Democratic messenger., 1911-07-22
penniless. He had lost my mothers

1
position. cannot afford to lose II,
Mr.. Freeman. and so | shall do my
best TO drill my pupils In the patriotic
lore Of their country. for that Is what
! am paid to do. as Miss Fleming has
reminded me-"
Paul Freeman opened the door. IL
am sorry you feel that way, Miss Lam
dis. but l hope after awhile you win
learn to like we Americans.
"If there is anything | can do to
make the day less bitter" continued
the principal. tell me how TO do It."
| "Then excuse me from wearing one
Of the little silk flags In my hair and
gown" said the youngest teacher
promptly.
"You are excused from doing any
thing so distasteful." said Paul. little
sternly.
THANK you. Mr.. Freeman. You
have been more than kind" breathed
Angela as she hurried down the cor
ridor.
The other teachers secretly smiled
when they heard Miss lands conscien-
tiously drilling her class in the Flag
day orations.
| "Mr. Freeman deserves credit for
bringing her to task" remarked Miss
Fleming primly. "She was positively
insolent to me. You may expect to see
her treating her adopted country with
respect hereafter"
| On the morning Of the 14th Of June
the assembly hall Of the Lakeland
school was filled with proud parents
and relatives Of the pupils. The room
was draped with fags. great and small,
and the platform was decorated with
large punches OF daisies and snow
balls. Behind the principals chair
there hung against the wall a large
flag made OF fiowers-.red and white
geraniums and dark blue ageratum.
The teachers were gowned in white.
and each one wore tiny silk flag in
her hair and on her breast-that is. all
save Angela Lands.
She looked very lovely In her gown
Of white india muslin. but her golden
hair was quite unadorned. She sat on
| the platform near Miss Fleming. and
she could not help overhearing that
lady's caustic remarks to another teach
er who sat In the row behind.
The music instructor was leading the
assembled pupils in the hearty sing
ing of "The Star Spangled Banner"
and unthinkingly Angela's rich voice
Joined in the refrain. Somehow her
heart had lost its bitterness for the
country of her adoption. and the sight
OF the stars and stripes seemed to
bring back most pleasantly her inter
view with the principal Of Lakeland
school. and when she met him in cor
ridors or on the wide stairs her soft
glance fell beneath the steady light
in his brown eyes. She dreaded these
silent meetings with their undercur-
rent of sweet emotion that she could
not define.
The principal had left the platform
and was comforting with some one in
the audience. When he turned to re-
trace his steps the teachers were form
ing in line to join their classes.
Angela was conspicuous by her lack
OF decoration. and the hot color fam
ed into her cheeks as she realized the
open insult she was Alnging at the
stars and stripes. under whose protec-
tion she lived, and she ardently wish
ed she had not been so foolish. Some
thing was opening her eyes to broad
/ ,Aak oh
She caught Paul's stern condemning
glance and grew pale.
| After awhile 1t was all over. An
gela's carefully trained pupils carried
of an honor prize. silk flag to be
hung behind the teachers desk. and
to Miss Fleming's amazement Angela
gracefully received 1t in behalf Of her
class and proudly carried It when they
marched back to their classrooms.
She was among the first to hasten
home. and when Paul Freeman sought
her after the exercises were over she
was not to be found.
After supper that night. when the
dusk was falling softly over Lakeland.
when the scent OF the locust blossoms
was heavy and the whippoorwill thrill
ed from gloomy thickets. Paul Free
man left his boarding house and went
down the quiet road where the young
est teacher lived.
He saw green shaded light in the
cottage and Mrs. Ambler's aristocratic
features outlined against dark back
ground. Then something white fitted
across the room and came into the
shadowy porch and sat down.
As the gate creaked under his touch
the white shadow arose and waited
until he paused at the foot Of the
steps
"Miss Landis." he began. II must
thank you for
"Oh. no. mol" she interrupted softly.
II was thinking OF you just now and
wishing I could see you. am so sor-
ry. What little beast have been
- "a