Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-09
AN UNJUST SUSPICION
By AGNES b. cHOWAN

Helen FISK was tbs ,happiest girl in Ridgewood when
her from the East beautiful cloth with collar and
lining of fur and hat to match
So eager was she the next morning to show her gift
to Sadie Tracy, her clur, that she arrived school
before any else she hung her hat and coat in
the cloak-room and went to her seat
Soon her classmates began to arrive, but there
sign of Sadie until after nine O'clock when she
tered huredy and asked TO be excused at ten i'll order
to go the station her mother off for California
Mr.. Preston, the principal, in while she was speak
ing, and Miss Sorrel referred her him Sadcs alb
sences were frequent and not always justified.
and said Another absence? At your age Miss Tracy
girl ought to realize that schooling IS little more
important than fun"
4 I'm not going out for fun, Mr. Preston" she holly
replied My mother is sicl-Im going TO the station
very WELL he said. You have good excuse this
time. You may GO.
Sadie sailed down the aisle bristng with Indignation
and Helen shared her anger against Mr.. Preston. She
knew that the haste in Mrs Tracys departure
change for the worse and she was sorry for Sadie who
had told her the afternoon before that unless her mother
And" She added her eyes full OF tears I'm afraid
I've worried mother much with my poor reports,
proud to send her the next orc
As Sadie disappeared in the cloa'room Mr.. Preston
turned to tie others
81 in to ask the young ladies not to the
recess-room for few davs' lie said We have had
to give to an who IS helping with the cxan
nation work
Helen glanced toward the door to see if Sadie had
heard the request; bt what she saw made her heart
bound with srPrs" and anger Tor Sadie was arrayed
1t wa. too much Helen wanted to run after her;
but she could only sit and think hateful thinks about
her friend At noon she found sadie's old tam and
jacket her peg. She took them her and went
that Helen was deeply offended, and when she held
her injured silence spite of Coaxing the former lost
again if you are going to be so ugly about it Here
Helen merely bowed and for the first time the girls
again her cloak and hat AS she around
Nod Van At,leu IvlO N
school He stood we'll in his lessons had fine record
er6us boy in Helen had secretly admired the big
senior since her entrance to the school two months
In the middle of the forenoon she called to the
office. Mr. Presto looked very grave a minute later
Il have sent for you botll' Mr.. Preston said q" in
order to have the affair Of yesterday explained Miss
Fisk have you entered the rccess-room since asked
the young ladies not to-
into and deliberately threw on the floor the
important papers in the school Worst of all that
coming examinations 1t thought that you did it
Mr.. Preston" Helen asked, all her Indignation
% n0 aw me to ot Sed e were heard to
say classmate that you thought Miss tisk mad CON-
mitted the mischief Why do you think 1t was she!
It was her hat and coat SIR that leaving the
recess-room yesterday morning
In flash the truth TO Helen.
1t was Sadie She had done it while still smarting
under Mr. Preston's unkind words Then suddenly
Helen remembered Sadies sick mother, and the depor-
ent card that was make her happy remembered too
her hardness her friend Yesterday and she made
up her mind that she could not mention Sadies name
until she had had an understanding with her friend
"Well, what have you to say? Mr.. Preston asked
but no word from Helen.
al think that is ALL" he said after long wait Miss
Fisk you are mention this until give you per-
mission"
Helen started up. But please Mr.. Preston-I should
like to-to-ony-"
"You wish to speak of it to some one, do you?" he
severely asked YOU may speak of it till you real
that your duty to is quite binding your duty
to any one else in the school. You may go.
The days dragged by Helen avoiding all her school
mates as much possible. Even Sadie little of
her At last the day for closing school the Thanks
giving recess Helen felt forlorn than
because she could not look forward with the happiness
OF the others to the four approaching holidays
Looking up for moment she saw that a note was
being passed along the front row. Everybody read it
before sending it on.
When it reached her desk it slipped down and
hurriedly passed to the girl in front Then Sadie got
and read it slowly and deliberately When She had i'm
ished it she Miss Sorrel's desk spoke l8w
and earnestly her Miss Sorrel nodded. whereupon
Sadie went straight to Helen said few words to hef
and then both girls left the ROOM.