The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1907-08-01
BY kathryn Jsrboe.
tcopyrlsht, BY Joseph b. Bowlos.)

ne mauc nut snort ADDRESS TO tnc
school, and then he called the roll
from the old list made by the old
teacher.
we will take a moment to change
this" he said 1--WE will make new
roll. and as ! call these names you
will each step mp to my desk.
"Beeny Lombard The firm voice
hesitated puzzled look glanced
across the stern eyes.
'Beeny Lombard" Verbeny rose
slowly and moved to the edge of the
platform
Are YOU Beeny Lombard? And
what does Beeny stand for?"
Why why, Verbeny.'
"Verbeny?"
yes, Verbeny," she faltered
"Oh, Verbena!" He spoke quickly.
almost curtly. and yet the voice that
rechrlstened Verbena opened for her
the way into new world, world
that was all faith, all love, all adora
tion.
IL was late that afternoon when Yer
bena reached home II Mrs. Lombard
had looked at her daughter she would
have seen that the dreamy, listless
eyes were wide awake; that the child.
ish, open lips were closed. but closed
in smile that dimpled at the cor.
ners. But Mrs. Lombard did not
look at the girl, and was surprised
when Verbena sat down on the kitch
en- steps, drawing her faded cotton
gown down over her bare feet, and
was startled when Verbena spoke.
L was not easy TO say. Verbena
wanted the best room; she wanted the
redding mp of the best room; she had
brought the roses for the vase in the
best room; all the girls she knew
had the best room for-for their
beaux
Here Mrs. Lombards hearty laugh
interrupted Verbena for an instant.
The best room turned over to Beeny!
Again Mrs. Lomaards laughter rang
out.
"Hev 1t ef yo' want It," she an.
swered. Mind that yo an yer beaux
don't hurt it though"
"I-I'll only have one beau" The
words were whispered as Verbena
crossed the kitchen.
On the calendar. the days that fol.
lowed would have been called a month.
In Verbena's mind they stood for all
of life, for all time In the school, or
der was being brought out of chaos,
But she only worked at night, only
in the late afternoons and early morn
ings All through the school hours,
her eyes never left the masters face,
and all the while he seemed quite un.
conscious of the wistful eyes that fol.
lowed him.
The morning that ended It all began
just like other mornings of the month.
Verbena was at her desk in the school
some ten minutes before the first bell
rang John Cox, absorbed in the pa.
pers before him, had hardly noticed
her entrance.
Suddenly there was a sound of run
ming feet and voice, big and deep
with excitement, cried ITS a re-
ward for murderer An they're goln'
TO put one on the schoolhouse, too.
They think ther feller's out here. An
he killed a man back east. He's named
Jared Conkln and the sheriff'll be
here to-day to look for him"
The words were being repeated now,
back and forth. They were almost in
distinguishable, but Verbena had
heard them all once, and she had
seen John Cox's white fingers close
hard ON the desk in front OF him
Before he could make the slightest
movement, her hand was on his. IN
hide you where they'll never find you"
If he hesltated, Verbena did not
know It, II was the girl who led the
way in the shadows OF the hedges that
she knew SO well, down close to the
silent farmhouse. Subconsciously, she
4, had remembered that her father and
mother had gone that morning into
town. but breathlessly she ordered the
man to wait until she had been into
the house, until she had unlocked the
door of the best room, her room.
81 cannot stay heref
',Yon can stay here and be safe I'M
tilFllcan get you away. Promise me
lndL you VIII otuJs plonilhti ne
answered
IL was Verbena who rang the morn
inc bell at the school, some ten min
utes late, II was true, but the boys and
girls we're all too excited to note the
time. She listened to the wondering
comments on the schoomaster's alb.
sence. With lhe others she hurried
out to read the notice when 1t was
placarded on the schoolhouse door.
with the others she read the descrlp-
tlon OF the murderer, She compared
this description with their teacher.
Her own heart echoed the conclusion
as IL was whooped from the other lips.
John Cox and Jared Conklin were but
one and the same man!
The search IN that part Of the coun.
try for Jared Conklin was only mat.
fer Of days, Then word came that he