Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-01-03
AT THE
SOUND OF
THE GONG
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LNh N L NxInlah

less. Margaret Rogers, teacher
raped her desk repeatedly for or
der. There was a rustic Of bodies,
scraping Of feet, an undertone OF whis
pers, and from one corner Of the room
came the sound Of sobs. Some newl.
launched traveller on the long road t.
education was weeping unrestrainedlJ
for home and mother.
SNOW we must be quiet" sternly
remarked Miss Rogers, and for a Sec
ond the noise subsidized only to be brok-
en- by the shrill shrek Of a small,
pink-frocked girl in the second row
who, half turned in her seat wat
pointing chubby finger at a red-head
ed boy behind her.
HE did 1t :" sobbed the vic
tim, "he did It he snapped
my neck with wubber band and y
HURT" axe
Miss Rogers approached the tOrmeb
tor.
"Stand upp ordered the teacher
sternly. "Stand-in the aisle" s.
The boy looked up at her and
grinned, displaying a wide gap where
three front teeth were missing.
do you mean me, Miss Rcgerth 2"
Il dol" and Miss Rogers eyes came
to rest on narrow rubber band about
his fist. A9omnhn
"No, ma'am, didn'th thitt
elathith band did though. I'm thorry.'
"What is your nalne?"
"My name is David WeatherbH
Junior"
'Wha-a-tY' demanded Margaret.
He nodded affably, his gray eyes
frankly disconcerting. t,t,
David weatherby Juniorl The con
of the man she had met and learned
to love this summer, with love that
had made vacation long period Of
golden happiness; the son Of the man
who had asked her to marry him and
then-after she h I'd promised had told
her OF this boy. The irony Of having
this boy in her room. The eyes smil
ing up at her with big Dawes eyes.
She turned slowly and walked back to
her desk and David Junior scraped
his shoes noisily on the floor as he
sat down.
"It hur-r-rt," walled the small vic
tim, disappointedIy
| "Now, everyone will fold BIS haEs--
anu wei VIII sing. What song do you
choose?"
"Thankth for the Buggy Ride"
came promptly from David's desk and
smoker went over the room.
Margaret was glad when the day
was over and the last small person
had filed out. She sat at her desk q
long time thinking of those
splendid horseback rides over noun.
tain trails, Dave beside her. The
white moonlight nights when they had
sat with large group around blaz-
ing camp fire and lost themselves in
the pine branches overhead. She
smiled grimly when she recalled that
| Dave had been particularly fond of
the song, Thanks for the Buggy
Ride" There had been breakfasts al
sunrise and long days together, return.
Ing to the Wyoming ranch as the sua
was losing Itself III the golden glory
behind the mountain peaks How hap
ny she had been when be had said he
was leaving the city and was to live
In the town she called home
where his sister lived; and then, ne
had told her of his love for her, and
In a voice Infinitely tender he had la
ter spoken of his previous marriage
and Of his small son left motherless at
birth. iN
hoI hn fnld har oll NJ
the beginning? It was not falrl He
had deceived her! And he had an.
swered:
sit was because loved you so
much, Peggy l wanted to be
sure you loved me enough to
to You would love Davie
boy"
come home, a day or so before Dave
had planned to leave, he held her hand
tightly In his ana said he would wait
David Junior proved to be disrupt
ing factor In the first-grade room He
continued to harass the small girls
who sat near him; he dropped his
books and whispered continuously, his
WubSDcI UeCuuSp
" his missing teeth. He continued TO
grin at her and request that the morn
Ing song he "rhanks for the Buggy
Ride" although Margaret had never
asked him for his choice. He was al
ways eager to talk Of his father who
he told her, was away on long trip
but would come back soon. She pun.
Ished him on several occasions by
making him stand In the corner, but
he always smiled at her sweetly--
with big Dawes eyes.
There had been long letter from
Dave. He was hoping TO return soon.
hut business was good and his trip
lad been longer than he anticipated
IFS sister, who cared for David. wrote
that the boy was getting along nicely
In school and enjoyed It. Big Dave
was anxious to get back to the little
like Davie boys welfare and
happiness was about the biggest thing
In the world to him Mar
garet tore up the letter and dropped
II into the waste basket only to res
cue II after school hours and piece II
back together again
The next afternoon when David
Junior deliberately conxed an ugly
sOlled dog Into the room she made
him come up and SIT beside her all the
afternoon. and II annoyed he extreme