Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1894-09-01

In point Of fact, 1 was a thoroughly unculti
vas"d little boy, and had never been cram
me-. With the solid pabalum SO much In vogue
at our public schools. could read and write
OF course, and knew arithmetic as far as THE
rule VI three, aud had got through the frs,
Tour dkclensions In the Latin grammar: bu,
All wy a chaos, and | had no accomplish
1dd not explain all this 10 my .nterroga-
Tor; fof ] was too proud.
II You are not clever, and know so little"
observed the girl. thoughtfuiiy, take care Of
ule other boys. Why don't you make friends
Win them? Why do yon like to sit alone,
ana DC sullen? III there were gir $ here. /
should make friends, | know. But boys are
different; they have cruel ways, and they
hate each other"
All ms was said In a tone rather Of refiec-
tlon Than Of conversation; and she still kept
her eyes on the distant ships, as il from some
secret source far away the current of her
thoughts was flowing.
The boys hate me-" she pursued, because
they think me proud. I am not proud, but 1
am quicker and ~cleyerer than they are, and 1
come from a better place. | beat them In the
class and at all things, except figures; and /
have helped the biggest OF them sometimes,
when they were too stupid TO understand"
All tbs was a revelation 10 me. Until that
moment | had never supposed that my COM
panion's place was among the common sclol-
airs. During my first two days in school she
had been absent-a circumstance which she
soon explained tO ME without any question
ing.
Il have been away on a visit, and only re-
tlrpp1 This DlgrYjnU I Ia s..y un.u. - a.h,nl
every day, because | have headaches, and my
father Will only have me learn when ] please.
Now let US go down and look at the garden.
There are fruit-bushes there. and some OF
the fruit is ripe"
Still respectful and submissive, / followed,
and we were soon wandering side by side In
the quiet garden In the neighbOrhood OF the
schOOl.house. Ever and anon. as we walk
ed, 1 heard the shouts and cries of my play
mates: but they were waited ~ Inc as from
som fOrsaken life.
Aspeil had been passed upon me, and |
was Ia a dream. As | write, the dream sur
rounds me still. Years ebb backward, clouds
part the old horizons come nearer and near
er, and | am again wandering In the quiet
shade Of trees with the shining young face at
my sde. | can no longer recall looks ami
woras. All becomes a treffor. 1 see the one
face only, but the voice becomes inarticulate.
What l remember last is a sudden sound
dissovlng a spell. A bell rung loudly from
the louise, and my companion uttered an ex-
ciamtion-
That is the bell for tea" she exclaimed.
"Yoa had better 60"
And she ran before me up the path. She
was nearly out of sight among the garden
bushes when, urged by curiosity, / took
courage, and called after her.
'What Is your nameY' | cried
She nodded back with a smile.
Madeline" she replied. "Madeline
Graham" With that she was gone. For a
moment i stood ~bewildered, and then, with
quite a new light in my eyes, | made the best
of my way into the house, and Joined the
boys at the tea-table.
Although Mrs. Munster presided at the
board. my new friend did not appear, and as
! munched my bread and butter, / thought
OF her face with a kind of dreamy pleasure,
delicious TO recall even now.