The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-09-04

had shaken her head scornfully. Apol-
ogize to Prof. Gregg? Neverl She
had meant no harm to him. She had
to look at him, did she not? And
when she looked, could she help draw
ing him? Could anybody?
That was at ten. At eleven Virginia
was uncertain and miserable. AT
twelve she sprang out of bed. 81
shall apologize" she said, aloud.
"Salome and are in the scales. I'm
up so high it makes me light-headed,
and Salome-Salome's down so low she
bumps! / shall apologize"
But it was hard-only Virginia knew
how hard.
Afterward she remembered but one
happening in that recitation. That
one would stand out clearly in her
memory till she was an old woman.
She could always hear the calm tread
of Prof. Gregg's boots across the room
to her.
"Your book, Miss Booth. Pardon me
for retaining it. wanted to compare
certain portions of it with the original.
l find they agree exactly-exactly."
On the next day the recitation
dragged out it's length. The girls were
all dull and absent-minded from SYM
pathy. Georgia clutched one of Vir-
ginia's hands in her own, and breathed
alternate encouragement and defiance
in whisper.
But at the end of the hour Virginia
cast. off the friendly fingers and sat
up straight.
$50 out, all of you'll" she whispered.
"My last will and testament is: Never
make faces!' Take me as a warming.
Now go along, every soul of you'll"
Miss Booth will remain for mo-
ment," a quiet voice was saying, as
the class was dismissed.
'For all the world as if he said:
Miss Booths hour has comet"
groaned Georgia, beneath her breath.
''Good-by, poor dear!"
Virginia turned and faced the quiet
young man. He did not give her an
instant to speak.
''Miss Booth, / have discovered some.
thing" he began.
81 have discovered that one of my
young ladies has most remarkable
talent-no, please don't speak yet!
Let me finish. She is a genius, per-
haps; am not sure. But, in her place,
do you know what / should do?
would turn that talent to account. 1t
should not be buried in Latin text
book any longer. Now, l have an idea.
&c fr%in "A
managing editor of the Express, wants
me to write up the evening sessions
of the labor convention, just about to
open. The best speakers, he tells me
are to be saved for the evenings. Some
noted men will talk.
Snow" he continued, "if this young
artist in my class were to attend those
meetings, and make sketches of the
speakers in their favorite attitudes,
and if / were to submit said sketches
with my reports--well, / think it might
be a way to get that talent out of it's
napkin. 1t is worth trying, don't you
think?"
Not word of complaint; not men
ton of the subject of all those dread
full sketches. Virginia gasped with
astonishment. 1t was full minute be-
fore she could speak. Then the words
flowed out in an impetuous, girlish
torrent:
30 Prof. Gregg, I'm so glad--no,
mean I'm so sorry! I'm so ashamed
I know you must think I'm IA
saucebox. But didn't mean anything
bad, truly"
She stopped for breath, and he wait
ed, smiling.
thing? Make sketches and get-ahd
get money for them? Why, I've al.
ways drawn faces ever since can re-
member, but never thought of that!
You don't think-it doesn't seem pos
sible-that could earn something do.
ing that?"
"If you did it as we'll as some of your
work have SEEN" Prof. Gregg said,
gravely. 81 know how good that is,
for 1 compared it with the original.
1t is singularly correct. Miss Booth,
tell you our talents are given us to
use in the best way. Use yours!"
ooh, I will! I want toll" cried the
girl. 81 will do anything you say.
Georgia's father will let me go to the
meetings with him, and 1 will draw
as ser did before. And if any
thing ever comes of tiff it's start
shall always bless"
He held up his hand to stop her. His
thin, homely face was radiant with
friendliness and interest.
81 shall bless myself" he smiled.
If Virginia could have looked ahead,
could have seen the success of that
first little attempt, followed by other
successes leading slowly, steadily up
ward to the honorable height of her
eager hopesl If she could have seen
the pride in Salome's sweet face when
the success had come!
But now, unseeing, she only stood
there in the quiet of the big, empty
room and hung her head. She only
looked up in meek, earnest contrition
at her friend.
"Well, did he scold you dreadfully,
poor dear? Are you more dead than
alive? Is he perfect wretch?" the
girls clamored, softly, when she went
out to them at last.
Virginia waved them off and faced
them at arms length. She tried to
keep from crying.
"No, I'm the wretch" she said. "He
Ia an angel!"-Youth's Companion.