The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-10-27

whsrs Her Honesty was sas Best

end Of : school report which she had
iust finished, and than. heaping . littls
sigh. remarked 70 . companion who
sat at the desk near and was engaged
In a similar occupation:
Il almost regret sometimes that my
parents did not give me . different
name"
''Why7- was asked in surprise.
because the one they gave me
brought with II such q weight Of re.
sponsibility. ] feel that J must b.
Honor Bright IN nature rs well as in
name"
Then suppose I ought to have q
sticky, tobaccory nature" the friend
rejoinad.
Honor laughed nerrily. what can
you mean. virgis2" she inquired. look.
ing at her companion with eyes from
which the seriousness had al de.
parted.
WHY, don't ycu see7r she returned,
rs she signed her name to the report,
Virginia s~paulding MeFrick Viz.
gfnis savors Of tobacco. I have seen
It hundreds of times on the papers
Of tobacco that my fathers workmen
bsve around them. And then OF
course you have always heard OF
Standings glue. Isn't that name
sticky and tobaccory enough 70 dis
gust anybody I'd leave out the
middle one--it's Of no use-only Mr..
Harding insists on having Il signed
that way"
They were not fully 6edged teach
ers these two young girls, but were
merely undergoing q six 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 q position depended to
. great extent on the principals
recommendation. At the end Of the
six months there would be q vacancy
In one Of the nearest schools. and that
was 10 be filed by the graduate having
The best record in the traiping 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 as DON IS possible.
"Why should you worry about living
up to your name?" virgie went on.
AFTER all. there Is very little honor In
the world, and those who are looscst
In regard to this matter get along
best, ! think"
Both were very serious now.
"Then you do not believe that hon
esty "a the best policy" Honor asked
anxiously. She was beginning to love
this bright companion, although she
had known her only q few weeks. and
she was shocked to hear her express
such an opinion. She had been taught
to have the very strictest regard for
truth. and II panied her to find It Lack
ing In others. Besides, Virgie was
such excellent company that she had
q decided influence over her friends,
and Honor feared what that influence
might be II the girl really felt the SEN
timent that she expressed
mot . bit Of It. Do your" virgie In
quired.
Eyes, I believe I do" Honor re.
turned. "It seems to me that though
dishonesty may triumph for awhile.
like murder, Il will out in tie end"
elm not so sure about that. Now,
for Instance, we are supposed to he IN
orr ciassrooms at eligibility, and we
r expected to keep . true account Of
the time that we enter. Yet I know
that many Of the training-schooi girls
always put down eligibility whether
they are in their rooms 1t that time or
not Isn't IL policy for them to do Il?
Who will be any the wiser7 II they
were counted late It would 60 agsins.
their record"
81 would rather be counted late than
dishonest" Honor answered. emphzt-
icslly. "If no one else knew IL I
should know 1t myself, and I prefer to
have q clear conscience. And then ]
think we cam avoid either disgrace BY
making an effort to be always early"
''But II you had TO be late some
morning, what Them"
"1hope ! should be honorable enough
to mark Il 50. ven though ! suffered
IN consequence. You would too.
wouldn't you, virgie?"
CONT Know Inc tempt3tlOu Is
80 strong. But II you really feel this
way, why need you worry about being
like your name7 You won't disgrace
that, with your principles"
because it seems to me that some
times IL Is so difficult to be strictly
true. Do you never. when Of your
guard, find yourself saying something
that isn't exactly 50, or e~xaggerhting o
little. even without meaning to do it?"
.sWe1l now that you speak of Il, /
remember that I have done 30. but I
hardly think ! should stop 70 worry
about IL Come. let rs 20; Il il four
o'clock. and time we were az home in
stead Of In these halls Of learning.
Know you not ct this hour the Dig
nifed mice do c~ongregate 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 q
greater regard for truth than would
appear BY her remarks Once when
virgie expressed = sentiment similar
to the one mentioned in the beginning
Of this story Honor demonstrated
uU-A - --~-1. -. H. TIA -.