Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-04-24

"If I'm going to play hockey before
the weeks out. l may as well begin
nOw!' he gasped through his shut
teeth, swallowing something more acid
than vinegar. II guess it amt mucn
use trying to do the right sort O. thing.
II guess it's the bad that'll win out"
He was sobbing now. big. unheaving
sobs. that made him tear along blind
ly. trying to outrun his weakness. Rod
this morning had a queer feeling.
which lately attacked him more than
once during his lonely ranch life with
his grandfather. as il a brute and an
angel were fighting in him. And. though
he understood nothing about the help
full influence of one boys faith In an
other. he felt through and through him
that Curley's hopeless predictions had
powerfully strengthened the brute.
He flung himself down at last, weary
and choking. on brown mat of leaves
in the corner Of an unfamiliar orchard.
A well was near. and presently hauling
UP the bucket he took a long drink Of
rather cloudy looking water, trying to
cool his fever within.
Papa won't let me drink that water
less'n it's boiled" said a sudden and
shrill voice behind him. "He-he says
thcre's-theres scarecrobes in it,"
"Scarecrobes" calculated Rod. drop
ping the bucket with a wild splash.
and turning on golden-faced little
girl who had stolen unheard over the
moist leaves. "Scarecrobes! he re-
peated, mystfed, wondering what I'M
known monster dwelt in the well. for
he had not been long enough at school
to guess that she meant microbes.
"You-you was kying" declared the
child looking up at his eyes with grave
conviction. Guess you oughter ask God
to take that miserble face off you,
same's mamma makes me do when
feels bad"
''Who-who's your pap-pa" gasped
Rod, staring at this free little preacher
in numb surprise.
"He teaches school down to Gray
Creek" was the quick reply. Guess
you's one of his boys an you ruined
away to-day-you's bad!"
I'm not" roared the goaded boy,
desperately. heaving out his heart Sc
cret. IL want to be good!'
She shyly retreated two steps. fright
ened at his vehemence but the minia-
ture we'll Of a woman's pity dubbed in
the child's breast.
''Then l guess you will be-good,"
she faltered. after a doubtful minute,
the sun of confidence lighting her
golden face. "See." kicking among the
leaves. II broke my wheel; 1t can't
run any more"
"Show me. Perhaps l can fix it,"
proposed Rod. in a strange glow of in
terest; it seemed ages since he had done
anything for girl, for one year is
sometimes to a boy as a thousand, but
there had been a small sister who died
when his mother died.
He set eagerly to work with his
pocket knife. pine splinters, and string
which the child fetched from her home.
She brought. too piece of ginger
bread, warm from the touch of her lit
tie hand. and a mug of clearer water.
Guess yOu's hungry. or you would
not ha' felt so bad"' she said. reason
ing from her own small experience, as
she pushed the spiced bread under his
nose.
Rod quickly discovered that he was
hollow as a drum. but for a minute he
could not attend to that feeling because
of another which occupied him; it
seemed as if cold band which had
been frightened round his heart strangl-
ing for the last hour his desire to make
man of himself. suddenly loosened
and set him free again.
He felt three parts il man already,
while he labored for this. child. and
she trusted him. cuddling down on the
leaves beside him, healing the chafed
sore in his heart. until he rubbed his
freckled face against her shoulder feel
ing as if he were wipng off smears of
sensitiveness and shame
SO Mr.. Meyers found the pair later,
when he returned home with the weari-
ness of many hours struggle with ig-
norance on his face. Rod had then dis
covered that his friends name was
Margery. and that she was the Gray
Creek teachers only child. He rose in
great trepidation.
80 you cut school this afternoon.
Dixon" said the man. in a rallyng
tone. II didn't imagine you were such
mushy sort of a fellow rs to quit so
soon because of anything the other boys
might say"
Rod had not thought it himself until
to-day. lie gaZed down at Margerys
head. and then up, with Il flush under
his freckles. and his half-healed heart
shining in his eyes.
I'm not going to be a gutter. he
said resolutely. 'l-Im going to do
the right sort O thing"
THAT'S good answered the teach
er, heartily. and passed on, mutterng
something about letting that boy work
out his own salvation, with Margerys
help. But in a'few minutes he appeared
at his door again.
Say. Dixon" he called out, "there
Is to be Il spelling match this evening
Ovnr L,uvlawOnI hot our c.booI