Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-07-24

with gusto to silly pranks, as If to make
up for lost time.
Only Yesterday two honor pupils
who had never before made the Slight
est trouble, had ditched assembly and
gone roller skating, round and round
the block.
AS for those who were failing, OF
course they quit work. No use bother
! ing any more. Those on the margin
haunted the teachers, with little Offer
ings Of back work in their hands, asking
eagerly if they were passing now. Itch
! ing for relief from further effort, she
supposed.
Ban games were on, and every nice
afternoon when a league game was
scheduled there was an alarming in
crease in the number of boys taken
suddenly i'll, and demanding early dis
missal.
The school annual was out and
groups were everywhere gathered, sign
ing the ANIMALS. Miss Phelps was GER
tain she had already signed hundreds,
and it had only begun. Next week the
farewell lunches would be in full blast,
and the dances. Over all was an atmoS-
phere Of pleasant leisure, absurdly at
variance with the duties which were
crowding upon her
She decided that she had the Spring
fever herself, and, dismissing resolutely
the picture of a little golf course on
high bluff overlooking blue bay which
had been intruding all morning, she
forced her attention back TO the WORK
on her desk. But she did wish she
could skip June.
Suddenly she was aware that one
pupil was still waiting, huddled down
in the far corner Of the mourners
bench
What is it, virginiaP" she asked
crisply.
The crisp tone meant no unfriendli-
ness. Why should it2 Virginia was a
weakness Of hers. She was a dainty
young girl Of the graduating class,
girl with delicate serious face, oeau-
tiful big eyes, and soft little voice
which had made her a trial IN tne
classroom; she was so difficult 70 near
and so well worth hearing.
The girl had a thing which Miss
Phelps respected greatly, an oDeolen1s
mind. 1t did exactly what Virginia tolo
it to, turning out stately nexaIneeSeI
or frisky limericks, as ordered. pit
made delightful pen and ink sketches,
with which she often enlivened her
sober class exercises, and had turned III
the only witty class prophecy miss
Phelps had ever read. She was an IL
tereSting little person But sne We
grave and distant, and most ulaP-
- Miss Phelps who was very attrac-
tive woman and warmly admired Dy
the pupils. and who was, Therefore,
forced TO spend considerable energy
warding off brushes, had found neTSen
guilty more than once OF wishing blla.
Ehis cold child would thaw toward nsi
'uS 'w + ' is it, virginia9" she repeated
The girl came to the desk somewhat
and stood at polite aV1el-
ion. -, o,,c,,se9"
Miss Phelps asked facetlously'
ARE You telling me, Virginia" MISS
Phelps said sharply, startled OUT Oh , Nc
,omposIre, 'that you are adding your
elf to my problems2"
Eyes, I have"
what excuseP ..on
II suppose I didn't start in time.
Mics PneIus stared at her helplesSly.
saThat isn't all, Miss Phelps, LnS
rirl said. 3 little hurriedly. Il have nov
,een going to my first hour Glass
= dropped out"
without permission7"
The girl nodded.
"You didn't need the credit"
mo" ii
but Virginia. why didn't you go
through the usual form2 Why didn't
ou come 70 me for permission?"
III didn't want 30. II always means I
good deal Of talk. doesn't tn Really,
gn4t uxu y Kaaxf&ET
7 Ses. But you see yOu didn't ss-l'