The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-29

No wonder Kitty McKoeghany was head.
The extent of Kitty's knowledge was
boundless.
The third confidence was freighted with
strange import. 1t came straight from
Kitty to Hattie, who told 1t to Emmy Lou.
when he's trustee he means the school
board shall take his penthouse for the
new school"
Even Emmy Lou knew the penthouse
which had built itself unpleasantly near
the neighborhood.
Just then the second reader class was
summoned to the bench. AS the line took
its place hush fell. Emmy Lou, at It's
foot, looked up its length and wondered
how 1t would seem to be Kitty Mexico
ghany at the head.
The three gentlemen were looking at Kit
ty. too. Kitty tossed her head Kitty was
used to being looked at because of being
head.
| The low words of the gentleman reached
the foot of the line. 1.-The head one, that's
McKeoghany's little girl 1t was the trus-
tee telling the visiting gentleman. Emmy
Lou did not wonder that Kitty was being
pointed out Kitty was head. But Emmy
Lou did not know that it was because Kitty
that she was being pointed out as well as
because she was head. for Mr.. Michael Nc
Koeghany was the political boss of dis
triet known as Limerick and by the vote
of Limerick man running for Office could
stand or fall.
Now there were many things unknown to
Emmy Lou; about which Kitty, being the
little girl of Mr.. Michael McKeoghany.
could have enlightened her.
Kitty could have told her that the yard
| of the absent trustee ran back to the pork
house. Also that the trustee present was
part owner of that offending building. And
further that Emmy Louis Uncle Charlie,
leading an irate neighborhood to battle,
had compelled the withdrawal Of the obnox-
| ious business.
| But to Emmy Lou only one thing was
clear. Kitty was being pointed out by the
principal and the trustee to the visiting
| gentleman because she was head.
| Dear teacher took the book. She stood on
the platform apart from the gentlemen, and
| gave out the words distinctly. but very
| quietly.
| Emmy Lou felt that dear teacher was very
| troubled. Emmy Lou thought 1t was be-
| cause dear teacher was afraid the poor
spoilers were going to miss. She made up
her mind that she would not miss.
Dear teacher began with the words on the
| first page and went forward. Emmy Lou
| could tell the next word to come each time.
| for she knew her second reader by heart as
| far as the class had gone.
She stood up when her time came and
| spelled her word. Her word was wrong"
| She spelled it right.
| Dear teacher looked pleased. There was
| a time when Emmy Lou had been given to
leaving off the Introductory wv" as super
fiuous.
On the next round a little girl above
Emmy Lou missed on enough" To her
phonetic understanding "u'' and two 'f's'
were equivalent to an 'ough."
Emmy Lou spelled 1T right and went up
one. The little girl went to her seat. She
was no longer in the race. She was in tears.
Presently little girl far up the line arose
to spell.
Right, to do right" said dear teacher.
Write, right" said the little girl,
promptly.
"R-i-t-e, right said the next little girl,
The third stood up with triumph preas-
sured. In spelling. the complicated is the
surest, reasoned this little girl.
"W-r-i-g-h-t, right" spelled the certain
little girl; then burst into tears.
The mothers of the future grew demon
allied. The pillars of state of English
photography at least seemed destined to
totter. The spelling grew wild.
''R-i-t, right
WRIT, right"
Then, in the desperation of sheer hope
lessness came write, right" again.
There We're tears all along the line At
their wits end, the mothers, dissolving as
they rose in turn, shook their heads hope
lessly.
Emmy Lou stood up. She knew lust
where the word was in a column of three
on Page a. She could see it. She looked
up at GEAR teacher, quiet and pale on the
platform.
r. said Emmy Lou, steadily, "i-g-h-t,
right
A long line Of weeping mothers went to
their seats and Emmy Lou moved up past
the middle of the bench.
The words were now more complicated.
The nerves of the mothers had been shaken
by this last strain. Little girls dropped
out rapidly. The foot moved on I'D toward
the head. until there came a pink spot on
dear teachers either cheek. For some
reason dear teachers hand began to hold
itself finely erect again.
"Beaux," said dear teacher.
The little girl next the head stood I'D.
She missed. She burst into audible weep-
ing Nerves were giving out along the
line. 1t went wildly down. Emmy Lou
was the last Emmy Lou stood UP. 1t was
the first word in a column on Page %.
Emmy Lou could see it. She looked at dear
| teacher.
J 3D." said Emmy Lou, "e-a-u-x'
The intervening mothers had gone to their
seats, and Kitty and Emmy Lou were left
; Kitty spelled triumphantly. Emmy Lou
spelled steadily. Even dear teachers voice
showed a touch of the strain.
She gave out half dozen words. Then
receive" said dear teacher.
, 1t was Kitty's turn. Kitty stood up
dear teachers back was to the blackboard
The trustee and the visiting gentleman
were also facing the class. Kittys eyes, as
, | she stood up. were on the board.
1.-The best speller in this room Is to re-
cleve this medal" was the assurance on
, the board.
Kitty tossd her little head. RE, re
c-i-e-v-e, ceive, receive" spelled Kitty, her
eyes on the blackboard.