ashamed to con
fess it. She did not want to tell even
her mother that she minded so much be
cause she was tall; she crouched low
down in the bushes and wept.
Presently she heard quick patter 81
bare feet on the bridge. then break in
the bushes.
"Hallor' called hesitating voice
Jane made no sound.
"Ho, you needn't play you amt there,
said the voice. 81 see you come in here
was looking out Of the window.
raised my hand when teacher asked
where you was, and she sent me out here
to fetch the water, and to tell you tt
come in.
Jane looked up and saw boys face
peering down at her from the top Of thu
bank, his brown cheeks flushing, his rec
bps parting in a bashful laugh.
II amt ever going back to school
Robbie" said Jane with sob. All tn
old childish comradeship seemed to come
back to her, she had not seen much o
him for year or two; she had played
more with girls.
II don't care, you're the prettiest CIR
in school anyhow" said Robert in |
shamefaced way.
"Why, Robert Carnes! amt"
Eyes, You are"
"Oh, Robbie-maybe / shall be-tallel
than am now"
/ II don't care if you are, you'll Away
be the prettiest. Come along"
II amt going back to school"
Teacher won't like it.
81 can't help it."
"Oh, come along"
az won't" The girls pink face turnet
up toward him like a pink flower from
the bushes. There was look in it tina
the boy knew we'll He knew that wheI
his old playmate said IT won't" in tina
tone, she didn't.
Robert seated himself on the bank anG
began to whistle. Jane looked at him
she could see his slender shoulders in hi
little homemade blue and white shirt
and his handsome face gazing ahead alb
stractedly as he whistled.
why don't you go back to school?
she asked hesitatingly.
"Oh, amt going back if you amt. !"
why not, I'd like to known
cause ] amt. Say, Mary Eta ha
got her head down on her desk crying
cause you don't come in, and l seeI
Maria passing along some crab apples Il
put in your desk"
Jane said nothing. Robert whistlet
again.
Jane waited a minute. "Wen, II
come" said she. 'You go ahead ant
get the water"
There was a leap of bare feet over tn
bridge, and Jane came ont from tn
swarm of flower butterflies, with unde
fined conviction that brought comfort Il
her childish heart, that however tall sh,
grew, although she might outgrow al
her dresses, she would never outgrov
love. Mary E. Wilkins ii Boston Globe