The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-10
''Gilbert's

Mum looked shocked. Miss Wharton looked in
quringy at the speaker.
Yes, its your literary genius" said Miss ARM
strong. He was drawn to her by their common
afliction he says they kindred souls. Oh. 1
could tell YOU lots more. she added reassurtngly:
the family wildly uneasy about il, and they
poured it all into my sympathizing ear. They're
thinking of sending him to Cuba-tor his health.
Mrs. Meredith's nose assumed its most eloquent
angle 4 certainly should If were his mother,
she said. They people OF culture and refine
ment.
Does anybody know anything about her peo-
pie, asked Miss Mum The Thomas Jefferson
School had imported Miss Mum from the far north.
Mrs Meredith prefaced an by a shrug
that spoke volumes. "Certainly," she said. Her
mother is dressmaker; the most impossible wom-
with whom l had dealings. l never took
her a second garment, Mrs. Meredith shuddered
over the remembered experience.
Miss Wharton smiled malicousy. Keats father
kept a livery-stabe, she said. and Byrons moth
er impossible"
About month after this revelation Miss Whar-
ton working at her desk evening after
school when Gilbert entered somewhat apooget-
caly. Miss Wharton watched his dificult progress
with pity. He a fair-faced, gentle-looking
boy with the unmista ka BILE. abnormal look OF one
born a radical physical defect. In spite of her
pity, she had always found the boy little uncom-
Portable deal with He had told her that.
when he in her class. he could hardly listen
dence which had disturbed her less after she learn
ed by accident that he had told Miss Harvey hs
could not study while she was in the room for lis
tenng to her voice.
Gilbert evidently was lahoring under a OF
the momentousness OF his GRAND Miss Whar-
ton, he said appealingly do you agree with Car
lye's opinion of Byron, that we read in class to-
day."
Miss Wharton mentally gasped Its hard to
mold moral standards with one had and aesthetic
standards with the other.
Yes believe ] do. Gilbert,--on the whole BY
hint he M Str IN
he?'
"Oh. but he had such noble impulses. you know!
| feel about Byron. lists sort of affinity be-
tween our minds | think. And have a little
than | do For instant Gilbert paused in de-
licious embarrassment; but before Miss Wharton's
dazed mind could grasp his reference to Johnny
Ethel. he pouring further conf FENCES into her
defenseless ears. He was telling her what a deep.
noble nature Johnny Ethel had: how she kept a
copy of The Castaway' under her pillow, blstered
with tears and worn out with reading; how she
kept Byrons picture her bureau, and burned
candles before it on his birthday; .ow bravely she
bore her suffering. And, Miss Wharton" added
poor Gilbert. she my resemblance to Byron
That's one reason she's SO good about letting me-
to see her. don't think there's anybody at
home that really appreciates her. he added PEN
svely.
few days later Miss Armstrong entered tho
lunchroom with her most knowing smile. Gil
bert she announced, has gone to Cuba for his
health"
Johnny Ethel bore Gilbert's absence with con-
siderable forttude She continued to whisper IN
.defatgably across the aisle to adjacent masculn-
ity, and to embelsh her themes with references to
1.-THE golden orb of day" and the 'hymeneal altar
The latter phrase she never omitted. even
from her theme "Basket-Ball." She always in
sisted that she thought golden orb OF day was
lots prettern just sun
One day after school. month or two after GIL
bert's departure, Miss Wharton received MESSAGE
fee, and wished to speak to the teachers. Johnny
Ethel had been absent that day-an unusual oc-
currence; for in spite OF her lameness Johnny Eth
els attendance had been the most credtable item
in her whole academic record.
When she reached the Office Miss Wharton found
three four of the other teachers assembled. lis
tening to a voluble little woman In black, who was
plainly the verge of tears.
Il was just saying, Miss Wharton" she said.
turning to the newcomer distressfuly. that
wanted to and tell all before you seen ii In
the papers I've tried GO hard to give her a good
education. and I've heard her talk SO much about
you-all, and she'd only known the young man a
month, sinct he's been driving the laundry wag-
Johnny Ethels married." exclaimed Miss
Willing. the practical and kindy-in answer to
Miss Whartons bewildered face.
And to think she run away. when I've always
II suspect you have INDUCED her too much Mrs.
Potts, said Miss Mum, in her throaty voice, with
the funereal nod with which she wont to en-
phasze her most dismal remarks.
Il suppose her lameness made it hard not to-
interposed Miss Harvey, with eager soothing.
Even in her garrulous distress and bewilderment
the mother stopped short staring at Miss Harvey
Her lameness,'' repeated Miss Harvey, in her
brightly didactic Has she always been
lame?'
Everybody looked the mothers blank face.
then at everybody else, and the truth began to
dawn.
oh mourned the mother. Il never knowed her
to complain of being lame but onct, and then had
her rub herself with arnica liniment-there amt
nothing better-and kept her home from the skat-
ing rink and she never said nothing about 1t after
ward
When Mrs. Potts had taken her melancholy de-
parture, Johnny EtheI's instructors gazed at each
other with indescribable faces.
WELL said Mrs. Meredith with dignity.
Many a time said Miss Harvey, batting her
eyes impressivey. Il have said myself, That girl
can walk well 8 | can. !"
Yes assented the Principal gathering up his
scattered papers, she sometimes forgot limp
At last Miss Munns intelligence. like heavy artil-
lery. arrived upon the scene. Then she wasn't
lame all,'' she ventured, in a hushed, shocked
But Gnberts confdante had Travelled miles past
that detail. Unobserved in the midst of the con-
fusion of tongues, Miss Wharton dropped her fore
head into her hands. and uurmured. The laundry
boy"