The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-05-10
HETTY'S REVENGE,

A biack-eyed girl In the third seat
In the second row of the little log
schoolhouse arose promptly and walked
10 tho teachers desk.
The teacher stood up. She stepped
around to the side of the desk the bet
tor TO fix ilclty's eyes with her own.
"lletty, what did you No to Annie
Jenkins just now p
Before the question was we'll out of
her mouth the answer flashed back:
''Pui some cold shot down her back.
brought II n purpose"
The teachers white fingers tight
encd on the desk and she opened her
lips twice before she spoke.
con, you did, did you?"
She felt this to be an utterly insane
remark, but TO save herself she could
not think of anything else. No need
to have fixed those eyes of Icuy's-
they were relcntlessly and unflinch-
ingly fastened on her face. To get
them oil, she remarked: "You may
go to your seat aud will attend to you
later"
She sat down again at the rough
redwood desk. 1t was near the close
of school. 1t had been hard dny
aud lletty was about the last straw.
Sho tried to reason, and finally with
out reasoning she breathed to herself:
"PII give it up. l simply cannot
stand it,"
For one moment she sat very still,
trying TO stop the quivering of her
nerves. Thcu taking q large shaky-
looking letter in her hand, she arose
and stood before the school. "Chil-
dren,' she began, eve cannot have
our picnic OH the 9th of September.
/ received letter from Mr.. johnson
this morning and will read you
what he says" Then she read the
letter aloud:
81 hcered you were a-comin' up to
my rcscrvore next week to hav
grand time, an want to say that
don't want you an your tribe a-run-
niu' through my meadows an scsrin'
my fish an smashn' my strawburrics,
30 you'll have 10 look out for some
other place. an there amt none.
~ WI. JOHNSON"
II was the horrible unkindness In
that last phrase which had hurt the
young teacher when she received the
letter; and now az she read 1t again
her lip treinbled so that she could
scarcely continue: "Children, am"
tho white fingers tightcncd again
"thc picnic will have to be given up
becausc--we might find another place
but shall only be with you three
more days. I'm going home-E,st!"
At the word "East" tremulous
smile broke over her lips and ended in
Agssp. She sat down and laid her
head on her desk with moan of
physical pain, while the sobs camo
thick and fast. Tho little clock said
It was time to dismiss school. For a
moment the children were held quiet
by tho sign of thoir teacher in tears,
then with faces half-frightened, half.
ashamed, they gathered up their din
ner-bucke's and stole out, disappear
Ing behind rise In the road. The
young teacher still sat there. Every
now and tien she said over and over
TO herself, '''ve given it up!" I've
given itup!"-with every time fresh
sob. Everybody East said / wouldo
--hcre great gasp-''and l have! |!
People are so ignorant herc--stocks
and stones. It's no use trying to do
anything, even the children are little
brutes."
She was haif-blind With tears, but
she became conscious of a red calico
dress, just then, u skirt blowing IN a
the door and curling around the jamb.
II was turkoy-red--ycs. it was Helly's
dress, aud her freckled nose and great
black eyes. 1t was Hetty Cummings
bold. hard, brutal little Hetty. She
stood full in the door aud guzed at the
teacher. Her eyes werc b.acker than
ever. but soft black now. The red
mouth was very gentle. and that ag-
gravating curvc around her nose wa.
goue.