The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-07-11
THE LIE
BY Joanna Single

feDruary. IL maze MIN SAD, not De'
cause the father OF his country was
no more. but because exactly a year
before Dorothy Meredith had looked
him straight in the eye and declared
that she did not love him. And when
he had marched up to ask her TO
marry him he could have sworn that
she loved him as he did her!
On this particular slushy 22d day
OF the second month he walked dog
gedly TO the schoolhouse where she
taught, and marched in as the last
bell rang and the yelling group OF
youngsters formed in line. He hadn't
seen the girl for a year. Probably
she didn't want to see him, but that
made no difference II was a day
open to visitors. He would visit. II
he chose to gaze at the slim, pretty
dark teacher instead of at the chill
dren with their hatchets and flags and
artificial cherries. their pieces" and
songs-well. she could not help her
self
Keith entered boldly with a group
OF clucking mothers. and stalked to
the back Of the crowded room. where
he stood with his arms folded and
his brows drawn into frown. Doro
thy was smiling at a fat old director
and did not see him.
The exercises were we'll under way
and Patsy Dugan was speaking
piece" when the teacher saw her tall
visitor He had hoped for a blush.
atU hoN nh
very straight and quiet and grew a
shade paler. She called the room to
order and the program began
Keith stood there thinking that
year ago he had been a rich mans
son. Since then his father had died.
after losing almost everything In
bad speculation. Keith was begin
ming at the bottom. but his position,
his ability, his name would land"
him. He reflected that now he had
little to offer her Perhaps she was
even glad that she had refused him
Still he stood looking at her while
the children sang America" and the
"Star-Spangled Banner" and did flag
drill. He saw Dorothy's face soften
and his own eyes grew dim. He had
always loved that tender quality in
her, ,-v,7r.-'s' ,n~
Then a toddling child, a little visi-
tor, got away from the sister who
brought him, and, mounting the plat
form, reached up his hands to the
sweet-faced teacher. II was the girls
inevitable attractiveness. The fat old
director smiled. Dorothy took the
pretty baby up and announced the
next number
It seemed long to Keith. who was
wondering what would happen when
II was done. Would he dare go up
coolly told him she did not love him
"a year ago-his pride had softened.
Now, more than anything else in the
world, he wanted her to give him
her hand in the old comradely way
and be his friend IA she had been
since they were school children to-
getherl II she wished he you'd try
TO ask for nothing more. He would
do Just as she desired In all things
II was while he was again vowing
himself her lover for all time in Sc
cret, but outwardly her friend II she
wished It, that his interest was again
awakened, The program was evident
ly finished, but Dorothy. still holding
the pretty fair-haired child on her
knee, spoke 70 them.
1--WE still have q few miputes left,
yog Rsys FL a9ns beautifully. lhls-
flag and George Washington, and
our country better for this. But what
was 1t that made George Washing
ton such great, good man?"
The answer was a prompt chorus:
He Couldn't tell ilel" -
She nodded, and the mother smiled
porothy's face was very earnest and
terious. She put the baby down on
the floor again and rose. coming to
the edge ON the platform. Her dark
eyes were very bright, but Keith
noted that the proudly poised figure
was too slim, that she was very pale.
She was overworked. His hand
closed hard on itself. He 80 wanted
10 care for her. He could care for
her even now in comfort. She began
20 talk
Children, want you all to re-
member never to tell lie. No mat.
ter how badly you may seem to need
10 tell It, don't do It. It will never
really help you. No matter how
afraid you are. tell just exactly the
truth about everything, just because
It Is right! That is why we love
George Washington. We love our
mothers because they tell us true
things. When they tell us anything
we know It is so,
Telling what Is not true will make
you unhappy. II will make you dis.
gusted. 1t will make dirty black
place on your clean little white hearts
Will you all remember2"
They all chorused that they would
L-t~,aya alwaUa ramamharf Tsh,x,