River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-04
Ions TRIUMPH.
nY MAni d. DOWNS.

HY MARY u. DOWNS.
Seems TO me Lon carries all his small
brains in that button on his coat in
stead of in his head, like folks that God
made" Thad was sitting on the bench
beside Ordelia when he said this, sharp
ening her pencils with MS new knife.
Ions right nervous. reckon he'll
never get used o reciting before folks,
said Ordelia. Ions smart. though
she added, dcmurely.
SMART lie couldn't answer boo tc
a question without that button to twist
his fingers on
Anyhow, wherever his brains are. he
makes good Rotations" persisted Or.
della.
Cuts right foolish figure at it, just
the same"
who's that you're calling 'foolish?'
asked an awkward boy, who had
planted himself before Ordelia's desk
She looked up. laughed, and said:
"Thad says you can't recite a WORD
without that button to twist"
Ions freckIed face flushed sensitive
". "What'I you bet?' be asked. turn
ing on Thad.
"Tll bet a half dollar that you can't
explain one example in mental arith-
netic straight without yanking it all
out of that butto.. &c yours"
"All right. I'll bet. said Lon. reckless
". Then he locke down with a rueful
smile at the button in question. which
dangled by frail thread or two from
his coat.
81 reckon I'm bound to do without
it." he remarked, IF l don't get it sewed
on soon"
"Oh. I'll sew II on for you. if you'll
stop at the house this evening-after
you've won the bet" said OrdeIia. light
ly.
The news of the challenge went
round, and for once interest was reused
in the mental arithmetic recitation.
Therefore"-Ordelia thus concluded
her problem-"the man had COZ geese
10 begin with" Ending with glib con
fidence, she folded her hands behind
her. poised lightly on her shapely feet
aud looked with smiling cOmplacency
at the ''neNt."
The next" was Lon. The whole
school belonged to the mental arithme-
tic class. but of the craning line that
had tOed the crack from the water
bucket to the blackboard at the begin
ming of the recitation only three sehol-
airs now renamed on the floOr-Or-
della. Lon and Thad.
Next"
Ions slender figure shot up in rigid
attention. lie folded his arms resO-
luteIy across his breast and waited.
Ordelia, on one side. graceful and
serene. waited. too. and on his other
side stood Thad. his feet widely planted
and his face darkly flushed.
The teacher, Miss Molly, read the
problem slowly and distinctly. Lon re-
peated il in clear. defiant voice and
then took up the explanation with con
fidence. 0rdelia settled back into her
place aud glanced about in triumph.
Thad's brow began tO straighten in a
Clark scowi. The school held its breath
Md stared.
Letting 20 represent the number OF
sheep that the man had in the first
Place, then I-2 will represent the mum
Der OF sheep-of sheep that-yes, the
humber of sheep that he bought. Then
then the-the Whole number of sheep
that he owued-the hole number OF
sheep that he owned-the " hole mum
her OF sheep would he represented by
b. which. according to the problem
which. according TO the problem. and
% sheep mean which. accordiI e
tOr-Lon's arms relaxed. Ills nervous
button.
Ordelia's smile changed TO chagrin
Thad's face broadened with a derislve
grin. 4 laugh went round the school
Ions stammerins tongue stopped al
together. There was a moment OF
silence. then the mortified boy turned
upon Thad in q fury. You sneakI"
Il amt a sneak. What's the matter
with you?" Thad's list doubled and he
fell back defiant
NO one but a sneak would play fel
low such lOw-dOwn trick as that. I'D
like 10 know what business you have to
cut of my button"
i never cut of your precious but
ton"
"You lie."
The school uprose with one accord
Seats clattered and indignant voices
rang: lie did," lie didn't" II saw
M" you neverir
The sharp tap of the teachers bell
struck into the din. The hubuO ceased
The excited children shrank back IN
their seats.
There. that will do" gasPed the
teacher. "You may take your seats
Toys, Ordelia; the class is dismissed
The school may come TO order. Now
We will have season Of quiet"
Miss Molly clasped her hands upon
her desk. and looked coidIy down one
side of the room and up the other.
In proportion 10 the number of pu
Pills. the schoolroOm was very large. AZ
the suggestion of Miss Molly. who de.
sired space for calisihenics. the chill
dren had ranged their desks on opposite
sides of the ruom. and behold! the Zap
lists all on one side. tie MethOdists or
the other. Add there they sat fact e
face--an arrangement that added yes
TO responsive Bible reading IN the morn
Ing, and 10 all manner % school con
tests
AT present Mcthodists and Baptisti
sat I'm irrepro1chable order. their hands
casped convulsiveiy on the desks. theii
faces aveTted OF lowered. est the,
should either laugh or cry Two hrigh
Spots burned on OrIielia's checks. bu
she sat perfectly still, her eyes down
Thad. opposite. was casting snxiou
vIauces toward her. Lon. on the sam
side of the room as ordelia, but severa
reats removed. was staring straight be
fore h,nl, his gray eyes swapping wit
anger. his lips closely pressed
Il was already past time for school