The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-04-07
Little Unlucky Stars.
By Irene Harrington Wright.


he himself expressed 1t. Nora heard
only the thrilling story of that gal
liant ride, drinking in every word with
bated breath and shining eyes. To
her boy who could recite a piece
IKE that. was hero himself. and
when Freddie, red and sulky with
the chagrin of failure descended from
the platform and went to his seat she
could not understand why he looked
so crestfallen.
By the time Paul Revere" had
been followed by "Casabianca," Spar
tacus to the Gladiators" and THE
charge of the Light Brigade" her lit
Tie soul was in a trance of exalted
patriotism and sublime self-sacrifce.
But, alas! There were still those
little unlucky stars. All too soon
for Nora-the exercises came to an
end' ana, after final song, the classes
began to dispense for their respective
rooms.
NOW, the assembly hall was on the
side OF the building devoted to the
boys classrooms, and the little girls
nad 10 pass down n long corridor
lined with rooms filled with noisy
boys before they could reach their
own rooms.
This corridor was (next to Miss Di-
kerr the haunting terror of Noras
school life. Once when Miss Spar
row had left her handkerchief in the
assembly hall she had chosen Nora
to bring 1t to her, thinking that her
devoted little admirer would delight
IN the choice. And so she did. but
Miss Sparrow had no idea of the dread
which took possession of the child as
with teeth and hands tightly clenched.
she skinned, like a frightened mouse,
past the many open doors and back.
But to-day she stepped out into the
dreaded corridor with fearless un.
concern. Were not the deeds of great
heroes seething in her brain? She
walked along with the other girls
or her class, with bowed head and
thoughtful frown.
But something was wrong in the
van of marching girls. Someone was
struggling or out of line or, worst Of
all fates, talking. Miss Diker. her
gimlet eyes popping out of her head
broke In upon the line and stopped
the march.
Now that the sound of shutting
feet was no longer heard, Nora could
distinctly hear the gay march which
MISS Sparrow was playing for those
VINO mad not yet left the assembly
hall. Her quick ear caught the strain
OF The Light Brigade" and. forget
ting everything else, she threw back
her little freckled~ face and softly
hummed the air, swaying her head
with It's bobbing curls from side to
side, and keeping time with her feet.
All unconscious Of everything
around her, she went on enjoying this
lifting sequel to her exciting morn
ing. But suddenly n black shadow
fell across her and woke her rudely
from her happy dreams. Mss Diker
was glowering down upon her
What have we here?" that lady
was saying. 81 thought all the little
boys had been left behin6: I must
have been mistaken. Come. little
boy and she grasped the child by
the arm and plucked her out of the
line.
Nora was too dazed to cry-too
frightened even to- try to conjecture
her fate. Thoughts Of Miss Diker's
long, grim Office. swept across her
mind. and she shuddered
Miss Diker, however, was not steer.
ing for the office. Still holding Nora
by the arm. she strobe back along the
corridor. to the largest room OF BOYS
and pushed open the door with a -four
ish
Fifty pairs OF bOylsh eyes gazed at
her as she entered. Fifty pairs OF curl
GUS eyes stared at the shrinking little
girl with the white face and scared
eyes. whom she dragged to the front
Of the room. For Nora was beginning
to realize dimly what was i'm store for
her.
Boys" said Miss Diker i'm her cold
cruel voice. here IS little boy T
'ound I'm the hall whisUine and beat.
ing time with his feet lie must be-
long here" without another word she
left the helpless. terror-stricken child
In the middle OF the floor. and stalkcd
from the room.
No one who has not been i'm q similar
position can appreciate what a cat
astrophe like this means to a scnsi-
tive child. For minute after the
door closed on the lady principal. No
ra stood where she had been placed
in blank despalr-sbocked almost into
unfeelingness. Then came the con
seriousness Of fifty pairs Of eyes, filled
with wonder, mischief aud scorn. fixed
upon her Tears swept into her eyes
and burned there, Yet che aid not