Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-02-04

me days OF punishment were over.
Whenever she looked at the little girl
she seemed 10 see the dead bird hang
Ing around her neck.
She felt q sense OF relief when few
weeks later Arcangelo came to school
alone. Her inquiries for Luncie were
answered by happy smile and some
reference to LUNCHES being home.
mixed up with the story Of horse.
nice man and some mishap 10 him
self. Marion Farley gave up trying
to understand the little fellow. decid-
ing that Luncie was probably sick
with some childish ailment. She in
tended to look her up, but the spring
vacation came in few days, and she
forgot
The second day after she had return
ed TO school she met Tony's mother on
the street.
"You know Luncie Filandinar cried
that lady excitedly. "She YER sick
she go TO die-she been run over by a
horse"
'Luncie hurt" exclaimed Miss Fair
ley anxiously. How did K happenT'
"She save her brothers life. A big
horse come. He nearly knock him
down. and Luncie. she jump-she
snatch him away-but she sA and
the horse hurt her. She cry always
now she want teacher. You go?" cues
tioningly.
"Of course l will Poor little girl!
I'll go this very afternoon"
| To rlau hurrfad srtx
streets and narrow alleys until she
reached Mr.. Filandina's saloon, above
which his family lived. Mrs. Filan-
dina, scarcely more than girl herself
and very pretty, met her at the door.
She seemed In great distress.
"Luncie so sick. / don't know what
l do. The doctor he says she no get
WELL" pressing her apron to her eyes.
She was dressed in a bright green
&. waist, purple skirt, navy blue apron
and many colored shawl, but this very
gayety Of apparel was in sad contrast
TO her worried, heartbroken face.
"Yop come see her. She call always
for teacher" leading her visitor
through the narrow hall, up the stairs.
into stufTy little room filed with
talking, gesticulating Italian women,
with here and there small child. On
the great iron bed lay Luncie. her face
flushed with fever, her thin little
hands picking ever at the counterpane
with its wide handmade edging.
Coarse lace curtains were at the win
dow; a gaudy lamp and mat of artifi-
cial carnations were on the table A
smell as of many ancient dinners per-
vaded 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 by the bedside. she took
the little girls hot hand in hers. "Lun-
Gle. l am so sorry to find you sick" she
said gently. a mist gathering In her
eyes. All her dislike for the little girl
seemed TO have faded away. LUNCHES
struggling hair had been cut short, and
for the first time her teacher realized
what beautiful eyes she had.
Luncie gazed wistfully at her
Teacher - you still -love-Arcangelo
fl tell-you-somethingT she said,
with great effort. "You-promise?"
Eyes. dear, | promise" wonderingly.
you won't-hate-h im-'cause - he
so Observation-Disclosures
"No, dear"
"He - 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
brlmmed 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 myselfw
she cried penitently. and | thought
you were cruel"
Il as-afraid-you-no-
-Arcangelo."
you saved his life, too. you brave
little girl the tears rolling unheeded
down her cheeks.
"Yes-I-save-hi life-my little Ar
cangelo-for mel was-no good-but
he--so pretty-and you-loved him-I
save him-for you. | saw-the first
day you-love Observation-Disclosures
me-"
oobDlhS, N"i iOh 4 "Aics iS"hSu WV
and kissed the flushed, wistful little
face again and again. "Luncie, listen
to me- do love you, love you even
more than ] do any of my scholars.
more even than Arcangelo. Don't you
believe me, LuncieT'
A great happiness filed the little
girls eyes. She feebly clasped her
teachers hand and brought it to her
lips. Il happy-ver'-happy-for-you
rcangelo-and-me." Faithful
| 20 Ahl or.d che bod r,Ionod A ron rnolo,e