Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-02-26

u looked at the little girl
she seemed to see the dead bird hang
ing around her neck.
She felt a sense of relief when a few
weeks later Arcangelo came to school
alone. Her inquiries for Luncie were
answered by a happy smile and some
reference to LUNCHES being home,
mixed up with the story of a horse, a
nice man and some mishap to 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 a 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 Filandinay' cried
that lady excitedly. "She YER sick
she go to die-she beer run over by a
horse"
"Luncie hurt!' exclaimed Miss Fair
ley a~nxiously. GLOW did it happen?"
"She save her brothers life. A big
horse come. He nearly knock him
down, and Luncie, she jump-she
snatch him away-but she slip, and
the horse hurt her. She cry always
now she want teacher. You go?" ques-
tioningly.
"Of course 1 will. Poor little grill
I'll go this very afternoon"
Miss Farley hurried through dirty
streets and narrow alleys until she
reached Mr.. Filandina's saloon, above
which his family lived. Mrs. Filan-
dina, scarcely more than a girl herself
and very pretty, met her at the door.
She seemed in great distress.
"Luncie so sick. l don't know what
I 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, h~eartbroken face.
you come see her. She call always
for teacher" leading her visitor
through the narrow hall, up the stairs,
into a stuffy little room filed with
talking, gesticulating italian women,
with here and there a small child. On
the great iron bed lay Luncie, her face
flushed with fever, her thin little
hands picking ever at the counterpart
with Its wide handmade edging.
Coarse lace curtains were at the win
dow; a gaudy lamp and mat of artif-
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, 1 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 cen cut short, and
for the first time her teacher realized
what beautiful eyes she had.
~.Luncie gazed Wistfully ut her.
"Teacher YOU Observation-Disclosures
if tell-you-somethingT" she said,
with a great effort. "You-promiseT"
"Yes, dear, 1 PROMISE" wonderingly.
Observation-Disclosures = 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
brimmed over, falling on the thin little
hand. "Luncie, why didn't you tell me
this at the time? You poor little mar
tyr! l shall never forgive myself!
she cried ~penitently. "And l thought
you were cruel!'
81 as-afraid-you-no-more-lo
-Arcangelo."
"You saved his life, too, you brave
little girlr' the tears rolling UNDECIDED
down her cheeks.
"Yes-I-save-his life-my little Ar
cangelo-for mel was-no good-but
he-so pretty-and you-loved HIM
save him-for you. / saw-the first
day -you-love Observation-Disclosures
me-"
Sobbing, Marion Farley leaned over
and kissed the flushed, wistful little
face again and again. "Luncie, listen
to me. I 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 filed the little
girls eyes. She feebly clasped her
teachers hand and brought it to her
lips. 81 happy-ver'-happy-for-you
Observation-Disclosures" Faithful
to the end, she had placed Arcangelo's
name first.