Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-09-01


trace OF Notwithstanding, indeed
but friendliness and exultation The
schoolmaster stared.
why did you submit 10 this pun
ishment, thenT he demanded.
"0h. 1t was comm TO me. guess.
didn't learn the lesson, an I don't
want any partially. always give
what I owe an take what's due me.
Ye may tell the boys good-by to-mor-
row, an say I'd liked to have seen
more of 'em. Generally I've been kept
In recesses an at noon an night, 30
we amt had much chance to git &C
quainted. Likely shall never be out
this way any more"
"And you are going away" said the
schoolmaster, with strong condemna-
ton In his voice. II have not had
much faith in you, Calvin Hepstead,
but l thought better than this. You
came here for an education, and have
been with me only three months. l
have never had a scholar quite so weak
as you, and" throwing out his hands
with sudden gesture of renunclation.
II do not wish to remember that you
have been with me. My life is teach
ing, and do not like failures Now
you may 60"
T.want a few words with ye, first"
insisted Hepstead I'VE mustn't part in
misunderstanding"
81 do not wish to hear. Col"
He was turning away when Hepstead
caught him suddenly in his arms, as
he might child, and then seated him
self upon chair with the wrathful
schoolmaster struggling upon his
knees.
EASY, easy, Mr.. Peters" he said,
soothingly. II Jest want to say few
words an then ye can go. Mebbe ye
did git little ahead in that lickin' an
this'll sort o. even UP. Now ye say
I'm the weakest scholar ye're ever had,
an guess likely ye're right. But it's
this way. You've been brung up in
learnin', an I've heered say your pa
an grandpa was schoolmasters. Let
tiers an fggers are mixed up thick in
your blood. With me it's dif'runt. My
pa an grandpa didn't know their let
tiers, like me. We belonged to the
woods"
"Why didn't you stay there"
snapped the schoolmaster, still strug-
Cling to release himself.
"Well, We see I'd done some good
sized things that brought me friends
an a pretty big pile O. money. an
s'pose got to feelin' mighty friendly
toward myself. When my friends said
the only thing needed was education,
an kept on sayin' it, got to thinkin'
mebbe they was right, an come here"
"H'm!" The schoolmaster ceased to
struggle against the impossible and sat
quietly upon the knee. "And now you
are going back to show your friends
that they were mistaken in their good
opinion"
Hepstead laughed with the gleeful-
ness of boy at the approaching holt
day.
NO." he answered 1--WE jest |
thought some more an found I would
be a mistake to keep on maxim mis-
take. Pm meant for the woods. I've
done good work there, an can do more,
an it's a strong, hearty life. could
study an git an education, know, for
I've never yet set out for a thing that
| didn't git; but I would take the best
part o my life. I'm slow at such
things, an would have to dig out every
letter an figger with pickaxe, one
at time. An In the end would 1t be
wuth the trouble? All my int'rust Is
back yonder in the woods, an we don't
need much learnin there. Then I've
got this"
He allowed one hand to slip down
over the schoolmaster's shoulder until
t reached the other hand, which had
irawn small package from his pocket.
This was carefully united and opened
Ind then held before the schoolmas-
er's face
Know what 7 is?" he asked.
why, think-yes. 1t is a faded
'ose bud a Wild variety that grows
lmong the rocks"
That's right" with a rapturous
.huckle. THE Indian summer brought
t. There's a girl back where I come