The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1902-05-24
!, THE REWARD
!, OF MERIT q q

ana huge masses OF Mhltc ukalnst the
walls and outbulldings of Nine. Ms
school for young ladies, fashionable
seminary IN the town Of y. IL WAS
the month Of February, and rs the end
OF the SECOND term OF the school year
was drawing near the quarterly exam
nations were In progress. In one Of
the coolest apartments in the buildings
six young ladies, all members Of the
art class. were assembled, busily en-
gagged in conversation. IL was typ
lcal college girls room. Photographs
and souvenirs OF various kinds deco
rated tie walls and manteL and he;er-.
oyencuus assortment 81 b..c-a-bf,,c MS
syat,CrCu At.e. theso ang cNc.. VA &.
The latest magazine, with is leeA $
uncut. lay upon the center table. IN
one corner OF the room stood an easel
with an unfinished painting thereon,
while charcoal drawings. pencil sketch
es and studies IN still life gave mute
evidence OF the presence OF the student.
Amy Hlldrcth. The hostess. bright
faced sirl cf sixteen, WIS irgt row the
central ngIe IN Tie animated .ro-p.
She was the daughter OF "A Clergyman
and one Of the most popular girls in the
school
Il say It's shame" cried Minnie
May. a curly haired blond. You're
the most talented girl IN the class, and
thbA--nl your having 10 leave now.
without even a chance to try for TIE
prize You'd be sure 90 win IT, The rest
of us wouldn't have the ghost OF an
opportunity
"Bcss tales lessons simply for the
name Of the thing" said Lottie Moore.
"Now. with me It's different | expect
10 teach some day IL | ever succeed In
painting d rose which can be distin-
guished from n cabbage by any means
except its color"
CAS- fur as / am ccncerned," said En-
ma Bralard, a tall, stately looking
girl with a profus.on OF wavy black
hair framing her piquant face. Mime.
NJ s prize is perfectly safe. You know,
girls, | don't pretend TO paint anything
except miniatures Should | ever be
come celebrity in that line | shall
tour Europe and paint all the crowned
heads"
The prize referred to was gold med
al and scholarship for the coming
year, TO be given for the best flower
piece painted by any member of the art
class after one years course OF lessons
in the seminary Amy's work up to
this time had shown unusual excel.
lence. and her talent If opportunity to
develop il were given, would without
question have enabled her TO take pre-
cedence Of all the others, even those
OF the students who had had the ad
vantage of previous study before enter
ing the school for a special course. But
letter from her mother, received that
very morning, had given her hopes in
that direction a decided blow
you know, daughter" she had writ
ten "your fathers salary Is not large,
and | am really afraid we shall have TO
have you come home at the end OF the
term. IL your board were the only
thing, 1t would be a different matter.
but the lessons are very expensive, and
as il is not at all probable that painting
will ever amount to anything more
than a mere accomplishment l do not
see my way clear just now 10 help you
out, much as | would like TO have you
continue. II pains me 20 tell YOU this.
for | know your heart is set on com
plotting the course but | see no other
way unless something unexpected
should happen"
whats this, Amy? A valentinef'
asked one of girls, holding up combi-
nation Of painted flowers and satin rib
bon which she had discovered among
tho collection % souvenirs on the man
tel
yves" said amy with i merry
laugh And u.s. the way tomorrow IS
Ethe 18th Suppose we each surprise
our favorite teacher with a bunch ~
dollhouse flowers We cen get them AT
Green's when we SO out for our walk
"Capitalm snid Lottie. an give a
bunch Of American Beauties To Miss
Whitley think she IS too sweet for
anything"
$50 do l." assented Minnie. she's
entirely too pretty TO be buried in this
poky li,tle country town"
Il shall give mine TO Miss Sue. the
Latin teacher, and Il will be lilies ~
the valley" said Bess. she always
makes me think OF a lily, she Is so
sweet and graceful"
what about our town teacher, Miss
GrayesT ventured Amy.
A general laugh arose
"Hcr name Is certainly suggestive"
said one. For instance. one might
compose cQuplet after this sort
"se.aphira. adore theci
Take these flowers. / implore theel
Whore do YOU suppose SHE ever got
that uameY And she Is 40 funny look
ing with those old fashioned little cork.
screw curls and her dainty. mincing
steps"
II don't think she Is funny looking"
sald Amy. II think her white curls are
quaint. and then her work why. it's
simply grand! You know that painting
I In tho rpcppfiou room "rhc Huine of