Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-02

felt really hurt and went home with the
discouraged feeling OF having somehow
failed to meet her ends. Blu OF one thing
she was convinced-Larry was purposely
impudent, Intentionally rude and should be
severely dealt with.
After roll cali in the afternoon she was
seated at the desk copying names into the
register, when she heard The Sidewalks Of
New York" whistled in = bird-like voice
outside. A food OF memories was awakened
by that once popular air-memories Of her
far away New York home. Tears Of home
sickness rushed to the teachers eyes.
She rose and went TO the window Just
In time to see a figure clad In navy blue
entering by the back door. He came in,
looked about him with a timid. slightly be-
wildered air and dropped into the first
vacant seat. She watched him narrowly.
There wal something about the
bay this afternoon totally different
from the morning "A something in
tangible, yet strong enough to
make her feel uneasy about addressing him,
but she realized that whatever was to be
done must be done now or she would never
gain an influence over the school.
Larry" she said, "como here"
At the sound Of her voice the boy
INeA N0an A1AA AS10N MANGAG0 = III LnGh
sat down again.
Come here" she repeated.
The boy rose slowly. came forward and
stood before her, his steady glance meet
ing hers with an earnestness that was
almost pathetic. She felt all her anger
for the mornings offenses melt quite away,
but he had just violated the rule so en-
phatically laid down. So she steeled her.
self.
Larry" she commenced, and again that
peculiar expression crossed the boys face,
what did you mean by coming in through
the back doorT'
The boy looked at her with a puzzled ex-
preston as he replied: IT meant to get
inside"
A suppressed litter ran around the room.
Tn boys innocent eyes looked straight
into hers.
Evidently this new phase Of character
was a bit of clever acting.
Now, Miss May had studied psychology
and had considered its application, but she
had never heard OF a similar instance.
D you not know that you have no right
to enter by the back door,"
mo, ma'ami l don't know It," was the
prompt reply.
The laughter Of the other pupils was
no longer suppressed and the teachers face
hardened.
What reason have you for saying you
do not know it?"
II never heard It before"
Larry, you are telling me q positive
falsehood."
The blood surged to the lads cheeks.
Il am not" he proudly retorted, 81
never
"stop!" she cried. mo another world
Do not dare to speak again. 1 never have
met with such rudeness."
His lips parted as If he were about to
speak.
Not one word until l give you permits
sion. Had you forgotten and acknowl-
edged your fault l might have excused
you; but to your disobedience you have
added a lie."
The boy struggled to keep back the tears
OF wounded pride and modification; his
fingers worked nervously at his scarf pin,
a little brownie pin, a blue and gold DO
liceman. His tie was cross barred with
black instead Of being polka-dotted like
the one he wore in the morning. Miss May
wondered II the delay in changing neck
ties had caused his hardness, and then
she wondered at herself for thinking Of II
at a time when the wearer deserved all
her attention.
Are you ready to acknowledge you
did hear the ruler"
He could not speak for sobblni. y
Answer me, Larry" And then in the
hush Of the schoolroom, whose silence was
broken only by the sobs Of the boy, the
little timid voice of Nellie Ames faltered
out; PLEASE teacher, it amt Larry. It's
his brother"
Miss May started and drew her hand
across her eyes as II to aid her vision. She
felt dazed:
His brotherf" she gasped.
"Yes'm. His twin brother"
Il do not understand" Then turning to
him she asked:
Boy, am l speaking to you now or to
your twin brotherT'
The change was 80 abrupt from pathos
to bathos that the tension relaxed. The
atmosphere was full OF laughter Just as
previous to a rain the air Is saturated with
moisture. A, smile twitched the corners
of the pupils lips; first a ripple, then a
roar, which increased In volume, died
away, rose again and only sank into ST.
lence after fully FIVE minutes.
Through It all Miss May was thinkinE
very hard, and she came to the conclusion
that applied Psychology il at best but com
ICON sense.
Scarcely had the echo OF the laughter
died away, when the door opened and a
short, pompous-looking gentleman with a
shiny silk hat and a shiny red nose. en-
tered, accompanied by the counterpart OF
the boy in front Of her.
How de dol How de dol" the man
exclaimed, advancing and taking her hand
before she realized what had happened.
She stammered forth some response, but
he did not wait for a reply;
80 you're the new teacher! Glad
to meet you'll I'm Colonel Pair.
What's this? Harry in tearsH O., see,
been mistaken for Larry again. Sad con-
sequence Of looking 30 much alike. Hal
hal"
II didn't knOw"-besan Miss May with
flaming checks.
"Tutl TUT OF course you didn't know.
How could you? Don't know half the time
myself. Housekeeper only tells 'em apart
by their neekties. Bad thing for both of
'em, their being so much alike. Each one
a little worse than the other. Ha! ha!
Worst pair in town they say at the club.
say which Pair do you mean2' Hal Ha!
Hal"
During this monologue Miss May noticed
that Larry, the real Larry, was almost
bursting with suppressed enjoyment OF his