Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-19
DAILY NOVELETTE,
JE TAME
by Rose Koralewsky

TNHB Youngest Teacher rose wcarily
to her feet as one crowd Of noisy
youngsters shuffled out and another
filed in. Here comes my French
class" she thought. Then. Quietly
Don't crowd, James," as she graspcd
one awkward fellow by the arm, "lct
Alice pass in first"
When the scraping Of feet and drop
ming Of pencils had ceased she began
the lesson. what is the verb, to love
in French, William?'
i, "Aimer." answered tall, lanky
youth.
"Now for little rapid fire drill Say
i love you. Betty
'Je vous aime." shyly said the sweet
faced girl. gazing adoringly at the
Youngest Teacher.
"Good Now suppose you were speak.
ing TO very dear friend. how would
vou sav it," The class stared at the
teacher, for the words came brokenly,
and little spasm Of pain twisted her
face.
No ono volunteered. so after mo-
mcnt. a rcd haired imp. by the name
Of Rov. was called on. "Uh- je uh tie
uh aimc." he jcrkcd our finally.
"Wrong. Correct the mistake.
Not a hand was raised, so the Young
est Teacher turned to the desk and be-
gan 70 pass out small sheets OF white
nnpcr Subducd signs and groans were
heard.
"'rhat will do, I've drilled you on
this very thing for three lessons. and
YOU don't know il yet. You may write
tbe rule ten times. so you will remember
that ruIc. You need not put down your
names.
When tho work was done that class
passed out and another came in. and so
It went all day until half past three.
Then tho Youngest Teacher. after see
ing that the boards were washed, the
plants watcrcd and the shades lowered
walked slowly to the little white house
where she boarded. there to work on
papers until supper time.
The French and Latin exercises. IT
seemed to hcr. had never been so full
Of mistakes. and at the end OF two
hours her blue pencil was worn to
stub and hcr eyes ached, but the papers
we're oil corrected.
Then the dull ache which had
smoldercd in her heart all day, and for
many davs before. burst into flame. and
she ,lroppcd her head on her folded arms
and sobbcd. "Iipll never come back
ran her thoughts. so I'll write him and
make him think 7 don't care either.
Taking up her fountain pen. she wrote
in uncertain letters. for darkness was
gathering fast. simply these words
"Evcrything is over now. Good by.
She fumblod in a drawer for an cnve-
lopc. aud addressed it to o certain young
lieutenant Then. her eyes still blinded
by tears. she folded the fateful little
sheet. and sealed the envelope.
The months dragged by wcarly and
tho Youngest Teacher grew pale and
thin. and rarely smiled her sweet smile.
for she road daily that the soldier boys
were coming back, and She knew that
| one would never come back to her.
perhaps he would not come back at all
and she shuddercd.
And then as she came up the little
| tagged walk one night she heard a
rustling behind the vines on the porch.
and tall. khaki figure stepped
out. "Tom.' she cried. and dropped
her burden Of papers. which Auttcrcd
unhecdcd over the lawn.
Later when they were sitting behind
the vines. she asked. great wonder in
hcr voice. And YOU came-after 7 sent
you that note?'
That note was what brought mo.
dear. carried it with me everywhere.
Scc?" And he held il in a bright beam
of light. which strcamcd out from the
sitting room lamp. She pcercd at the
crumplcd. soiled bit of paper. and made
out the words jet 'aimp.' writer
again aud again in a writing very like
her owu.
"Oh. She said joyfuhy to herself
thank God for that French class o
mine
The next complete noveIette-Bob' :
Bravery.