The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-12-01
HONOR BRIGHT.
Where Her Honesty Was tho Best
Policy.

Where Her Honesty Was the, Best
Policy.
Honor bright signed her name at the
end OF a school report which she had
just finished, and then, heaving a little
sigh, rema rked to companion who
sat at the desk near and was engaged
in a simi!ar occupations:
II almost regret sometimes that my
parents did not give me different
name"
''Why?" was asked in surprise.
Because tne one they gave me
brought with it such weight of re-
sponsibility. 1 feel that J. must be
Honor Bright in nat ure as we'll as in
name"
Then l suppose ought TO have a
sticky, tobaccory nature" the friend
reioined>
Honor laughed :rlerrily, what can
you mean, Virgis?" she inquired, look
which the seriousness had all de-
parted.
''Why. don't you see?" she returned,
as she signed her name to the report,
"Virginia Spaulding Merrick. Vir-
gihia savors OF tobacco. ] have seen
of tobacco that my fathers workmen
have around them. And then Of
course you have always heard Of
Spaulding's glue. Isn't that name
sticky and tobaccory enough to dis
gust nybody? I'd leave out the
middle one-it's of no use-onlv Mr..
Harding insists on having it signed
that way
They were not fully fedged teach
ers these two young girls, but We're
merely undergoing a siH months pro-
baton at the training-school. The
rules there were very strict, and they
were anxious to comply with every
one; for they knew that their pros
pect of getting a position depended to
great extent on the principals
Recommendation. At the end of the
six months there would be vacancy
in one OF the nearest schools, and that
was TO be filed by the graduate having
the best record in the training depart
ment- Honor was exceedingly anxious
for the position. Her mother had
made many sacrifices to keep her at
school, and she wanted to relieve her of
expense is soon as possible.
why should you worry about living
up to your na'ne?' Virgie went on.
After all, there is very little honor in
the world, and those who arc loosest
in regard to this matter get along
best, 1 Think
Both were very serious now.
''Then you do not believe that hon
esty is the best policy" Honor asked
anxio,rsIy. She was beginning to love
this bright companion, although she
had known her only n few weeks, and
| she was shocked to hear her express
such an opinion. She had been taught
truth, and it panied her to find it lack
ing in others. Besides, VirEie was
| such excellent company that she had
decided influence over her frie nds,
and Honor feared what that influence
might be if the girl really felt the SEN
timent that she expressed.
Not bit of it. Do your Virgie in
quired.
Yes. l believe l do" Honor re.
turned. 1T seems to me that though,
dishonesty may triumph for awhile,
like murder, it will ont in the end
''l'm not so sure about that. Now,
for Instance, we are supposed tt, he in
our c!assrooms at cight-ffty, and we
are expected to keep Il true account 81
the time that we enter Yet -know
that many of the training-school girls
| always put down eligibility whether
| they are in their rooms at that time OF
| not. Isn't it policy for them to do it:
Who will be any the wiser? If they
! were counted late it would go against
| their record"
Il would rather be counted late chan
|
| ics.lly. eff no one else knew it
should know it myself, and l prefer tc
have a clear conscience. And then
| think we can avoid either disgrace by
| making an effort to be always early. >
But if you had to be late some
| morning, what then?''
81 hope should he honorable enough
| to mark It SO, even though ] suffered
| in consequence. You would too
wouldn't you, Virgie?''
II don't know. The temptation is
| SO strong But if you really feel this
| way, why need you worry about being
| like your name? You won't disgrace
| that, with your principles
! because it seems to me that some
| times it is SO difficult to be strictly
| true. DO you never, when off youl
guard, find yourself ing something
that isn't exactly SO, or cxaggerating a
little, even without meaning to do it?'
well. now that you speak OF it,
| remember that ! have done so, but
| hardly think I should stop to worry
| about it. Come, let us go; it Is foul
| o'clock, and time we were at home in
| stead of in these halls of learning.
| Know you not at this hour the dig
nified mice do congregate and discuss
the mighty question of scattered
| crumbs?" and Virgie Merrick sailed
| out of the room with an air that com
pletely upset Honor's gravity.
As the weeks passed and the girls
| became better acquainted Honor dis
! covered that her new friend had a
creater regard for truth than would