The Irish standard., 1904-11-12
"Yas, / meet lot OF young fellow go
In, 70 hic nhcnninu liftla u.hiln aon -

=
In to his chcpping little while ago."
why dion you go?' Murmured Vic
torine, asserting her rights. Michel
turned. Il was coming here he said,
simply. And at last monsieur saw
mauam's signal.
Excuse moi" he said, hastily. II 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, ,eem," he said
to Nictorine
"Yas"
"You glad to get home?"
"Yas. Pm 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, vas.
Sim more like six years den six mont. y
'Torine laughed saiy Was M. Mich
ell forgetting how to count? 1t was
four mont she had been gone. But
Michells unsteady fingers were laying
a parcal in her lap, his unsteady voice
was beseeching-''You tink mebbe you
wear dis sometime?"
'Torile undid the wrappings deity
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
pir1'c ri Sofi1inv 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. so burn heem
OPP"
mo no: yon 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 reXt 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"
can 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
rithmetic-whoever stood up through
the first IL tables in multiplication
Michel had intended to absent himself
being a bit shaky on the nine table; but
now he promised himself to study thai
table every night That 'Torine was only
Selling upon chance to substitute the
teachers taste for his, did not occur tc
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.
"Nine times one?" began the teacher
hoarse but patient. Michel sang out
the answer. eff get through this table
me. I'm all right" He reflected and
seemed to see the blue ribbon flutterine
at 'Torines throat. Mine times seven?'
The girl on his side sank her head
turned and sat down. "Sixty-three,'
said Michell but his voice trembled. his
hands grew suddenly cold, his head hot
Stage fright seized him. Asked just ther
he could not have told his name and II
the midst of his terror came the teach.
er's voice. Mine times nine?" His mind
a blank he yet heard the whisper behind
him - "Eighty-one.' The teacher
coughed to give him time, the whisper
came again insistently. The swea
sprang out on his forehead and wrists
In its agony the temptation lasted life.
time. Then he clenched his hands, shool
his head and Numbered out of ranks
Blind with modification he sank upor
the bench reserved for defeated candi
dates. He had but one thing left to pra,
for and he prayed for that as he hat
never prayed before. That the othel
boy would miss. He prayed in vain. TIL,
other boy stood up to the end-and tn,
ribbon, long. narrow streamer O.
delicate blue Michel started up ant
| forced way through the crowd. H,
would not sit there and see the grinninf
fool go giverft to 'Torine. 1fhe had won
( 'Torine was to have ridden home witt
him in his new sulky, but now
1--WE goin now?" querried a low, swee
voice. He stopped and started stupidly
Crossing her breast like baldric, en-
circling her waist and streaming at hel
side in flowing end she had 1t on, tn,
whole three yards OF it..
"Torine," he stammered.
! Mitchell" she mimicked, deliciously
Then with mock severity. What TO
you didn' say 81 when tell It, you? Yo,
wouldn' cheat to get me de blue ribbon
/ have to go back on my word and wea
la/ruban rouge" Culture, that puts ,
fine edge on sense of rectitude, ma,
have had something to do with it, nativ,
Kindness of heart more. and love for hin
most of all Michel was too wise to rea
son. They were around behind TIN
school house+oi,t' Of sight of the crow,
where the mare was tied. so he tool
the dear girl in his arms and kissed her
"Alors quot, qu'est-ce que vous voulez?'
MIRAGE HELPFUL TO PILOTS
:. Phenomenon Assists Fne,hnaf Men !,