The silver lance., 1898-04-01

nCot yOuuk Doyb anu BAi Id WV AoS-
ed pityingly up to his dark face. were
struggling with the verb sum"
The lesson had been poorly prepared
and the issue of thunderbolts was soon
expected to shower from this pedagogi-
cal Olympus. At last it came.
Mr. jenkins brought his fist down
upon the plain deal board with
thump that awoke every languid mind
in the room. ''Is this what you come
to school for?' he began. as IL address
ing jury. rs this the way you use
one of the most precious gifts that God
has given to you? Here you are a
whole class of bright boys and girls.
with brains enough to do anything you
desire in this great world. throwing
away the greatest opportunity Of your
lives. II this was an institution for
weak-minded children l would have
some compassion for you. But your
faces are all bright and your eyes are
clear. and yet you will come to me
with such lesson as this" Mr.. Jen-
kins punctuated every sentence with
that echoing thump on the desk which
carried conviction and modification to
the minds of each boy and girl before
him.
1t was then that the red-headed girl
on the back seat wrote "Jovi non
placet" ('it is not pleasing to JupiterD.
Geraldine Coffin was Mr.. jenkins
pride. He had no favorites. at least.
such never appealed in the little COM
monwealth which he held in the hol
low of his hand. But in Geraldine he
Int f~t ho
found in her his greatest irritation.
While Mr.. Jenkins held the whole Of
his fifty odd young spirits in the hol-
low OF his hand, the red-headed girl
was the one person he was not quite
sure of. Geraldine had given him the
name Of Jupiter" and it fitted SO well
that 1t was at once adopted by all his
subjects.
when he pounds his desk and that
great shaggy head shakes SO. and his
blue eyes flash. all I can think of is
Jupiter sending thunderbolts to earth"
and in this remark Geraldine had
christened him. Many times he had
thought he had heard the name Of
Jupiter Jenkins, but he had never been
able to capture one of these erring
AnoitA Va SOui Dcp hc hhC" hC "oo
called Jupiter-he had been told SO by
admiring parents. who knew he would
be pleased. and he was.
But 1t was with the red-headed girl
that this story is chiefly concerned
She was the only human problem that
Jupiter Jenkins could not solve. Ger
aldine Conn had been an inmate of
the schoolroom only a few days when
Mr.. Jenkins discovered that she pos
sessed an unusual mind. He laid his
plans to make the most he could of
her. He was accustomed to use the
parable of the talents in the school
room, and to say that to whom much
was given much would be required.
The getting Of lessons was an easy
matter to Geraldine CONN. She not
only learned them. but the truths and
principles were digested, and sank into
her mind, clearly understood and stor-
ed away, until the day which would
call them into use.
Jupiter Jenkins was accustomed to
say that hardly more than one child
in twenty really digested knowledge.
H.
He had come to complain to Geral-
dimes mother that her daughter some
times failed In her lessons. and that it
was inexcusable in one who had such
q mind. 'T have come to tell you this
Mrs. CONN, when l would not take the
trouble to inform another mother, for
this reason and 1t alone: Geraldine
has an unusual mind. and she can
make anything she pleases of herself.
~ l~- Nd
this matter. she will not care to trou-
BILE US BY neglecting to get her les
sons"
Geraldine's mother was much flatter-
ed as any other woman would be. and.
Of course, Jupiter Jenkins was upheld.
Thus he dealt with Geraldine. con-
scious of his power. He endeavored
to make her fail, and, whenever she
did, she was compelled to remain after
school and get her lessons.
But, with a wonderful mind. there
was q somewhat wayward nature In
the texture OF Geraldine Cofln's per-
sonality. She was often rough and
hoydenish. and she caused no end of
trouble. With the deep interest the
young master took in her, a sense of
power developed. When Mr.. Jenkins
supposed he had her solidly in his con-
troll. there would burst forth a fit OF
don't care" in her which astonished
and alarmed him.
Then the thunderbolts few to pune
tuate the masters fluent words of in
dignation. When one has the mighty
gift Of brains" he thundered, land
life's road lies before to choose what
is best and highest. to be lazy and Ian
guild, and not to reach the arm to grasp
the golden apple of Hesperides. is the
greatest wrong"
It was then that Geraldine. her color
slighflY hrighter and her head frifle