Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-03-28

upon that one golden morning, ana,
what was more wonderful TO Mar
guerite, never seemed 10 be mad with
her for SO disgraeefully leaving him
the bag 10 hold, She thought OF restl'
tuition. but finally took up again the
tone OF the school, giggling at Theo'
phile's blunders, smiling pityingly al
his mistakes, Did il until one day he
turned and looked at her. and his LOOK
hurt her all over. There was nothing
for Il then but TO hate him, and Mar
guerite settled To the hating with
such vim that even big. patient
Theophile was reused to protest.
what mex you so rough on me%
he queried, deepyoiced and kindly. j
amt done noting 10 you"
1T is that you do not study"
Il don't like to study. me. 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 fled. hating Theophile
with all her heart. Ha. but hating
herself the more.
The winter wore away and Theo'
phile Jared worse and worse He
didn't seem to care how much was
put on on him; also the school made
him its 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 il all in his patient way,
deep-voiced and kindly. II was only
Marguerite who saw the dumb pain In
his warm brown eyes; only Marguer'
lite who knew why he didn't leave
school and go back to the woods-life
where he HINGED 1t so royalty.
Spring at last, and with spring log
rolling. and chopping and jolliiication,
which means. among other things.
whisky and annisett and going home
ready for row.
NJ. 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 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. C'est
moi que je vous lie dis, nous y passer-
on tous." He made lurching ges-
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 Shut up" one big
hand closed over NJ lie Roy's mouth.
another over his collar. There was a
short struggle and above the scuffle
of it Theophile's voice explaining that
he did not fight in the presence of
ladies'. Theophile's voice, yes: but
with grim suggestion in it that
warmed the teachers heart like wine
and made Marguerite hide behind her
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 Roys
disappear within the thick green of
the branch, and still Watching
after many eager minutes-they saw
1t reappear alone, wearing around it.
as it seemed to the watchers. a halo
of victory.
The light of battle still lit his eyes,
but, save for that, there yas nothing
to note as Theophile reentered the
school and quietly made his way to-
ward his ounces seat. The teacher
stopped him with her proffered hand.
"Oh, Theophile,' she began, tremu-
lousy, and he bowed over her hand
like knight of old.
'Das all right" he comforted. I'm
glad, me"
But why should everyone look at
Marguerite? Poor Marguerite. torn
and trembling and wretched and wild
ly happy behind her geography. All,
If she had only stood up for him
when she wanted to.
"Mees May, it is das | may speak
to Teophee?"
Certainly" said Miss May.
And when she had run the terrible
gauntlet of all those eyes; when. cor.
trite and quivering,, she stood beside
him, with down-drooped lids, the
words would not come. It was Theo-
phile who drew her down beside him.
shielding her from that pitiless stare.
Theophile who voiced the iovous
whisper: "Das mex me proud, vas"
Copyright, 1906, by Daily Story Pub. Coz