Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-17

ana tne 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 howers-red and white
geraniums and dark blue agaratum-
The teachers were gowned In white.
and each one wore tiny silk flag In
her hairs on her breast-that is, all
save Angela Landis.
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 oyerhearing that
Iady's caust1c 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-
- d. &hn
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 flinging at the
stars and stripes, under whose protec-
ton she lived, and she ardently wish
ed she had not been so foolish Some
thing was opening her eyes to broad
er vision-what, she did not know.
She caught Paul's stern condemning
glance and grew pale.
After awhile 1t was all over. An
gela's carefully trained pupils carried
off an honor prize, a silk flag to be
hung behind the teachers desk, and
to Miss Jennings arnazement Angela
gracefully received it in behalf of her
class and proudly carried it when they
marched back to their classrcoms.
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
hi
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 a green shaded light In the
cottage and Mrs. Ambler's aristocratic
features outlined against a 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, ST must
thank you for"-
"Oh. no, nor she interrupted softly.
SCI was thinking of You just now and
wishing could see you. ! am so sor-
ry. What a little beast I have been
about the flag, but do feel differently.
Next Flag day Her voice trembled
a little, for he had mounted the steps
and taken her hands in his and press
ed them to his lips with sudden pas
sion. Then he took her In his arms.
unresisting.
angela" he said firmly. you're go
ing to marry an American, aren't
your"
YES" said Angela in a small voice.
But how can you want to marry me
after 1 refused to wear the little flags?
1t was so conspicuous when all the
other teachers were wearing them. You
should have insisted on my doing So"
You were wearing them. You wear
them every day, DEAR" he said, draw
ing her closer. 1.-THE red of your lips.
the white Of your brow and the blue
of your eyes-thos" are the colors OF
my country"
"Our country, DEAR" whispered An
gela.
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