The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-12-31
AU REyOIR
BY LILLIAN {. HALeERIN.


hat drawn down to meet her thought
full brows. and with two books under
her arm, Rolfa was running down thu
stairs Of the Hope Boarding house
Then something happened. Somethipl
serious enough to bring tears to hel
grave eyes. The heel of Rolla's slip
per caught In a treacherous place In
the ragged carpet she clutched the air
dropped her books. then fell In a de-
jected heap.
To add to her discomfort and hui
initiation young man in-navy blue
came to her assistance.
THANK you, I'm not hurt" she said
CURLY.
With flaming cheeks and close to
tears. Rolla hurried out. and not until
she had turned the corner did she stop
to brush the dust she had gathered In
her mishap from her skirt and sleeves
and to pull her hat In place. When
she reached her destination-the MUIR
ray Hill school-and glided In be-
tween the swinging doors, the tense ex-
preston on her face relaxed and she
breathed sigh Of relief.
Rolla had two passions-her mother
and education. She never, passed a
school without sigh, and witnessing a
graduation Of high school, class was
ut once JOY and an anguish to her.
In her heart she Rugged hope that
some day she would take up the broken
thread of her education; and now
she had moved into this boarding
house because 1t was nearest to ''her
school," She could slip away to the
evening course as soon as she had re-
turned from-the Office and swallowed
her meager supper.
And how she loved those hours she
spent among the serious evening stu
dents. They were the only bright spot
in her drab,. lonely life.
"Good evening, Mr.. Franklin" she
murmured, as she passed the tall prin-
cipal. whose towering head and shout
ders she could see above the moving
throng of students.
She offered this greeting nightly,
though she never received nor expect
cd an answer; not that Mr.. Franklin
would purposely ignore her, but be-
cause he never heard her low voice.
On her way home after school that
evening she ran full tilt into sailor
who politely lifted his white cap, while
the confusion she had felt earlier In
the evening returned to her. She felt
n sense of shame at her ungracious de-
pertinent toward this man, and she
made desperate effort to mend II
now.
IL thank you fer--you must par.
don me- she stammered.
Perfectly all right" he murmured.
lifting his cap again. Then, with a
smile and pointing to her books, he
said: studying French?"
Her embarrassment was forgotten
In moment, and she felt as If she
we're conversing with an old friend. He
had struck common note and she had
and soon they were lost"
N books.
I'm trying to have some one teach
me the meaning of couple Of words,
too. Need II for over there you
KNOW" he told her.
Rolla was on the point Of offering
what little advice she could, when sud
ienly she remembered that he was the
friend of the quiet girl on the second
loor
II went to see the Great Lakes Ma
7al station. Our boys make Won
ierful showing, don't they" she re-
YES" he agreed.
Rolla began to thaw out in spite Of
herself because Of the boys wholesome
rankness.
''Do you know" sheN found herself
aging. Il fancy saw you there?"
'You might have; was In the let
er "A in America and In " when
we formed the word navy You
must have recognized me by my white
ap."
They both laughed.
"You call here often?' she remarked
rrelevantly.
Eyes. come to visit Alice regular
"" he answered.
She bid him sudden and cold good
light" and ran up to her room. resolv-
ng to avoid him In the future. To see
lin was not right toward the quiet
klice.
When school was dismissed next eve
ling and she was making her way out
he noticed Mr.. Franklin in conversa-
ion with a sailor-the Sailorl
A few minutes later as she turned
he corner to her home she heard some
ne repeating her name. She turned
o find the sailor greeting her. He
urprised her into cordiality.
How do you happen to come to my
choolr she demanded.
II know the Murray High school
retty well. taught French there;
esides, / am q nephew of Mr.. Frank
In as well as of Uncle SAM he
aughed.
But you said you wanted to learn
'renchl" Rolia gasped.
do n - n ~