The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-06-28


Of sadness turning into contempt
'ScairtT the other inquired.
''scairt? Na-a-w," said Joe scorn.
fully.
what was ye, thenT
"Parr'lyzed-seems So"
There was an outbreak Of laughter.
"You was goin' & help" said Joe,
addressing Tom Linley.
A moment Of silence followed.
"You was goin' T. help" the fallen
bully repeated. with large emphasis on
the pronoun.
"HelpT Tom inquired, sparring for
wind, as It were.
eyes, help"
"You was licked fore had time"
"Didn't dast-that's what's the mat
ter-didn't dast," said big Joe, with
a tone of irreparable injury.
"wouldn't "a been nigh ye fer mil
lyun dollars" said Tom soberly.
"Why not?"
"Twant safe; that's why"
"'Fraid o. him, we cowardp
"No; 'fraid o. you"
"whyT
"'Cos II one o. yer feet had hit q
feller when ye come up agin that
wall" Tom answered slowly, there
wouldn't "a been nuthln' left NV him."
All laughed loudly.
Then there was another silence. Joe
broke Il after moment Of deep
thought.
Like { know how he seen me-" said
| he.
"'Tis GURUS" said another
Guess he's one O. them performers
like they have at the circus" was the
opinion of sam Beach "Sce one take
u pig out o his hat las summer"
"'Tain't fair an square" said Tom
Linlcy; mot jest cggzac'ly."
Gosh. Blieve I'll run away" said
Joe after pause. "Ain't no fun here
! for me-"
"Bctter not" said Archer Town; mot
If yc know when ser well on"
"Why not?"
"Waal, he'd see ye wherever ye was
an do su,hu' 20 yc," said Archer.
"Prob'ly he's heard all we been sayin'
here"
"Waal, amt said uuthu' I'm
'shamcd Of" said sam Beach thought
fully.
a bell rang. and all hurried to the
schoolhousc. The afternoon was un.
eventful Those rough edged. brawny
fellows had become serious. Hope had
died in their breasts, and now they
looked as II theY bad come to its fu-
neral. They began to examine their
books MS one looks at Il bitter draft be-
fore drinking 1t. In every subject the
teacher took new way not likely TO
be hard upon tender feet. For each
lesson he had a method of his own.
He angled for the interest of the class
and caught IL. With some n term of
school had been as n long sickness,
heightened by the medicine of books
and the surgery of the beech rod. They
had resented 1t with ingenious dcyiltry
The confusion of the teacher and some
incidental fun were its only compensa'
tions. The young man gave his best
thought to the correction of this men
tai attitude. Four o'clock came at last
The work of the day was over. Weary
with its tension, all sat waiting the
teachers word. For little he stood
facing them.
"Tom Llnley and Joe Beach," said
he In a low voice, twill you wait O
moment after the others have gonei
Schools dismissed"
There was rush of feet and a rattle
of dinner pals. All were eager to gel
home with the story of that day save
the two It had brought to shame. They
sat quietly as the others went away
A deep silence fell in that little room
OF sudden II had become a lonely
place.
The teacher damped the fire and pu
on his overshoes. -'~s,Ssssti1r' ,.sl.s.
"Boys," said he, drawing a big silvei
watch. "hear that watch ticking. Il
tells the flight Of seconds. You are
eighteen, did you say? They turr
boys into oxen here in this country
just thing Of bone and muscle, liv
ing to sweat and lift and groan. May
be I can save you, but there's not @
minute to lose. With you 1t all de
pends on this term Of school. Wher
it's done you'll either be OK or driver
Play checkers?"
Tom nodded.
"I'll come over some evening, and
We'll have a game. Good night"
IorD