Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-05-12

tween the two families was known 10
everyone in the room, and the perfect
silence gave way to excited whispers
and a general stir as the two boys
faced each other
In the midst of the excitement Miss
Ware pronounced the word "tessellate"
for Cyrus to spell. lie spelled it while
the whispering and general murmur of
excitement were still undated. and
Miss Ware, holding up her hand, as
signal for silence, said:
silence, please"
When perfect silence reigned she
said to Cyrus;
IL am not quite sure that l under
stood you when you spelled the word
'tesselate.' Did you spell it, with one or
two Tsp"
Cyrus was silent for a moment. lie
bit his lip and then replied:
Il spelled it with two Is"
THAT was right" said Miss Ware.
Louis you may spell propylon.' "
Louis hesitated an instant, and then
spelled it slowly and distinctly, PRO
p-i-l-o-n.'
Next" said Miss Ware, little sadl y.
CYRUS spelled the word correctly, and
Louis sat down with a frown on his
face. and "A darker frown was on the
face of his father, who was in the room.
well, boy; ! guess you have won the
prize fairly and Squarely, and here ii is.
I'm little sorry it had to go out of our
own district but said I'd give il 10
the one that stood up longest, and I'll
keep my word"
Thank you, sir" replied Cyrus as he
took the money. Then he turned TO me
and said;
"Come, Ted; let's go home There >
father over 10y the door. | think he's
been to my Aunt Martha's and stopped
for us To 90 home with him Come on. !"
lie pushed his way through the
crowd, and followed him. But when
we had reached the open door he
turned suddenly and walked over to
the little platform at one end OF the
room. Selling the teachers little bell
on her desk he stood on chair and
rang the bell violently. All eye, were
fixed upon him. and those who had
lfiA Ailt libhSf llu i'Al III ~ hills W Nv II
all was silent. Cyrus stood up boldly
and bravely, and his voice rang our
clearly and steadily, as he said:
II want to say something. did not
tell the truth when | said spelled the
word 'tessellate' with two IS spelled
it with but one. although | knew as
soon as | had done so that had made
a mistake. But missed the word, and
this gold piece belongs to my cousin
Louis. | want him TO come and get il,
and beg his pardon and yours for my
unfairness."
The dead silence that followed this
manly confession Of his fault was
broken by John Drake, Cy's uncle,
stepping on TO the platform and taking
Cyrus by the hand, while he said:
Good for you. Cy! I'm prouder Of
you for this than | am of Louis for
winning the prize. You wouldn't be
my brothers son if you had kept what
didn't belong 10 YOU. We brakes have
our faults. but we're honest people and
we tell the truth. I'm proud 10 have so
brave a nephew. and your father
ought 70 be proud 10 have so brave a
son"
II am John" said Mark Drake, Cy's
father. stepping forward and holding
out his hand toward his brother.
For the first time in five years they
clasped hands. and the hands Of every
one in the room clapped approval OF
this public reconciliation of the two
brothers. They rode home together,
with Cy and Louis and Struggled up
| in the straw and robes in the bottom Of
| the sled behind them
Old Jonas Keightly probably told the
| truth when he said afterwards
81 guess 7 never invested $50 10 bet
ter advantage ."-Goldcn DAYS.