The Jasper news., 1907-06-06
LA LUNE
BY f. HI. Lancaster
copyright, by Daily story pub. Co,

Isidore sat on the front steps smok-
ing twilight cigarettes in thoughtful
sequence. The moon was rising and
he looked at her as he smoked, but he
was not thinking of the moon. He was
thinking of Isabelle, the beauty of the
school and the head of his class. Be.
fore school opened he and Isabelle had
been good friends, but since they had
come to sit together in the same class
every day she had treated him with
marked indifference. Why? Because
she had found out that she was smart
er than he was?
Monsieur's hearty voice broke into
the uncc nfortable conclusion, saying
jovially:
bout SO hard?"
II was tink bout das moon Isl
dore told him promptly. What it's
make her come up, hap"
God knows" chuckled monsieur.
Madame spoke up gently VOLTA.
'Dore. Why you don't ask teacher
| das?"
IsidOre paused. Teacher was a
| young woman with long nose and
| glasses that glittered. Truly, not a
| person to be questioned lightly. And
to do 1t with Isabelle looking on dis.
daining his ignorance-mais arretez.
Maybe It's Isabelle don't know why
It's moon come up"
And II Isabelle did not know, and II
he could find out, and then spring the
knowledge on her-But, yes! 1t would
be worth working for. VOLTA. AS the
possibilities Of the situation became
clear to him, Isidore realized that 1t
would be worth waylaying teacher
for.
So 1t CHANGED that as the teacher
was walking home from school next
day she saw one of her tall boys com
ing toward her with a determination
in his stride.
II can ask you something, If you
please. and you won't tell anybody
what it's l ask your"
What is 1t won wish to ask?'
teacher almost stammered.
What It's made das moon come
up?'
Moon! Oh, yes, moon! What is Il
that makes the moon come up? oh
yes! l understand. IL think that
can explain that. Let's see." She cas-
about for substitute for "sola
system" and Isidore watched he
anxiously. Suppose teacher didn'
know"
Wait" she said, Il have it,
She took her watch from her bel
and her ring from her finger.
Now you know, Isidore, the cart
is bigger than the moon"
MATS oui, know das," Isidor
fastened to assure her.
well! Then we will call thi
watch the earth and this ring tn
moon-and here is the way the moo
goes round the earth. Comes up thi
way-goes over this way-goes dow
this way-goes round under this othe
side-comes up again. When you ar
sitting on the earth like my thumb
on the watch here you would see tn
moon coming up"
"C'est bon. Just like steer come u
hill. First you see his horns, den yo
see his legs-Mais, why tbs she don
fall down when she's straight up vol
der?"
But the teacher knew this also
She goes too fast to fall" she e.
planned smoothly. Like when yo
throw your ball over the schoo
house."
Just like das! Mais oul. Now t
| know. And. me. I'm.glad kno
das. Je vous remercie."
He was glad and grateful-and II
umphant. 1t did not seem at all pro
able that Isabelle possessed sue
# knowledge. Isidore watched Il
a. teacher readjust her belongings wit
g respect and when the ring slipped al
n fell he stopped with eager gallant
10 and returned 1t to her with somethir
lie warmer than respect. Teachers nos
II he thought, did not look 80 long, nj
re her glasses SO shiny. And he WI
n ready for Mademoiselle Isabelle. l.
y her snub him some more to-morro
Il. Eth bien, Isabelle did not snub hi
II on the morrow. She did not see hi
With her head up and her lash
he down she could not see Isidore, ev'
IN when he stood right in front Of HI
fy But everybody else in the school cou
see him. See him. yes, and smile
his discontinue
MATS what it's / been do" Isido