The Washington times., 1903-09-13
THE REUNION :. Blu W. R. ROSE

in his manner that attracted Alice in
spite of herself
Miss Bronson, cannot tell how glad
am to see you," he impuIsively ex-
claimed. Why. l should have known
you'll did know you-among thous
and Prof Perry offered to introduce
me. but I wouldn't have IL. wanted
to see If you would recognize me-
Miss Bronson had returned the
strangers hand clasp almost mechani-
cally, but she gazed into the smiling
face with puzzled look
Don't you remember the good times
We had in No. 49, and the secret post
office in the broken desk in the cornar ?"
Miss Bronson gave a start of surprise.
Then a flush of pleasure frightened Ler
pretty face. Joe Bentley Can It be
your" she cried. why, Joe Bentley, it
doesn't seem possiblei''
Then there was more handshaking
and the bluff stranger was presented to
diss Claiming. who had looked on at
the meeting with evident delight 1T
was delicious she aftcrward explain
ed. Ito see Alice's dignity go all 20
pieces for once"
Then she excused herself TO look up
classmates Of her own, for she belonged
10 younger generation OF pupils, and
the friends sought quiet seat in the
grove to talk over old times.
I'm awfully pleased that you should
have remembered me- said Joe Bentley.
81 was afraid you had forgotten me even
| If you heard my name"
Forgotten Joe Bentley. the mischief
OF the school?" said Miss Bronson. smil-
ing. How could 1? Besides, you know
we went through both primary and gram
mar together"
Yes. and then you went to high school
and our folks moved out West and there
was no more schooling for me. But I've
wanted to thank you for the help you
| gave me in those days. II was some
thing to be proud of to have Alice Bron-
son, the prettiest girl in school-yes
you were. and such a little lady, too
take some notice of fellow. You used
10 help me with my Iessons-you were
| always at the head of the class-and
| coaxed ME not TO play tricks and more
than once you met me when l was goine
fishing or swimming and got me back tc
| school"
But it was you who helped me with
my examples-you were so good at Rays
Practical And then everybody liked you
l believe you were always teachers fav-
orite, even when you turned the schoo
topsy-turvy."
Yet, 1 fear I never got half the pun
ishment l deserved" said the big man
"Alice-Iet's use first names today--dc
you remember when the shingle crack
ed?''
The shingle? Oh. yes, the shingIe
you wore under your jacket when you ex-
pected a whipping. And Miss Stoner
thought she had broken one of you;
bones and sank right down on the plat
form. And you said. Never mind
please, it's only rib and we girls
cried-and then the pieces dropped out
Lucky it wasn't the peppery princi-
pal OF old Rockford l had to deal with
He was terribly severe to the bad boys "
Put so indulgent to the good girls
You know you couldn't help liking Prof
Henry with his big voice and clustering
ways. and
Heavy ruler" interrupted the man
with a rueful smile OF recollection.
I'm glad that corporal punishment
is thing of the past. Do you remember
Miss Oracle. who used to whip so hard
and then sit down and cry over it?"
Yes. and remember the teacher who
made the bad boys go sit among the
girls. How I schemed to get punished
when there was a vacant seat near you.
"And do you remember the acorn tree
We didn't have nature studies in those
days and 1 never realized Till was out
of schoo: that It was really an oak"
Those were the only acorns l evei
tasted" said Joe Bentley gravely.
Yes. and how you bows used TO hans
over the dividing fence and jeer wheI
we girls played Sally Water" "
And how ] used TO admire you wher
you were monitor of the line. which
was almost every day I got better
marks those days. On. do you remember
the chalk marks we had 10 toe wheT
lined up for spelling? You used to spell
'em down pretty often"
so might you" was the quick reply
If you hadn't been occupied with pin
ming the girls apron strings together
or dropping pebbles under the boys col
lars. What queer characters there were
in school! Do you remember poor half
witted Ann. sixteen years old. whose
mother dragged her TO the primer class
every morning."
"Yes. and the boy who had so many
privileges because he claimed to have
! heart disease-he's a robust merchant in
Chicago now and the girl who had hys-
terics every day. and Ricka. the tom
boy-we called her Ricketty and she
liked It. I don't believe you'd find such
a variety in a public school of today >
81 don't know but there is more va
riety in one direction" said Alice. "a
| friend of mine who teaches in Rockford
has in her class Italians. Poles. Bohemi
ans. Hebrews. two small Cinnamon ant
an African"
"Well we'll Juvenile congress OF ma.