The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
ADELAIDE'S LOYALTY.

It was rather surprise to see Enid
back at school as usual. For when
Miss Mears had discovered the paper
in her desk Friday afternoon, and had
said the things she did about honesty
and fairness, Enid had seemed to feel
that she was the aggrieved party
When school was over, she had a
good deal to say about Miss Mears.
IF she expects that I'm going to
attend school where I'm treated that
way, she is very much mistaken" Enid
declared. Il won't stand it, that's all
Did any one ever hear such talk?
Honesty, indeed. Why, she acts as if
I'd picked pocket, instead of just
writing out a few dates on a slip of
paper. | never can remember dates"
Most of the girls were ready with
their expressions of sympathy. Miss
Mears was very unreasonable 1t was
foolish to apply the word dishonesty"
to little thing like that And as
Enid became more certain of the sup
port of her classmates, her resentment
toward her teacher increased She
would never come back, that was GER
tain. She would go to school where
the teachers treated scholar as she'd
be treated herself
Quite a group of the girls walked
home together, the number dwindling
as one girl after another took the
turning to the left or right Finally
Enid and Adelaide were left. It came
to Enid that Adelaide had not been
very outspoken in her sympathy. That
realization troubled her There was
no girl in all the school whose good
opinion meant so much to her.
Would you have believed that Miss
Mears would dare to be so imperti-
nent? Enid asked suddenly, after
rather uncomfortable silence.
Adelaide did not answer at once.
She had her temptation, too. 1t would
be so easy to give an evasive answer
which would satisfy Enid, without ex-
actly committing herself. She liked
Enid, in spite of the fault which had
that very day been held up to the
scorn of the school. But suddenly it
struck her that she would not be true
to her friend without being frank.
Il don't think it was impertinent,
Enid. If she is to put an end to
cheating in the school, she will have to
hurt somebody's feelings"
"But she called it dishonest, just as
if I'd stolen something"
Adelaide hesitated.
We'll, it wasn't honest, was it?''
Il suppose you think I'm as bad as
a thief Enid flashed out. 81 wonder
that you'll lower yourself by walking
along the street with such person"
Adelaide's eyes met hers. They
were kind, but they did not finch.
Enid, you know I'm friend of
yours. But that doesn't mean that
must like everything you do. Cheat
ing in examinations isn't a little thing.
1t doesn't do any good to call it by
understanding names. Isn't it
better, if you make a mistake, to own
up, and try to correct what's wrong,
instead of pretending that wrong is
right?"
Enid did not answer the question.
She crossed the street without so much
as backward look, her cheeks GRIM
son, and her chest heaving. And AIDE
laide went on her way, wondering
whether she had done well or ill. APP
parently she had lost her friend. But
at least she had been loyal to her
friendship.
It was fortunate for Enid that she
had more than two days to think over
the question She began by being
very angry at Adelaide's frankness.
II suppose she never does anything