Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-24
The Prize N O
One Expected
(By Frances Hammer. J

ITS too bad" The words came
from group of girls who all spoke
the same well-worn phrase with vary
ing accents Of sympathy. Il dom.
see how you can keep on with school
at ALT"
II can't be regular, that's certain"
admitted the object of their compass
sion, slim pretty girl of fifteen; but
I'll do my best-and Miss Mason I'M
derstands-which is comfort"
Eyes, I know" The rest of the
group fell back as Clare Willett, Dora
Carriers especial friend, put her arms
about the slender shoulder. But you
only graduate once in your Jife-and
to be the single girl who doesn't
have prize at all Why must Dicky
choose now to break his arm she
added so fiercely that Dora smiled.
When you are down-hearted, however,
there are more endearing traits than
reasonableness, and Clare's strong
feeling comforted her.
He couldn't help it," she said more
cheerfully than she had yet spoken.
He told me he had jumped the one
step, and jumped the two step, and
he fought he could yump the three
Step-DleSS MIN!
Dora Carter, Clare Willett, and a
few other girls of the town attended
private school, chiefly because their
mothers had attended it also when
there was no high school; and Miss
Mason proving herself quite up-to-date
and in keeping with modern require
ments, had endeared herself to pupils
Of both generations to such degree
that no one criticised the parents of
the second Her diploma, moreover,
admitted to more than one college, and
was highly valued. Her prize stood
for many things. No scholarship could
win you one if your moral standard
and social department wasn't all it
should be.
This year the class which called it.
self seniors '-strange word to apply
to those active young forms and fresh
young faces-numbered five; and there
were five prizes, always. From the be-
ginning of the year the girls had been
sure of their destination. Margaret
Brown would have the "math." No
one had had her reasoning power!
Lucy Deans speciality was knowledge
of foreign tongues-she headed the
Latin, French, and German classes.
The English, the science, and the gen.
eral knowledge all seemed to belong to
Dora. At Christmas neither Glare nor
Isabel hoped for any.
Then series of misfortunes came
which put Dora out of the running for
the science. Her mothers serious ILL
ness kept her at home during the most
important experiments; but Clares
unlooked-for proficiency rejoiced Dora
more than her loss troubled her.
At Easter married sister brought
two babies to be cared for, while she
herself went with her husband down
to Mexico, to try if living there would
be possible for their precious little
ones. Dora did not often miss her
classes, but her preparation time
seemed nil She fell so behind in her
theme work!-themes take thought,
time, and a concentration to which
babies are strongly opposed!-and it
was soon evident that Isabel seemed
in line for that prize. But the general
knowledge still lured Dora on to early
rising study, to odd-moment study, ana
to the Selling of every opportunity
to add to her score of Madam How
and Lady Why" The sister came
back and claimed her babies. Peace
and plenty (of time) seemed well
within view, when five-year old Dicky
broke his arm Her mother was not
yet strong enough to do much nurs-
ing, the family purse was sadly de-
pleted, and Dora gave up all hope of
the general knowledge prize, for which
Margaret seemed now the probable
contestant
Dora was bright, unselflsh girl, but
she could not always keep back the
tears that would come as day after day
went by and she had to go unprepared
to what classes she was able to at
tend, nor could she always conquer
certain Impotence with Dicky-not
impatience of manner or action, but OF
feeling. He really was spoiled, she
told herself. Then the big blue eyes
would grow wistful as the sensitive
little fellow felt change in his nurse,
and Dora, full of remorse, would dou-
BILE her attentions.
At last, just two weeks before COM
mencement, she had talk with Miss
Mason.
.eYou had better stay at home alto
gether, my DEAR" said that lady. How
Dora loved the lined face, so strong
and sweet under its silver hair! II
am sorry-very-for your disappoint-
ment. But you are learning other
lessons, of equal value with English
and science-perhaps of greater value
Come here on Tuesday, the day of
commencement"
Dora wondered at this request On
the day before commencement, Miss
Mason usually requested her pupils to
rest.
It was with feeling Of relief that
the girl abandoned all her beloved les
sons and gave herself up to the house
hold duties she always found tedious,
though she did them pretty faithfully.
She swept and busted; she washed
and ironed the lighter things she sew
ed at her white commencement gown,
though it hardly interested her.
II hope you will have another kind
of prize, some day, dear-you deserve
it, said her pale, fragile mother, as
she watched her.
Dora, smiling, said:
You're nice enough prize, mother,
and Dicky's another