Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-11-11

Vas, das what he say"
Well | don know bout das, me- "
| They talked turpentine, pro and con.
Madam hustled to the kitchen and re-
turned presently with the coffee-pot,
followed by petit soeur with cups ana
sugar. Each and all drank coffee.
Madam arose, she looked hard at mon
sieur. But monsieur talked on-a neigh
bor's disaster being too tempting to fore
go: "An, l hear, me, he's goin' burn
coal now das storm blow down mos his
trees"
"Yas, meet lot of young fellow go
in to his chopping little while ago"
"Why didn' you go?" Murmured Vic
torine. asserting her rights. Michel
turned. 81 was coming here" he said,
simply. And at last monsieur saw
madam's signal.
Excuse moi" he said hastily, "I go
feed my horse" 1t was indeed high feed
ing time for the dusk was deepening,
Michel looked after him gratefully.
"Votre pere looks we'll, heem," he said
to Victorine.
"Yas."
you glad to get homer"
"Yas, I'm right glad, me-"
With a rush of glad courage he slipped
from his chair to the one left vacant by
little sister. 'I'm glad me. Sim like
you been gone long time, long time, yas
Sim more like six years den six mont"
'Torine laughed gaily. Was NJ, Mich
ell forgetting how to count? 1t was
four mont she had been gone. But
Michell's unsteady fingers were laying
a parcal in her lap, his unsteady voice
was beseeching-"Yo tink mebbe you
wear dis sometime?"
'Torile undid the wrappings deftly-
oh. there was plenty of light to see how
red it was and that it was cotton satin.
She paused Michel expecting little
cry of delight did not understand. How
was he to know that within four short
months culture had set its claw in the
girls heart, harpy-like, defiling for her
all the bright, cheap pleasures Of life?
You don like heem?" he faltered.
you won't wear heem?"
81 can wear red, me"
"Den geeve him here. go burn heem
op-"
mo, no: you shan. Das mine, you
geeve heem me-" And she thrust the
unlucky ruban rouge deep into her skirt
pocket Michel was modified. Il bring
you some blue next time"
CONSERVATION seized Victorine. Only
too clearly she foresaw what he would
bring. Three inches wide and half cot
ton.
Mon ami" she said. softly, 81 tell you
what piece of blue ribbon want you to
get for me-"
AN das?" he asked, eagerly.
you know la maitresse de'ecole 60
ing give piece of blue ribbon to who
ever stand up last next Friday"
"I'll get heem for you" Michel prom
ised rashly, eagerly. 1t was contest in
ithmetic-whoever stood up through
the first 10 tables IN multiplication.
Michel had intended to absent himself,
being bit shaky on the nine table; but
now he promised himself to study that
table every night. That 'Torine was only
seizing upon chance to substitute tho
teachers taste for his, did not occur to
him. He thought that she wanted him
to win an honor for her and the thought
fired his blood-and his energy for study.
Friday evening, and little log school
house packed to bursting. Two boys
and girl facing each other in the midst
of the crowd. All that the eight table
had left standing.
Mine times one?" began the teacher,
hoarse but patient. Michel sang out
the answer. IF get through this table.
me. I'm all right" He reflected and
seemed to see the blue ribbon futtering
at 'Torine's throat. Mine times seven?'
The girl on his side sank her head,
turned and sat down. "SiXty-three,"
said Michel, but his voice trembled, his
hands grew suddenly cold, his head hot
Stage fright seized him. Asked just then
he could not have told his name and in
the midst of his terror came the teach
er's voice Mine times nine?" His mind
blank he yet heard the whisper behind
him - "Eighty-one.' The teacher
coughed to give him time, the whisper
came again insistently. The sweat
sprang out on his forehead and wrists.
In its agony the temptation lasted life
time. Then he clenched his hands, shook
his head and blundered out of ranks.
Blind with modification he sank upon
the bench reserved for defeated candi-
dates. He had but one thing left to pray
for and he prayed for that as he had
never prayed before. That the other
boy would miss. He prayed in vain. The
other boy stood up to the end-aLd the
ribbon, long, narrow streamer of
delicate blue, Michel started up and
forced way through the crowd. He
would not sit there and see the grinning
fool go give it to 'Torine. If he had won,
'Torine was to have ridden home with
him in his new sulky, but now
1--WE goin now?" querried low, sweet
voice, He stopped and started stupidly.
Crossing her breast like a baldric, en-
circling her waist and streaming at her
side In flowing end, she had II on, the
a. 90