The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1922-03-16
CHAPTER discontinued.

Of relaxation In her class, when she
would stop the lesson and tell the
children about Germany: What a beau
tiful, good country 1t was, SO trim and |
orderly, with such pleasant customs,
and all the people sensible. energetic
and healthy. There was "MIusic" again
In the German class, which was an
other alienation though it was the
same old "Star Spangled Banner" over
again. Ramsey was tired Of the song
and tired Of "My Country 'Tis Of
Thee: they were bores, but it was
amusing to Sing them In German. In
German they sounded "sort o. funny"
SO he didn't mind this bit Of the days
work.
Half an hour later there arrived his
supreme trial Of this particular morn
Ing. Arithmetic then being the order
Of business before the house, he was
sent alone to the blackboard, supposed
| ly to make lucid the proper reply to
fatal c0nundrum In decimnlS, and
under the glare and focus Of the
whole, room he breathed heavily and
itched everywhere; his brain at once
became sheer hash He consumed as
much time as possible in getting the
terms Of the problem stated in chalk:
then. affecting to be critical Of his own
handiwork, erased what he had done
and carefully wrote 1t again. After
that he erased half OF it. slowly re-
traced figures, and stepped back as II
to see whether perspective improved
their appearances. Again he lifted the
eraser.
Ramsey Milholland!"
"Aln'nm?"
"l'ut down that eraser."
"Yes'm. just thought"
Sharply hidden to get forward with
his task, he explained I'm Il feeble voice
that he had first to tie shoestring
ana stopped to do so, but was not per.
mitted. Miss Ridgcly tried to stimu.
late him with hints ana suggestion:
found him, SO far as decmuls went.
mere pr"toplnsm and, wondering how
SO helpless Il thing could live, sum
moned to the board little Dora Yocum,
the star Of the class, whercupon Ram
soy moved toward his seat.
Stand still, Ramsey! You stay
right where you are and try to learn
something from the way Dora does
H."
The class gigxled, and Ramsey stood.
but learned nothing. His conspicuous
ness was uncomfortable. because all of
his schoolmates naturally found more
entertainment in watching him than
In following the performance of the
cJpable Dora.
Instructed to watch every figure
chalked up by the mathematical won
der, his eyes, grown sodden, were UNI
able to remove themselves from the
part In her hair at the back OF her
head. where two little brnids began
their separate careers to end in a cou-
pie Of blue-and-red- checked bits of rib.
bon. one upon each of her thin shoul.
dor blades. Ills sensations clogged his |
intellect; he suffered from unsought
notorety, and hated Dora Yocum:
most of all he hated her busy little
shoulder blades.
He had to be kept In" after school;
and when he was allowed to 20 home
he ayerted his eyes as he went by the
house where Dora lived. She was out |
IN the yard. eating IL dOughnut, and
he knew 1t; but he had passed the age
when 1t is just as permissible to throw
Il rock at Il girl as at boy; and
sitting lis normal inclinutions, lie
walked sturdily on, though he INDUCED
hlmscif SO FAR as to engage in a mur-
INJURED conversation with one Of the
familiar spirits dwelling somewhere
within him. "Pfa !" said Ramsey to
himself to Ramsey, since
1t ts difficult to say which was which.
'Pfa! Thinks she's smart. don't she2"
Well. guess she does, but she
amt" II hate her, don't your"
:. "You bet your life hate her!"
Teachers Pet. that's what l call her!"
'Well, that's what cnll her,
too, don't II" "Well. do; that's all
ahe is anyway-dirty ole Tencher's
Foil"