The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-09-24

feed my horse." It was indeed high feeding time for the dusk was deep ening. Michell looked after him grate- fully. s"Votre pere looks well, heer>" he said to Victorine.
 Vas"
 You glad to get homer
 Vas I'm right glad, me"
 With a rush of glad courage he slip ped from his chair to the one left va cant 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 M. Mich ell forgetting how to count? It was four mont she had been gone. But Michel1s unsteady fingers were laying a parcel in her lap, his unsteady voice was besecehing: You tink mebbe you wear dis sometimeT'
 'Torine undid' the wrappings deftly- oh. there was plenty of light to see how red 1t was, and that it was cotton satin. She paused Michell expecting q little cry of delight, did not under stand. How was he to know that within four short months culture had set its claw in. the girls heart, harpy- like, defling for her all the bright. cheap pleasures of life?
 You don like heem?' he faltered. :.
 
 T can wear red, me-
 Den geeve him here. go burn heem op-"
 No, no; you shan. Das mine you geeve heem me-" And she thrust the unluck ruban rouge deep into her skirt pocket Michell was modified. I bring you some blue next time"
 Consternation seized Victorine Only too clearly she foresaw what he would bring Three inches wide and half cot ton.
 Mon ami." she said. softly. T tell you what piece of blue ribbon I want you to get for me-"
 An das?" he asked, eagerly. You know a la maitresse de'ecole going give piece of blue ribbon to whoever stand up last next Friday"
 I'll get heem for you" Michell promised rashly, eagerly It was a contest in arithmetic-whoever stood up thorugh the first twelve tables in multiplication. Michell had intended to absent himself, being a bit shaky on the nine table; but now he prom ised himself to study that table every night. That 'Torine was only seizing upon chance to substitute the teach- CTS 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 a little log school house packed to bursting. Two boys and a girl facing each other in the midst of the crowd. All that the eight table had left standing.
 Nine time one?" began the teach CT. hoarse but patient. Michell sang out the answer, If I get through this table, me. I'm all right" He reflect ed and seemed to see the blue ribbon fluttering at 'Torines throat. Nine times seven?' The girl on his side sank her head. turned and sat down. "Sixty-three. said Michell. but 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 teachers voice. Nine time nine? His mind blank he yet heard the whisper behind him-"Eighty- one." The teacher coughed to give him time the whisper came again insistenly The sweat sprang out on his forehead and wrists. In his agony the tempta- tion lasted a lifetime Then he clench- ed his hands. shook his head and blum dered out of ranks. Blind with morti- fcation he sank upon the bench reserv- ed for defeated candidates He had but one thing left to pray for. and he prayed for that as hen ever prayer be- fore. That the other boy would miss He prayed in vain. The other boy stood up to the end--and the ribbon. a long, narrow streamer of delicate blue. Michell started up and forced a way through the crowd. He would not sit there and see the grinning fool go give 1t to Torine. If he had won. 'Torine was to have ridden home with him in his new sulky, but now"
 We goin' now?" queried low. sweet voice. He stopped and started stupid ly. Crossing her breast like baldric. encircling her waist and streaming at her side in flowing end, she had 1t on, the whole three yards of 1t.
 Torine." he stammered
 Mitchell" she mimicked. deliciously. Then with mock severity. What for you didn't say S1 when I tell 1t you? You wouldn't cheat to get me de blue ribbon I have to go back on rsy word and wear la ruban rouge" Culture. that puts a fine edge on sense of rec titude may have had something to do with it. native kindness of heart more. and love for him most of all. Michell was too wise to reason. They were around behind the school house-out of sight of the crowd-where the mare was tied, so he took the dear girl in his arms and kissed her. "Alors quoi, qu eSt-Ce que VOuS Voulez?"