The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-12-05

brillianee; he was. definitely. not
brilliant man, but he had some
other quality. difficult TO define.
that was nevertheless forcefuL
Il can't believe it," said Mrs
Battle. sobbing. "Sylvia!"
Sylvia was the youngest Of su-
perintendent and Mrs. Battles Eve
children. She was 16 and at school
near Maidstone.
The letter was from Miss Am
phrey, headmistress OF the school
in question. It was a clear. kindly
and extremely tactful letter. It
set out, in black and white, that
various small thefts had been puz-
cling the school authorities for
some time, that the matter had
been at last cleared up, that Sylvia
Battle had confessed and that Miss
Amphrey would like to see Mr..
and Mrs Battle at the earliest
possible opportunity ito discuss
the position
Superintendent Battle folded up
the letter. put it in his pocket,
and said:
"You leave this to me, Mary"
He got up, walked round the ia
Bile, patted her on the cheek and
said. Don't worry. dear. 1t will be
all right"
He went from the room leaving
comfort and reinsurance behind
him.
That afternoon, in Miss AM
phrey's modern and individualistic
drawing room. Superintendent Bat
tie sat very squarely on his chair,
his large wooden hands on his
knees, confronting Miss Amphrey
and managing to look, far more
than usual, every inch a policeman.
Miss Amphrey was very sue
cessful headmistress. She had per-
sonality-a great deal Of person
atty, she was enlightened and up
to date, and she combined dis
cipline with modern Ideas Of self
determination.
Her room was representative of
the spirit of Meadway. Everything
was of a cool oatmeal color-there
were big jars Of daffodils and
bowls of tulips and hyacinths. Che
or two good copies Of the antique
Greek, two pieces OF advanced
m dern sculpture. two Italian
primitives on tho walls. In the
midst of all this, Miss Amphrey
herself, dressed in a deep shade Of
blue, with an eager face sugges-
tive OF a conscientious greyhound,
and clear blue eyes looking serious
through thick lenses.
THE important thing" she was
saying in her clear we'll modulated
voice, is that this should be taken
the right way. 1t Is the girl her
self we have to think Of, Mr.. Bat
tie. Sylvia herself! 1t Is most i'm
portant-most important. that her
life should not be crippled In any
way. She must not be made TO as
sumo q burden OF guilt-blame
must be very, very sparingly melted
out, II at all. We must arrive at
the reason behind these quite triv-
ial offerings. A sense of inferior
ity, perhaps7 She Is not good at
games, you know-an obscure wish
to shine in q different sphere-the
desire to assert her ego7 We must
be very careful. That Is why ]
wanted to sec you alone frst--to
impress upon you to be very, very
careful with Sylvia. repeat again
It's very important to get at what
Is behind this"
THAT, Miss Amphrey," said SUI
perintendent Battle. lis why have
come down."
His voice was quiet, his face I'M
emotional, his eyes surveyed the
schoolmistress appraisingly.
Il have been very gentle with
her." said Miss Amphrey.
Battle said laconically:
Good Of you, NAM
You see, really love and I'M
derstand these young things"
Battle did not reply directly. He
said:
I'D like TO see my girl now, II
you don't mind, Hiss Amphrey."
With renewed emphasis Miss