Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-12-03

spoken to her, had been for few
happy minutes wondering lift might
not after all have been a mistake
ter all about her bad temper, if she
might be little like other girls, and
allowed To have little share in their
doings. But all doubts on the sub
ject left her mind when the two drew
near. Scornful glances were cast
upon them.
Well, said Jane to Elsie, in a
sarcastic tone" if that's the compa-
ny you want; you're welcome to it;
that's all | have to say"
"Only you can't have ourn too"
said another.
(" You can make your choice as
soon as you like"
Jerusha dropped Elsie's hand,
burst into tears, and ran back into
the woods. Elsie turned to the 9TH
ers with flashing eyes.
81 think you're just as mean as
you can be-" she said. 81 don't
think she'd be half as bad if you did
MT make her. Anybody'd be bad
tempered it they were used as you
use her. / don't believe she's bit
wickeder than you with your pick
ing at her all the time.n
Jerusha did not come back until
the morning was half over, and when
reproved by the teacher, scowled in
a way which went beyond anything
ever seen before, at which the girls
looked at Elsie and each other with
smiles which meant didn't we say
so?"
But as the days went on there
really was seen change in Jerusha.
The frown faded from her face and
gentle expressionsgradually took its
place. Sometimes she smiled on the
children about her as she had smiled
on the bird in the bushes, and some
one once said -
Why, Jerusha. looks like other
folks"
1t was very easy to see that the
loving spirit which beamedin Elsie's
eyes and spoke in her voice was
making itself felt about her, and
Jerusha's changed face was met by
faces which had changed towards
her.
But one morning when Jerusha
was sent by the teacher to bring a
pail Of water from the spring, sounds
of confusion we're heard in the en-
try, and the next moment Jerushs
was again in the school-room, on her
face blaze of indignation, in her
arms small, gray kitten.
Look-a here y she cried in a
voice choking with anger. I" Its
that johnny Patton aud Jim Bangs.
They're a-scratchin' matches out in
the woodshed and a-smellin' 'em to
this poor little creature to make her
gag"
Hadn't you better put her out
and let her go homer" suggested the
teacher.
"No'm ~ said Jerusha, decidedly.
If do, them boys'll get hold of
her again. They've seampered lit
tie ways off for fear I'd catch 'em."
Jerusha tenderly settled the kitten
in her desk, coaxing her into con-
tentment with a few crumbs from
her lunch basket. then started for
the spring again. She had filed the
pail with the cool, shining wafer and
was pausing to catch upon her fore
head the freshness of the summers
breeze, when her alert ear was caught
by something like the chirp OF bird
in distress.
g If them boys T. cried Jerusha,
rushing wildly in the direction from
which the sounds came.
But if the boys were there, they
knew better than to wait for any
more of Jerusha's wrath. The next
moment her attention was drawn to
strange sounds from the school
house. Cries of dismay arose, and
as she ran towards it Jerusha added
her own cry. The school house was
on fire.
The old building burned like tim
der but the teacher hurried her little
flock safely out. And then, as they
huddled together, trembling and
frightened, Jerusha eried:-
Where's the kitten 2"
No answer came.
" Stop, Jerusha u called the teach
er.
But Jerusha did not stop. One
side OF the house was in flames, but
she made rush for the desk and
snatched the kitten.
Run, Jerusha r
A dozen voices we're raised. But
at that moment Jerusha heard some
thing else.