Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-12
Marks Mistake

items, feeling that they had never done sd
poorly. and indeed they never had.
Bellies father was to arrive on Saturday !
the day after the two devoted to examinations.
Belle and Helen awaited his arrival in fear
and trembling, for they were certain they
would be deprived of thir long,,expected visit
to the city and worse than that, their dist
honesty would be exposed
At ten o'clock on Saturday morning there
was knock on the girls door. Though they
were expecting it, they were startled, Belle
opened the door and was confronted by "a
servant, who said
doctor Morris and your father wish td
see you and Miss Helen in the office at once. Y
belle looked at Helen in despair, Visitors
and this variation from the established Gus
tom proved clearly that something unusuli
was about TO occur. 1t could only be opl
thing, and they knew what il was.
The girls went down the stairs in an agonAl
Of doubt and apprehension. Before the ofi
II e door they paused to gather all their cou
age.
They knew just how the doctor and Mn
faber would look-the former severe, as bci
came a man in authority the latter grieved. n
They knocked and the door was opened. Y
They hardly knew what to make of what
they saw. The doctor and Mr.. Faber Wera
engaged in an animated conversation, which
they broke off as the girls entered.
The servant who had opened the door went
out. and the two gentlemen came forwardl
their faces wreathed in smiles
Mr.; Faber kissed Belle and greeted ,leF
friend very kindly but, puzzled to see theta
gloomy and wonder-stricken faces, asked:
''Well, daughter, what surprises you SO, and
why do you look SO gloomy%
Belle was surprised, indeed, and she looked
from her father to the doctor, and back again
could reply.
why, papa. don't you know"
know what daughter"
And then, after much hesitation and thk
leI,a If mar nv taars the UrIc roo1o full
confession They told all about the messageA
over the pipes, and even how Mark COPIED
the questions from the doctors list. Th9l
really didn't want to implicate poor littiS
The doctor looked over his spectacle verl9
severely, and Mr.. Faber was so grieved THAI
it struck Belle to the heart.
There was long silence, broken only by I
low sob or two from the repentant girls. Then
the doctor asked:
'What was the first of that list of aussa
tions. Miss BELIEF"
ST was about the battle of Marathon, i'll
causes and effects" Belle answered
Her face was flushed with shame. \
The doctor opened his eyes little wideri
and remained for moment gazing fxedly al
Belle; then his face began to broaden into \
smile which he could not restrain.
"Well, young ladies'" he said, with a
chuckle, mark made an. odd mistake, surd
enough. l remember that list. 1t happened
that 1 removed it from its .pigeon.hole tina
on t,tS' my desk. # was made out for "a class,
that graduated five years ago."
It was now the girls turn to open theij
ewes in wonder. Having a. keen sense u
the ridiculous, Mr.. Faber began to laugh, an
the girls were 30 astonished and the doctorl
usually severe face had on it such comicah
expression that he--Mr. Faber-laughed loud1
| err and louder, until Belle and Helen becaml.
so angry that they ran from the room. shedl
ding tears more copiously than before.
| That afternoon their faults were forgivenI
and they found themselves on the way TO tbd
city with Mr. Faber, having had the assur,
ance from the doctor that they would have
fair opportunity to try again the troublesome
history examination. But as for Biography
they mutually agreed to abandon that stud
! forever.