The silver lance., 1899-01-20

she doesn't dare come backi"
Hush, hush. hush! Marcia has
been ILL.," commanded the principal,
when Evelyn dashed into the once
with her excited story. That II, she
was Ill two weeks ago, when sent to
hnd out the cause Of her absence.
know she Isl" There was another rush
to the ONCE to find out Marcia's ad-
dress. but Miss Strong refused to give
it.
Let me hear no more of such words
as thief and dishonest" she said.
sternly. Twill look Into the matter.
Evelyn. as 1 told you. In the mean
time. let nothing more be said"
But great deal more was said. de-
spite the principals command. Be-
fore school closed that afternoon the
report thn- Marcia had stolen the dia-
mond ring had spread all through the
school, 1t was discussed by knots OF
excited girls and boys upon the play
ground that afternoon, and again just
as eagerly the next morning. When
school was presently opened and 1t
was supposed that nothing had been
neard about the ring, a state of excite
ment but poorly suppressed reigned ev-
erywhere. And in the midst of all
this, just as they were vainly trying
to draw their attention from Evelyn's
the lesson in hand, the door opened
and Marcia herself walked in. Dis
tressed at being late, and evidently a
little nervous herself, she made her
way quietly to her seat and opened her
books. Almost before this had hap
pened, however, Evelyn was upon her
feet and wildly signaling the teacher.
Where is my ring?" she asked Mar
c1a, as the teacher merely looked at
her quietly and gave no permission to
speak. Where is the ring that you
stole from me?"
Marcia, looking at her in open and
undisguised astonishment, turned pale
at the sound of the word stole
DO you mean to say?" she inquired
In her turn. after a moment or two of
Mortified silence on the part of all con-
cerned, that you think l stole your
ring?"
OF course you stole it," he sponded
Evelyn, angrily, and losing all control
OF herself in her passion. Tell me
II
right away!"
For answer, Marcia, who had arisen
to her feet when confronted by Eve
lyn's accusation, sank slowly to her
seat and turned her attention to her
books. She was pallid with anger,
trembling with warmth and indigna-
tion. but she kept herself well in hand.
Evelyn also sat down; she was too
weak with excitement to stand up
longer. No further word was spoken
until Miss Strong, whose coming at
that hour was unusual. stepped quietly
into the room. At sight of the flush
ed and nervous faces turned toward
her she stopped and looked inquiringly
at the teacher, who briefly explained
the recent occurrence, and Miss
strong's own face took on an unusual
ly brilliant color. She mounted the
platform and faced the pupils with an
air Of stern indignation.
There has been a great, terrible
injustice done here this morning." she
said, slowly, land am greatly asham-
ed that any pupil of the Hammond
school should have been SO unkind, as
well as SO wicked. Miss Gorton's ring
was returned to me by Miss Andrews
this morning; 1t would have been re-
turned to Miss Gorton long ago, as I
have ample proof, if it had been pos
sible for the unwilling retainer Of the
ring to find Miss Gorton.
Miss Andrews" addressing Marcia,
with courteous kindness. Miss Gorton
will. of course. apologize to you
promptly for her injustice and unkind-
ness"
Its just the way they've acted all
along" said Marcia, stung to bitter
speech by the remembrance of her win
ter's loneliness, eliminating In this
dreadful accusation. Il wanted to
come to the city SO badly" she went
on, barely choking back the tears
which told in her voice II not her eyes.
and it's been perfectly awful. I've
been the loneliest girl in school all
winter, and now"-breaking down en-
tirely-"they think I'd steal!"
mo, we don't. Marcia, we don't, in
deedv' cried Evelyn, as warm hearted
and quick to repent as she was impul-
sIvely ready to jump at conclusions.
I'VE don't dearie. l never really
thought SO myself. I was only SO
anxious to get my ring back, and 1t
looked SO queer that you'd keep 1t, and
got SO excited and angry. Please for
give me-" she whispered, throwing her
arms around the sobbing Marcia and
kissing her warmly, "and forget that
was ever So mean"
The storm had all blown over a few
minutes later when Marcia and Eve
lyn, who had both been excused, un-
asked, by Miss Strong, for the rest of
the day, went down the stairway to-
gether. 1t was the first time which
they had ever done SO, arm in arm, and
fhax have heen fast friends ever since