Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-07-18
shephedown Jefferson County, West Virginia Thursday July 49, 1912

OF Mary RobbinS'S mother while her in
nocent little girl stands accused OF this
deed ?"
What silent luncheon that was for
them all How utterly miserable was
poor Isabeli Her father was at the door
when she had made herself ready Tor
school again. He had the little purse in
his hand. They walked silently TO Num-
Der 5, and when she had removed her
hat and coat, he followed her into the
schoolroom and after the changing gong
had given its signal for the opening OF
the afternoon session, he rose to address
the school.
Children" he said, Through the
thoughtessness and forgetfulness of my
daughter Isabel, great wrong has been
done in this school. A sweet and inno-
cent little girl has been accused Of taking
what did not belong to her. She did not
take it. No one took it. Here il is"
He drew the purse from his pocket.
at has never been stolen by any one.
Isabel did not leave il here at all, but took
it home with her in the pocket of a coat
which she ceased to wear that noon. |
am more sorry than can say about this,
and as yet cannot see how Isabel and !
can make ii right with Mary. The first
thing was to tell you, who are her school
mates and friends. am glad to know
that so many have been loyal and true
friends. Never Judge any one until you
know, past doubling, that the accusation
is true. If ever you are tempted 10 judge
quickly, remember Isabel and her purse,
and wait"
Without another word, Isabel's father
walked out of the room. He seemed
very straight and tall and wonderful TO all
the girls. Such father seemed almost
to make amends for lsabel's fault and
mistake They would have liked to 60
to the schoolroom windows 10 watch him
as he passed down the street.
II they had done so, they would have
seen him turn at the corner and 90 into
the house where Mary Robbins lived.
He had a long, quiet conversation with
Mrs. Robbins. Perhaps she thought it
harder TO be in the place OF lSabel's father
than in the place of Mary'S mother. AT
any rate, they were friends when they
came out of the library. Isabel's father
stopped to take Mary's hand as she
passed through the room, and then kissed
her forehead. Many years before, he
and Mary's father had been schoolboys
together, and close friends always.
Mrs. Robbins told Mary of the finding
of lsabel's purse, and her fathers sorrow
that trouble should have come to them
through it. She did not talk very much
about it, or blame Isabel. She seemed
to make little of the whole thing, as if
that dreadful suspicion of the day before
were of small account and had better not
be talked about.
The clock had hardly struck four when
the door-bell rang again, and in came
Miss Sharpley, white, and almost as
trembling as Mary had been the day be-
fore. Mary fluttered to her mothers side
like wounded bird, but Mrs. Robbins
stood waiting with gentle dignity for
Miss Sharpley TO speak. Miss Sharpley
tried TO speak, but somehow her voice
failed her. To the surprise Of Mary, the
stern and unbending teacher sank into
chair and wept, just as any woman might
do who had been under nervous strain
for twenty-four hours, and had not slept
the night before.
Mrs. Robbins still said nothing, but
waited until, in feeble words, Miss Sharp
ley framed her sorrow and chagrin. She
reproached herself, she begged for Mary's
presence at school. She told of the visit
of IsabeFs father, Of lsabePs grief; but
above all, she dwelt upon her own too
quick suspicion and judgment, and hum
bly, asked to be forgiven by both Mary
and her mother. OF course forgiveness
was granted, but all the time MarY's
mother had far-away look in her eyes,
for, being a real mother, and knowing
her little girl, she knew that an injury
had been done to child's heart and ma
ture that only time could heal.
The next day Mary was at her desk in
school, when the commanding voice of
the gong made its morning announcement.
She seemed the same Mary, only more
quiet. To the other girls it was, in a day
or two, as if nothing had happened, but
not to Mary. Miss Sharpley, more SEN
sitiye now, perhaps, to temperament in
children, saw that this child feared her,
saw her quick, nervous start whenever
her voice became sharp and fault finding.
And for the sake of the little girl whom
she had hurt so deeply, she began to try
to control her sharpness OF temper and
hasty judgment.
She found herself looking at the class
before her as if they were all Marys,
some more noisy, some more merry,
some more dull. Her insight deepened,
her voice softened, her manner became
more gentle, until one day a little girl
said at home:
"Someway, schools different from
what it used TO be; We all like Miss
Sharpley now"
But gentle little Mary apparently saw
no difference. Her attitude seemed to
be just the same as il was on the first
day when she returned to school. II
Miss SharpIey's hand touched her shoul-
der, she shrank from il; if Miss Sharp
ley's eyes sought hers. hers dropped.
And so things went on, and Mary's ever
vigilant, far-seeing mother knew all about
If, and wondered in her soul.
1t l.. =