Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-18
The Kiss That Sue
Refused to Cine

49,
she said.
She smiled back into the loving eyes
and promised that she would be good
as gold' all day long. Then she trot-
ted down the street, and mothers eyes
followed the plump little figure till 1t
turned a corner and was lost to view.
Another figure hurried around the
corner as she did-Betty Gordon, who
lived next door. But Betty did not
stop. She only said, Morning kiddie,"
and passed Sue, walking very quickly.
Betty was a big girl of fourteen
years. in the eighth grade, and Sue
was a little girl of not quite seven
years in the first grade; so Betty ala
not often stop to talk or walk with
her, and when she did Sue always
| thought that it was a great favor. she
| thought Betty was sweet n pretty.
; This morning her big eyes noticed,
even in the hasty glance she caught as
! Betty passed her, that her neighbor
| looked pale and worried. Sue knew
why, for the day before Betty's mother
| had come to see Sues mother, and Sue
had heard her say that the mld-year
examinations were being held n that
Betty was studying hard for the mathe-
mates examination, which was to
come today, for she was afraid that
she would not pass. 1t meant that
Betty could not go on with her class.
| She looked at the girl hurrying on in
front and hoped with all her little
heart that Betty would pass.
1t happened that the teacher who
had charge of the first grade was a
particular friend of the teacher who
presided over the floor which the sew
enth and eighth grades occupied.
Sometimes the two teachers sent IT.
tie notes to each other by heir pupils.
This morning, while Sue was happily,
sponging her slate and getting her
desk in perfect order-a task she al
ways enjoyed-Miss Saunders called
her to her desk and gave her a little
folded note to take to Miss Brooks, on
the third floor. Sue, very proud OF be.
ing chosen for the mission, climbed
the long steps as swiftly as her short
legs would let her. She had never
been on the third floor before. Out
side the dor she remembered that ex-
aminations were going on inside, ana
she paused and entered on tiptoe.
She had to come in at the back OF
the room, and she made SO little noise
that no one heard her for a moment.
Miss Brooks had left her desk and was
at the other side of the room, and Sue
stood for a second, looking for her.
Then suddenly she saw something
that she did not in the least mean to
| see. Betty was at the desk on the
| aisle, Just in front of Sue. Her head
was bent low as she worked, and as
she turned quickly, so that her neigh
Dor across the way could not see her,
and drew hastily from her blousy waist
a thin little book, which she consulted
for a moment, then quickly slipped II
back, and while Sue was wondering
why she seemed so anxious to have
no one see her she looked up n
caught Sues eyes and a deep flush
spread from her forehead to her chin.
And then Sue understood.
She had not gone to school very long
but she knew that when you are taking
examinations you must not look at the
book or let anyone help you; II you
do, you are cheating. Miss Saunders
had given them a little written spell
ing lesson one day, and n little girl
had drawn her book from her desk and
! looked at a word. Miss Saunders had
nut her arm around the little girl and
explained to them all why they must
NOT do that and how cheating is just
as bad as stealing.
And there was Betty, who had been
afraid that she would not pass, cneat-
ing! While Sue stood there with dig
eyes fixed in Mortified surprise on
Betty's flushed face, the teacher, NOV
ing nearer caught sight OF the niue
figure. She was almost at Sues size
before Sue saw her, and, startled, sue
could only gulp and hand her h note.
Then her eyes went back to Betty.
Miss Brooks read the note. mo an
swer,' she whispered to Sue. Then,
noting Sues looks, she AIDED amused
IL, What did you see to brighten you?
Over her shoulder Betty sent Sue q
fierce. commanding look. Keep
quiet" it said.
She stood trembling, b~ewildered.
Then she choked out, "N-nothing,
ma'am." and fed. Once out in the
hall she sat down on the top step and
sobbed m%iserably. She had told a lie.
To keep from getting Betty into
trouble, she had said she hadn't seen
anything. when she had. She longed
to get home to her mother, but she felt
that this was a trouble she could not
even tell her. for fear Of telling on
Betty; so she tried to wipe the tears
from her chubby cheeks and went on
downstairs, a mournful little figure.
Betty got through with her examl'
nations early and overlook Sue on her
woebegone way home an hour later.
This time she stopped. Thanks for
not telling on me, kiddie," she said,
smiling a bit uncomfortably. you're
a good little sport, and I'll 90 some
thing for you some day
She bent over the round little race,
to kiss it, but Sue drew back. Il don't
kiss cheats" she said, and walked on
very straight and proud.
well, you funny little trick be,
gan Betty, laughing. But as she stood
looking after her, somehow the laugh
died. A little mite of a six-year-old-
and she wouldn't kiss her because she
was a cheat. Suddenly Betty burst
into tears. Then she turned and walk
! od hooE tn school.