Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-06-05
AFTER School Hours
By H. G.. Duryee
w e

Clarabel overlook the little girl who was all smiling
appreciation of the gloves, and overtaken by
little girls who added themselves the admiring
group But somehow her triumphal progress was
strangely unsatisfactory; the glory dinnned
At recess, Josephine paired off with Milly Smith,
who stood first in geography and two curly featl
in her hat Carabe shared her cookies with Minnie
Cater, because didn't who helped them if
it wasn't Josephine Neither spoke the other, and
at noonme they walked home different sides of the
street
Perhaps that why in the afternoon Clarabel lost
her place in the reader and failed many examples
arithmetic that she told she stay after school,
Usually there would have been several to keep her
company, but this day there was no one else-even
Angelina Maybele Remington had got through without
disaster-and Carabe wistfueyed saw the other girls
file out.
At another time Josephine would have stayed she al
ways did when Clarabel had to- as Clarabel did when
she in like need But tonight she filed with
the rest, and Clarabel with of deserton bent
over her problems of men and hay to NOW, and
potatoes to dig, and miles of railroad to build
The noise of scurryng feet grew fainter, the sound
of childrens voices died away The room settled into
stiffness, except for the solemn tick of the clock and
the scratching of Carabes pencil the slate There
fractions in the problems and fractions al
hard for Clarabel Her pencil stopped often while
she frowned the curlyailed figures In one of these
pauses the door squeaked open little way 1t squeaked
again, and sided into the room it was jose
phne.
" Please may go to my seat?" she asked
Certainly" said the teacher, and watched her curl
ously.
she to hack cd for fau
utes in her desk, then slipped few rows far
Their in front; then another and another till she had
reached the in which Clarabel sat-
Carabe though she was bending over her slate had
heard every hestating move, and when the last halt
made she shook her curls back from her eyes, looked
around, and dimped into smiles.
The teacher watching waited to what would hap
pen next. Nothing did, except that the two little girls
and smiled and smiled and smiled as if they never
would stop.
Presently the teacher herself smiled and spoke She
had very sweet voice sometimes that seemed to
hint happy secrets That was the way it sounded
Would you like to help Clarabel, Josephne?" she
asked You may if you wish to-"
eff she'll let me-" answered Josephine her eyes fixed
Clarabels face.
81 would love to have her." said Carabe her eyes
on Josephine And instantly the one narrow seat became
large enough for two.
For ten minutes there was great scratching OF
te-pencils and much whispering and some gggng
Then with cheerful claer the slate was borne to the
platform The teacher looked the little girls more
than at the examples Pm they're right" she said
Now. off to your homes-both of you'll"
GOOD night" said Clarabel
Good night" said Josephine.
Good night dear little girls said the teacher
There was soft swish of dresses and the children
had reached the dressing-room Within its familiar mar
rowness Josephine hestated and fingered her coabut
tons.
for Josephine" is nice and knows lot"
"Oh!" bublcd Clarabe joyously, do love the colo
OF your mitiens Don't you-don't you she finished
with rush" want 20 let them home and 20,
my gloves"
Josephine put aside the dazzing offer
Your goycs,arc pre.ier and you ought to them
Clarahcl thought nIinu:, shadow in her eyes.
u know what she declared the shadow vanishing
glove and Tlitten"
OH sal! Josephine. viii. rapturous hug, tina
will be splc1,!i."
Ard tals .,cy sca.npc-cl ;nrne. :hr two :ittene
hands ls.ld''s efet oif- ,"tt, Willie the two glove
hands .a:. w4.tG high i. - az s. each fres
oaaurst Ct lausbcr.