The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-11-16

~ LILA SAuNpkRS

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~ lila SAUNDERS
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% love Murnsie, don't ron
Jehnnyr. asked III mother bending
down 70 kIss him.
VERY much, Munnsie, but 4 love
Miss Rogers 4 teeny littlesfbit mors.
COS she's % nice to met.
ArA Adair watched the little M
4re depart upon its way to school
with III old pang at her heart. She
had had two children. but d had
been taken from her, and she had
clung 70 her little boy with MI the
devotion OF the mother of one.
Miss Rogers. capable. cool, efficient,
yet seemed q poor substitute for her
self Ia Johnny,s ~affectiona
Had she not shaved for him, given
up every minute OF her life to him1
She had watched the little figure
asleep with passionate love. And now
he loved Miss Rogers q little bit more
For a moment she almost hated the
school-teacher. She would have liked
% have torn her hair, scratched her
face, committed any excess Of out
ragged mother@love. Then common sense
anne to her aid. After all It was
probably q childish fancy.
aMumsie, dear, what shall I give
Miss Rogers for her birthday tomor-
row. ~
aHow do you know it's tomorrow"
"'Cos she told me. She'll be twenty
four" Mrs. Adair smiled. So even eff
Client Miss Rogers was not above wom-
anly deceptionsl "And I can't fink
whether to give her a pin-box or some
flowers. And I've got forty cents"
"What did you give Mumsie last
birthday"
"But 1 forgot 1t was your birthday"
protested Johnny. "You should have
minded me-"
Mrs. Adair hardened her heart. She
choked down her distress. I'm afraid
that's a matter that you'll have to de-
eide for yourself, Johnny" she an
swered.
Johnny pondered wei the problem
all the way to school next morning.
When he entered the classroom his
mind vas still not made up. He
glanced up at Miss Rogers, presiding
over the little boys and girls. How
beautiful she was, with that smooth
curl on her forehead! He loved her.
He had Eve dared to tell her so.
He wondered If she could guess how
much he loved her.
Johnny, sit upr'
Johnny sat up In CONSERVATION. Miss
Rogers had never spoken to him quite
% Grossly as that before. Tears came
into his eyes. How sorry she would
feel when he gave her her present.
But what should it be? Should he
Give her the pin-box the mex morning,
Or should he give her the bunch Of
0owers? He could not possibly make
up his mind. Which would Miss Rog-
sfs prefer? Suppose he gave her
flowers and she would rather have had
the pinvboxi
Johnny, ONE here What do you
mean by lolling In the class like that
forY'
Johnny stood In the middle Of the
room, painfully conscious of the scorn-
ful glanees OF the other children. He
began to cry. His Miss Rogers-to
reat him sol He fought down the
tears, but his lips trembled.
Miss Rogers was really upset that
Jay. She had had a quarrel with her
sweetheart. But, Of course, Johnny
could not have been expected to know
nat.
"Johnny, you've been idling and
dreaming all through the lesson. Now
repeat to me what I've taught YOU"
It was true. Johnny could not re-
peat a single word. How should he,
when he had not heard one? His
thoughts had been far away-dream-
Ing about the flowers and the pin-box.
you really are a very idle, bad
boy. Now 60 to your seat and try to
pay attention to what I tell you"
Johnny went back. He felt the tears
running down his face. He could no
longer contain himself. :
"Cry-babyr whispered the little
girl next to him. He slapped her face.
"Johnnyp Amazed, Miss Rogers
bore down on him. Leave the room at
once. IF you don't behave yourself
/ shall send you to the principal"
He stood miserably outside till the
class was yer A terrible scolding
succeeded 1t. 1t was a wretched little
figure that went drearily away In the
wake Of the other boys and girls.
It frightened as it drew nearer
home. Mrs. Adair, waiting on the
porch, stretched out her arms to the
little figure.
why, what have you got In that
parcel, darling?' she asked.
"a pin-box- And it's for you, Num-
-. stead of Miss Rogers, COS I love
Jon ever 30 much-ever 80 much bet
Tor than her"
Multiplication 10 vexation.
The little girl at the elementary
Hrh0nI had hnou nrnmnfod to unuitIc1s