Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1906-12-08

TheOphlle-"HeS Inherent, yds.
"Ha! So different was Theophile
that when Marguerite took the prize
for perfect tables and everybody was
praising her he never let on how ne
had helped. Never tried to presume
upon that one golden morning, and,
what was more wonderful to Mar
guerite. never seemed 10 Ss p,ad with
her for so disgracefully leaving him
the bag to hold. She thought OF restl-
tuition, but finally took up again the
tone of the school, glggling at Theo-
philes blunders, smiling pityingly at
his mistakes. Did it until one day he
turned and looked at her, and his look
hurt her all over. There was nothing
for 1t then but to hate him, and Mar
guerite settled to the hating with
such a vim that even big, patient
Theophile was reused to protest:
What mex you SO rough on me?"
he Queried, deep-voiced and kindly.
amt done netting to you"
1T is that you do not study
81 don't like to study, me. l like to
drive the OK and chop the log
Then go drive your OK and chop
your log. Don't talk to me. Va" And
Marguerite fed, hating Theophile
with all her heart. Ha, but hating
herself the more.
The winter wore away and Theo-
philo Jared worse and worse. He
didn't seem to care how much was
| put off on him; also the school made
him it's scapegoat. Why not? He had
red head, The teacher punished
him for what he did and what he
| didn't do-why not? He was dolt.
and he took it all in his patient way,
deep-voiced and kindly. 1t was only
| Marguerite who saw the dumb pain In
his warm brown eyes; only Marguer-
tie who knew why he didn't leave
school and go back to the woods-life
where he HINGED it so royalty.
Spring at last, and with spring log
rolling, and chopping and jollification,
VIII means, among other things,
wn,-.y and annisett and going home
ready for row.
M. Leroy was on his way home
from an all night frolic when he
CHANGED to pass the schoolhouse. AT
the sight of that little log structure
came host OF imaginary grievances.
He would have a settlement with that
teacher.
Good morning, NJ. lie Roy" she
greeted pleasantly.
The tipsy trustee propped himself
against the door.
"Mees May. want ask you what for
you fetch school like dis? My leetle
boy come school, you wheep him.
Jacks leetle boy come school, you
wheep him. We 'lect you to teach
our children, not to wheep dem Cest
moi que je vous lie dis, nous y passer'
on tous." He made a lurching GEES
ture and the teacher stood up. badly
frightened by the French. She was
young. Her mother had wept when
she went away.
"Permittez moi, Mees May" All
how good that deep, comforting voice
sounded. How splendid was that red
head topping those strong shoulders
Pardon, M. lie Roy, you can't talk
to teacher like dis. You going get
out of here
"Ha. Tete-Rouge. Dame"
"Taisez-vous. Shu. up" one big
hand closed over Nj. lie Roy's mouth
another over his collar. There was g
short struggle and above the scufile
of it Theophile's voice explaining thai
he did not fight in the presence Of
ladies. Theophile's voice, yes; but
with a grim suggestion in it that
warmed the teachers heart like wine
and made Marguerite hide behind hel
geography all a-tremble with tender
pride.
Like one head all the beautiful
browns and blacks bent to peer
through chinks and knot-holes. They
saw the red head topping NJ. lie Roy's
disappear within the thick green o.
the branch" and still watching
after many eager minutes-they saw
1t reappear alone, wearing around 1t
as 1t seemed to the watchers, a hale
of victory.
The light Of battle still lit his eyes
but, save for that, there was nothin,
to note as Theophile reentered tn,
school and quietly made his way to
ward his ounces seat. The teache
! stopped him with her proffered hand
"Oh, Theophile," she began, tremu
lousy. and he bowed over her hant
like knight Of old.
"Das all right" he comforted. TN
, glad, me-"
But why should everyone look a
Marguerite? Poor Marguerite, tori
and trembling and wretched and wild
~ Sappy behind her geography. All
II she had only stood up for him
. when she wanted to.
) "Mees May. 1t is das may speal
: to Teophee?"
Certainly" said Miss May.
And when she had run the terrible
gauntlet of all those eyes; when, con
trite and quivering,, she stood besid
him. with down-drooped lids, tn
words would not come. 1t was Theo
: phile who drew her down beside him
shielding her from that pitiless stare
Theophile who voiced the joyou
whisper: "Das mex me proud, yas."
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