The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-01-17

treGtad her with coldness even aftes
The days # punishment were over
Whenever she looked II the little girl
Sic seeils-I to see the dead bird bang
iug around her Me- k
She felt sense of relief when ifeW
weeks later Arcnn@pio came TO sc 4 koi
alone Her Inquiries for I.uncie were
answered by Il happy smile and some
reference 10 LUNCHES being home.
mixed up With the story Of a hcrse. q
nice man and some Enishap to him
self. Marion Farley gave up trying
Ato understand the little fellow. decid-
in@ that I.uncie was probably sick
with some childish ailment. She III
tended to look her up. but the spring
vacation came in q few days. and size
forgot.
The second day after she had return
ell 10 school she met Tony's mother on
the street
You know Luncie T'ilandina.' criet;
that lady excite,ily "She YER sick
sll, 60 to t7ic-she been run over by a
horse
"I.uncie hurt" exclaimed Miss Fair
ley anxiously. How did it Eappen:'
she save her brothers life. \ big
horse come. He nearly knock him
down. and l.Uncie. she .iump-she
snatch him away-but she slip. and
the horse hurt her She cry always
now she want teacher You go:' cues
tioningly
"Of course I will. Poor little girl!
III 90 this very afternoon
Miss Farley hurried through dirty
streets and narrow alleys until she
reached Mr.. F'ilandina's saloon. above
which his family lived. Mrs. Filan-
dina. scarcely more than girl herself
and very pretty. net her at the door.
She seemed III great distress.
"Iuncie SO sick. I don't know what
| Go. The doctor he says she no get
WELL" pressing her apron to her eyes.
She was dressed in bright green
waist, purple skirt. navy blue apron
and many coiored shawl but this very
gayety Of apparel was in sad contrast
to her worried. heartbrcken face
You come see her She call ALWAYS
for teacher" leading her visitor
through the narrow hall, up the stairs.
into a stuf'y little room filled with
talking, gesticulating Italian women,
with here and there a small child On
the great iron bed lay Luneie. her face
flushed with fever. her thin little
hands picking ever at the counterpart
with it's wide handmade edgins
Coarse lace curtains were ut the win
dow: q gauGy lamp and mat of artifi-
cial carnations We're on the table A
smell as of many ancient dinners per-
vadcd the room,
Miss Farley motioned to the other
women to leave the ROOM and they
obeyed. She opened the window wide
to let in the sweet spring air
Sitting down hy the bedside. she took
the little girls hot hand in hers ''Lun-
Gle, l am SO sorry to find you SICK" she
said gently, 4 mist gathering in her
eyes All her dislike for the little girl
seemed to have faded away Ncie's
hair had been cut SID nand
for the first time her teacher redkized
what beautiful eyes she had
Luncie gazed wistfully at her.
Teacher - you ill-love-Arcangelo
i'll teil-you-something?" she said.
with great effort "You-promise?"
Yes. dear. l promise" wonderingly.
0You-won't-liat him-'cause - he
so little-he-not-und
Ono. dearS
Gle - had-hurt-little bird-so-I-
killed it. I-no-want-it-to suffer
after - what you said-about-the-
BIRDS
Tears filed Miss Fairley's eyes and
brimmed over. falling ON the thin little
hand. "Luncie, why didn't you tell me
this at the time? You poor little mar
tyr! shall never forgive myselfr'
she cried penitently, "And | thought
you were cruelr'
II was-afraid-you-n
You saved his life, too. you brave
little grl!' the tears rolling unheedel
down her cheeks.
"Yes-I-save-his life-my little Ar
mel was-nO gocd-bnt
he-so pretty-and you-loved him.
save him-for you. l saw-the first
day - you-love MISUNDERSTANDING
me-"
Sobbing. Marion Farley leaned over
and kissed the flushed, wistful little
race again and again. "Luncie, listen
to me. l do love you, love you even
more than l do any Of my scholars.
more even than Arcangelo. Don't you
believe me, Luncie?'
A great happiness filled the little
girls eyes She feebly clasped her
teachers hand and brought it to her
fps. Il r'-happy-for-you
Faithful
20 the end. she had placed Arcangelos
name first