The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-02

When the children of Room 6
took their seats after recess that af-
ternoon it was evident that some
thing unusual had happened How
ever, the teacher, Miss Morris, was
so absorbed in arranging the models
for a drawing lesson that she failed
to notice the suppressed excitement
upon the faces in front of her. She
also failed to notice the absence of
two Of her pupils from their accus-
toned places until the lesson was
half over.
Why, where are Isabel and Will
liam?" she asked in surprise.
The principals got EN- in his Of
fice!" shouted an excited chorus from
the seats.
Miss Morris frowncd. In the Of
fleet she exclaimed what on earth
was the matter?"
The room cheerfully and instantly
volunteered to enlighten their be-
nighted teached Out OF the con
fused uproar which followed one
caught such significant phrases as
"a-scrappin'." jawin on the stairs. :"
"calln each other names!"
Children, YOU know | do not al
low talking without permission. !"
she said with severity. a am almost
as much ashamed of you as | am of
Isabel and William" Just then the
door opened and the principal ierkiIy
propelled two detected looking chill
dren into the room, where they stood.
pictures OF despair Isabels flaming
face was buried in the crook of her
elbow, from which a thin, sibilant
snifile issued at regular intervals.
William, dry-eyed, glared sayagely at
a crack in the floor
These children, Miss Morris" be-
gan the principal in an awful tone,
have been very disorderly on the
stairs | wish them to remain after
school until you can settle their dis
pute.
Isabel CROPPED her uncertain way
to her seat and promptly hid her wa
terry face in her geography. William
skunk gloomily into his corner and
lapsed into his usual state of coma
behind his grammar.
1t was not until after the other
children had been dismissed and Miss
Morris had arranged her lessons for
the next day that she turned her at
tention to the two in the back seats.
Now" she began, Il want to
know what this is all about? Isabel,
she commanded, tell your story"
"He-he called me na-a-ames!"
blubbered Isabel, from the heart of
Africa, whose arid plains were in a
state of deluge once more.
Why, William Morgan!" ex-
claimed Miss Morris. Il feel so dis
appointed in. you. l thought if there
was a perfect gentleman in the room
you were one"
At these words of condemnation
William hung his head and swallowed
hard once or twice, then glanced I'M
easily at Isabel as he blurted out.
Wen, she's all the time a-callin'
me names an / amt a-going ter
stand fer it! An I amt never called
her anything worse'n an old yeller"-
"Stop!" rang out the teacher s
voice. Il do not want to hear an
other word, And l want you to apol-
ogize to Isabel for what you have
done! Are you ready to make your
apology now?"
There was sullen silence on the
part of William and an awkward
shutting of the feet which betoken
anything but contrition So, after
a few minutes wait, Miss Norris re-
turned to her work, saying:
When you are ready to apologize.
William, YOU may let me know!'
AS Miss Norris began to look over
the papers in front of her she could
not help thinking of the two chill
dren. There was William, who was
simply serving out his sentence. rs
1t We're, until he should be old
enough to get a working certificate.
William, without the least spark of
sentiment, to whom the beauty of
the world was nothing. William.
who desired nothing above the dull
commonplace. What good had eight
years in the public schools done him
And Isabel! Poor Isabel, who was
the eldest of nine olive branches
which owned the patronymic Beeson
Isabel, the victim of arrested de-
yelopment, who was promoted from
one room to another only when her
physical well-being demanded .
larger seat-what was there of 10,