The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05

QuNoNiohs
"Tben where's your GARDEN" de-
manded Frank, pointing toward the
academy.
81 haven't any garden Frank said
Bertha, coloring and looking away
SAY you're the worst ninny | ever
heard off, cried Frank, angry In Spite
OF himself why, you'd won sure IL
vou'd sent-but It's too late now. The
board OF trustees VIII all be here IN lo
minutes" 80,
yes it's too late" agreed Bertha.
but her eyes looked too bright ana her
lips trembled. Frank didn't wan. 70
make her cry, but he still wlsheu 10
know why she didn't send the howers.
you've got to tell me why Sou
didn't send them" he demanded.
At first Bertha shook her head oDstl-
nately, but Frank was so insistent ina.
she finally blurted out:
well, if you must know, | took my
flowers somewhere else.
Somewhere else? When?" cried the
mystified Frank.
yesterday oh, Frank, don't you see,
| just couldn't let Memorial day go by
without doing something for dear
grandfather--not after what | hear OF
your plans. But 1 was so selfish II
took me all day before l decided, ana
then l was most too late. But arrived
with them all before you sent the little
boat away-and-and, Frank, 1 don't
regret losing the prize, not one single
bit!" And. Judging from Bertha's shin
ing face, she spoke the truth.
Frank was stunned; he had never
dreamed Bertha had done this
Besides, Frank. I'm glad for another
reason, too. Maybe the others won't be
so mean when they find l didn't ex-
hibit," added Bertha.
Frank caught Bertha's hands and
nearly shook them off,
Bertha. you're the greatest little
brick I know!" was all he could say,
and then the school bell rang. Bertha
was intercepted at the door by both
Mr. Nelson (who had arrived early) and
Mr.. Hackett. the principal. Frank
waited behind and saw them talking
to her with great evident displeasure.
But Bertha only blushed and hung her
head when they questioned her.
"She won't tell 'em even now, and
it's an awful shame-and all my fault"'
he exclaimed savagely to himself.
Finally the judges selected the prize
winners behind the locked doors of the
exhibition hail. which in reality was
the large double classroom on the top
floor. The whole school filed into the
hail. now turned into a huge indoor
flower and vegetable garden. Huge
clusters of forget tme-nots WED with
glorious banks of red roses, English
daisies, vivid patches of purple pam
sizes and several varieties of wild flow
ers lined the walls, while the vegetable
arrays did credit to the sturdy farm
boys and girls who grew them.
The board of trustees sat in an inn
posing half circle on the platform. Mr..
Hackett raped for order and amid
breathless silence the names of the
two prize winners floral and vegetable
classes. were read out. Grace Kenyon
grew the best crop of vegetables and
the floral garden prize went to Clara
wilkins
There was lot of applause, but
Bertha's schoomates were puzzled.
She had been conceded to be the win
ner, and here she was smilngly ap-
plauding her rivals success-and not
even exhibiting.
Now. all the while these events were
happening something else was going
on. Frank was strongly affected by
what Bertha had told him. He blamed
himself, however unjustly, for Bertha's
loss of the prize and that thought so
preyed upon his mind that by the time
the presentation ceremonies were over
he couldn't stand it any longer
Mr.. Hackett was about to dismiss the
school when Frank slowly rose from
his seat His face was as red as a
beet and his voice trembed so at first
that he could hardly speak as he asked
permission ito make a little expana-
ton"
Gentlemen of the board of trustees,
it--it doesn't seem right for me to keep
still any longer IL must tell you the
true reason why Miss Bertha Spencer's
exhibit is not here. 1t is only justice to
Bertha that you should know, as I'm
sure she refused to tell you herself"
Everybody turned to glance at Ber-
tha, who looked panic stricken at
Franks daring move. Frank had re-
covered his voice by this time and as
l. Irar ba al ba cfn
of Bertha's tribute in a very convinc-
ing, simple manner. At the beginning
they listened in an astonished silence
that presently gave way to first a hand
clap and then a steady interruption OF
applause until he finished-when the
boys actually cheered
And the next thing Bertha knew she
was almost carried up on the platform