The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-10-30

because my native English
common, l%owerriver front an
East Side New Yorkese. Until
was II years old, [ was a stree
boy"
But you speak perfectlyl"
Because [ speak deliberate
ly," Noel retorted. Because
am unhurried and | choose m.
words. | have studied grammar
and rhetoric; | have read a fey
good books painstakingly, owe
and over. [ have listened to cor
rect speech when l could"
"But-?"
II do not fear my knowledge
NUT my habit, Mr.. Bruce. I wan
practice. l want to bury old flu
ency of wrong speech under new
fluency of right. For Is years
have striven to forget my owl
tongue, and to study the Englisl
OF cultivated people as a foreigneI
might study it. [ believe that
have succeeded. But [ must BIZ
sure! The time is coming when
must speak English to" he
checked himself"to an audi
ence that must find no flaw" he
concluded. Gin brief, I want {
tutor"
Bruce was quite wordless. See
ing his condition, Noel paused :
moment.
II want an American gentle.
man to talk with every day. hs
sent home his point. Zone who
will shade my speech to match
his; suggest new books that
should find time to read, take the
stiffness out of my tongue, and
tell me what you people talk Of at
home"
Still Bruce was dumb. He I'M
derstood now why Noel had
asked If he was a college man
and that he had hidden the pris-
oner answer him in English, that
first time, in order that he might
judge of its quality. He respected
Noel's qualities more than ever.
But his mind teemed with cues
lions old and new.
"Do you like the idea of the
posltlon2" Noel queried with a
touch of rai1lery in his accent.
"You don't expect me to an
swer that" Bruce rallied his
forces. "Not after you have tax
en- me ont of that prison into all
this, and offer to let me stay!
You saw a few minutes ago that l
wouldn't stick at much, decent or
indecent, that would keep out of
that place. You, you must know
what | feel. And / am not too
dull know that you could get doz-
ems of men with clean records;
you coul dimport 9 college profess
sor from home to do this thing
you wish. Taking me in is a pure
charity"
Now you go too fast" dissent
ed Noel, his quiet voice cool UPON
the others warmth. Perhaps /
have a motive OF my OVID No
doubt, after I leave you alone,
your active fancy will supply a
reason why | choose a man under
a I5-year sentence. to, be my in
structor. You are the only man
in the raepublic who knows Of my
origin. You are going to- continue
to be the only man 1t will OCCUR
TO you that / am a pollrlcIan. THAT
| am unofficial dictator Inn this
part Of the country, that I neces-
sarily have enemies as we'll as
friends. You Will readily suppose
that / am not willing to supply
either enemies or friends or the
interested public with the story
Of my childhood in the Streets my
first education, and the belated
tutoring / now propose. You will
conceive that when I rise to adj
dress the chamber, Z Will not toll
crate the amused curiosity IN the
glances Of my fellow members
that knewledge of this would
direct to me. 1t is natural that
should not risk the loose tongue
of auy man I might bring here
that + viii not risk any man
carelessnesss, or malice, or stu
pidity. Now yon, Mr.. Bruce, viii
rot gossip or forget. For if YOU
do, you may go back to the prison
to finish your sentence at my
pleasure. Is It not perfectly log
icalfo
Bruce stood up in .tremulous
agitation. This time, all his qnes
tions were answered, in full. Tha.
is if David Noel spoek in earnest
There was~a dryness IN his ac
cents, an irony the other mai
found impossible to translate.
You would compel, he be
gan.
7 Noel Shrupped.