The Irish standard., 1904-09-10


want any p2rtiality. l always give
what I owe an take what's due me-,
We 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. So
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 thought better than this. Your
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 a sudden gesture of remuneration,
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 CO."
II want q few words with We, first,s
insisted Hepstead. I'VE mustn't part in
misunderstanding"
90 not Wish TO near. 60!
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 We can go. Mebbe ya
did git a little ahead in that licl1in' an
this'll sort o. even up. Now We 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 figgers 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 pretty big pile O. money, an +
s'pose I got to feelin' mighty friendly
toward myself When my friends said
the only thing I needed was education.
an kept on sayin' it, got to thinkin''
mebbe they was right. an come here"
"H'm!" The schcolmaster 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 holi--
dag.
NO." he answered. give jest.
thought some more an found It would
be mistake to keep on maxim mis-
take. I'm meant for the woods. I've,
done good work there, an can do more,
an it's strong, hearty life. 1 could
study an sit an education, know, for
I've never yet set out for thing that
I didn't git; but''t 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 a pickaxe, one,
at time. An in the end would it 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
it reached the other hand, which had
drawn small package from his pocket.
This was carefully united and opened
and then held before the schoolmas-
ter's face.
"Know what t is?" he asked.
"Why, I think-yes, it is a faded
rose bud, a wild variety that grows
among the rocks"
THAT'S right" with a rapturous
chuckle. "The Indian summer brought
It. There's girl back where come
from, the prettiest an best one in all
the world, but she's like me in not:
KNOWN letter or figger. When I
come here she bid me Godspeed, for
even though she believed the learnin'
would draw me away from her, she.
thought It would be for my good. That
rose bud was picked at our first UNDER
standin', an her sendin' it means she.
amt so strong as she thought an
Wn't give me up; an I, schoolmaster,'
with sudden boyish laugh that shook
his huge frame, made up my mind ten
days ago that was payin' too big a.
price for the learnin'. I'm goin' back
to her, straight. That's all. Now We
can go. I only wanted ye to under
stand the reason. Mebbe there's been
girl somewhere an at some time that
you used to know"
He released the prisoner and rose to-
his full height, stretching himself
finally from the thralldom of the
schoolroom. The schoolmaster stood
for a moment gazing at the floor. Then
he held out his hand.
II wish you well. Hepstead," no
said, in low voice. 1T may be you
are right"