Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-01-28

that he supposed she had got her ring
all right. Explanations followed and
Evelyn at once jumped to the conclu.
sion that Marcia had stolen the ring.
81 always knew there was some
thing queer about her, she was so I'M.
naturally quiet and still!' she ex-
claimed, not remembering that no op.
portunity had been given quiet, retir-
ing Marcia to be anything else.
"She's just thief, that's all she is,
and she stayed away from school all
this time just because she doesn't
dare come back
"Hush, hush, hush! Marcia has
has been ill.," commanded the priu.
cipal, when Evelyn dashed into the
Office with her excited story. THAT
is, she was ill two weeks ago, when 1
sent to find out the cause of her alb.
sence. 1 know she is" There was
another rush to the Office TO find out
Marcia's address, but Miss Strong re-
fused to give it.
"Let me hear no more Of such
words as thief and dishonest" she
said, sternly, 81 will look into the
matter, Evelyn, rs I told you. In the
meantime, let nothing more be said. :"
But q great deal more was said,
despite the principals command. Be-
fore school closed that afternoon the
report that Marcia had stolen the dia-
mond ring had spread all through the
school. 1t was discussed by knots of
excited boys and girls upon the play
ground that afternoon, and again just
as eagerly the next morning. When
school was presently opened and it
was supposed that nothing had been
heard about the ring n state of ex-
element but poorly suppressed
reigned everywhere. And in the
midst of all this, just as they were
vainly trying to draw their attention
from Evelyn's crimson cheeks and
flashing eyes to the lesson in hand,
the door opened and Marcia herself
walked in. Distressed at being late
and evidently little nervous herself,
she made her way quietly to her seat
and opened her books. Almost be-
fore this had happened, however,
Evelyn was upon her feet and wildly
signaling the teacher.
"Where is my ring?" she asked
Marcia, 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 establishment, turned
pale at the sound of the word "stole. "
'Do you mean to say?' she in
quired in her turn, after a moment or
two OF Mortified silence OH the part of
all concerned, "that you think stole
your ring?"
"Of course you stole it" responded
Evelyn, angrily, and losing all con-
troll of herself in her passion. 'Tell
me where it is Or I'll have you al
rested right away'
For answer Marcia, who had arisen
to her feet when confronted by Ele-
lyn's accusation, sank slowly to her
seat and turned her attention to her
books. She was Iallid with anger,
trembling with wrath and Indignation,
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 quiet
ly into the room. AT sight Of the
flushed and nervous faces turned
toward her she stopped and looked in
quiringly at the teacher, who briefly
explained the recent occurrence, and
Miss Strong's own face took on an I'M
usually 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" she said, slowly,
"and am greatly ashamed that any
pupil of the Hammond school should
have been so unkind, as well as SO
wicked. Miss Gortor's ring was re-
turned to me by Miss Andrews this
morning; it would have been returned
to Miss Gorton long ago, as have
ample proof, il it had been possible
for the unwilling retainer of the ring
to find Miss Gorton.
"NIiss Andrews" addressing Mar
cia, with courteous kindness, "Miss
Gorton will, of course, apologize to
you promptly for her injustice and I'M.
kindness.
cts just the way they've acted all
along" said Marcia, stung to bitter
speech by the remembrance of her
winters loneliness, eliminating in this
dreadful accusation. 81 wanted to
come to the city so badly" she went
on, barely choking back the tears
which told in her voice if not her eyes,
"and it's been perfectly awful. I've
been the loneliest girl in school all
winter, and Woodworking down ell
tirely-"they think Td-steal!"
"No, we don't, Marcia, we don't,
indeed!' cried Evelyn, as warm-heart'
ed and quick to repent as she was i'm
pulsively ready to jump at conclu.
sions, eve don't, dearie. never real.
ly thought SO myself. I was only SO
anxious to get my ring back, and il
looked so queer that you'd kept it,
and got so excited and angry. Please
forgive 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 few
minutes later, when Marcia and Eve
Ign, 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 they have been fast friends evel
since. Chicago Record.
nno r1a