The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-04

stead of trying to lessen the severity
of the sentence by good behavior the
whole class caught up the spirit OF
Hinda'S aggraVation, and each MANI
feStation of resentment lrrltated MISS
Sigsby to fresh penalties. During the
interval between recess and noon the
SpongeS were slyly thrown about. The
floor became badly sDattered. Miss
Sigsby dragged her skirts through a
pool of water before she saw 1t. she
stopped, looked puzzled. then drew
back, scanning the faces that were bent
studiously over the books. Who mas
been throwing water about the room Z!
she asked, biting off her words. There
was an ominous silence. She knew 1t
was useless to speak further. She cast
one warning glance at Hilda, then Set
ting her lips tight, and holding her
head very erect, she left the room. They
knew what this meant. She was foinS
to the principal.
No sooner was the door closed than
the children broke into an uproar of
indignation. A council of war was
held. Some one suggested that the
whole class should disappear through
the side window, from which, it would
be easy to reach the ground. AS Kinda,
with shout of defiance, landed her
dripping sponge at the door, it opened.
Amidst the general CONSERVATION and
Sigsby was wiping the binding shower
from her face, the sponge dlsappeaIeu.
and all was quiet. With an awful
crushing look, terrible in its calmness,
she advanced to the first desk.
Did you throw that sponge? Show
it to me- This was the question each
child was forced to answer. John Wyld-
ing, little fellow with black hair and
long arms, reached forward and broke
the long, tell-tale string that fastened
Hinda'S sponge to her desk, ana SUI
stituted his own, which hung from a
short cord. He was SO adrOit that
Kinda herself did not know what he
had done, and when the question came
to her, she thought her time was come,
and that nothing would save her from
the ferrule. In all her career of mis-
chief her pride had never undergone
this humiliation, and she knew from
Miss Sigsby'S eye that there would be
no quarter. She did not reply, but
brought the sponge forth. a kick from
her little friend checked her exclama-
ton of surprise. Miss Sigsby examined
the sponge carefully. She shifted in
credulously, disappointed not to have
been able to fasten the guilt upon the
usual source, entirely overlooking the
fact that Kinda had not answered her
question.
After she had passed. Kinda dropped
DdCh, very pale, ana 1eIl TO studying,
but started up as she heard voice
saying:
Yes, ma am, but 1 didn't mean to
hit you, didn't know you were at the
door, and if you please, I'd like to have
it over as soon as possible. VIII you
take me to the principal at once?"
And before she realized what had hap
pened. Miss Sigsby and John had
walked out of the room.
She jumped up, Her first generous
impulse was to run after them, ac-
knowledge her fault, and save her little
friend. But the eyes of her compan-
ions were upon her, they would tease
her numerically. She bit her lips and
colored, then sat down stolidly. She
spoke not a word that afternoon, but
went home feeling very small in her
own estimation.
We'll, and who won the fight 90
asked grandpa, jovially, catching her
between his knees. She stopped and
picked up his pipe without answering,
then ran away in the gathering dark
ness, hoping to meet some of her
schoolmates near the drug store
Two OF. three of Hinda's intimate
friends were holding an Indignation
meeting against the teacher. Some in