River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-21


money, and so Salome had to work;
and Prof. Gregg would probably have
her expelled. The first thought broke
| Virginia's heart, and the second would
| break Salome's.
1t was wakeful night for the mcr-
ry, careless girl. At ten o'clock she
had shaken her head scornfully. Apol-
ogize to Prof. Gregg? Never! 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. II
! shall apologize" she said, aloud.
''Salome and | are in the scales. I'm
up SO high it makes me light-headed,
and Salome-Salome' down so low she
bumps! l 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 caln 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.
/ find they agree exactly-exactly."
On the next day the recitation
-! dragged out its 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 a whisper.
But at the end of the hour Virginia
cast off the friendly fingers and sat
| up straight.
go out, all of you!" 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, l have discovered some
thing" he began.
Il have discovered that one of my
young ladies has a most remarkable
talent-no, please DON'T speak yet!
Let me finish. She is a genius, per-
haps; / am not snre. But, in her place,
do you know what / should do? I
would turn that talent to account. 1t
should not be buried in Latin text
book any longer. Now, have an idea.
1t is this, Miss Booth. My friend, the
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.
Now" he continued, eff 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 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
establishment. 1t was full minute be-
fore she could speak. Then the words
flowed out in an impetuous, girlish
torrent:
80 Prof. Gregg, I'm so glad-no, 1
mean I'm so sorry! I'm SO ashamed!
know you must think I'm a-a-
aucebox. But didn't mean anything
pad, truly!"
She stopped for breath, and he wait
ID, smiling.
"You don't mean I could do any
thing? Make sketches and get-and
ret money for them? Why, I've al
ways drawn faces ever since | can re-
member but L 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 l 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! l want tot" 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 I never 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, homeIy 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 hopes! If she could have seen
the pride in Salome's sweet face when
the success had come!
But -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.
.sWell, did he scold you dreadfully.
NOR daar9 Are Won more daorx ~ba,,