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Show 53 PcpjTlffht, bj- tho S. S. McCluro Co.) BI.V AN East Sldo school, a year or two ijfll w, there was a First Reader class niched ovor and ruled by a femalo Hjjwt teacher, who was, In turn, watched VjMns ami ruled by a cabinet of thrco. JMIKM powers behind tho throne were 'e. Jyjrii Mogllewaky, Monitor of tho Gold-JflfA Gold-JflfA Bowl; Nathan SpItTcrwitz, Monitor jjMiJWbdow Boxes, and Patrick Brcnnan, mLalx of tho Line. In years they wero rTT7 joung, but In world craft they were lii7 eld, for the green fields of their jMpliood were the swarming streets, and ftMf- Mo" talcs the corner gossip of tho iiMks'j'xl Chief In their queer assortment iK necorlea was that of a kindergarten Wn&tr of transcendent charm, who had Krricd and faded from their horizon, fofcflress to broad acres could bo more arefcllj- chaperoned by a bevy of mald-o mald-o rats than was Teachor by Morris, hiaa and Patrick. Morris was the ilrst to discover deflnito :a::d' for uneasiness. lie met his cher. i Miss Bailey talking across Ofrand -Kt cn a rainy morning, and tho um-U um-U nrhlcn was protecting her beloved til was belnp held by a tall stranger Bilonpand baggy coat After circling wwclously about this astounding MittL. Morris dashed off to report to coiJtasues. He found Patrick and fn In the midst of an exciting gamo rcr but his pattering feet warned a of danger, so they pockotcd their iceiM turned to hear his news. , he Pant. "I seen Teacher mit Vor raid Patrick, aghast. Ufa He!" cried Nathan; '"It's a lie!" L v'i!t8,n? ,,e" sald Morris, with a f ,?f rcathlessncss and half of Eft.1.."6!1 ,J,cr iov aure- Und th0 carries umbrellas over her mit loving en-an." drawled Patrick; "you'ro iio'Jt" know what ou'ro t,llk- i72rt.d0Ji.,,.cr,ed JIorr'8- "I had once S uH tn),lnieu8'I10w ,,oor walkers . ,?n how they makes." T ttrr ,,!, l ilu'PK, "i bad a sister S' h married the milkman, so I But umbrellas doesn't mean M'fcVncuV loolfV Morrls tnslsted. WJHceUo makes such looks on tho sales- H.nu fialken-und Mr 'al4i!iSi,W,,,8U8Best0d Nathnn, "I'll to -m L? d.-, .'ou nsk hcr if aho's ?TfitfdaflHtT,Cuk, ' Let MOrrlJ ttBk cj. Sir.-. ll?lm cforo sno'd tel1 iSSwi n P" h,m ovcr 8lnco ,5a&1,orr s- d0 "ear? M narrica lCacllCr ,f she'3 oln iBWc'e. CiM?rr,B,'..in h'8 shocked fL fierce " P J'U 118119 ,lko MStH1lu''i;e ot lo it, anyway " W" you vo BOt to lot hcat IML8!'.' .Protested Morris, but he ffttfck by th0 dominant spirit of MuS nth "don of tho !BfeMhJ Tau Sn 0C th0 po,lc- itS I TSVriSlntl6 children, came- to Kholr 9h,hl3 customed air of MniJH "Good morning" was MUon arontly. 10 th0 removal ae ""0nJ??. "-..Portion of his spina, ffifttoia tlseXlnB b0 Pa-uaed long Wdffi?oH'U7 rraeot E5 bis su'. and thn rccom-Kl rccom-Kl r flS11 15, another layer of Wned i?,s CITort8 bcln? at iKi ,H before Teacher's admlr-m,r admlr-m,r Uter a5ett0 paPcr napkin. W&tAtiit" CXplalncd- "sho ffets Kd'i ; A?3 It,t0 mo- und I gives E(b 4 fond S,ns lhc while she's got MulCs ftm,e- ,?h,c eoes all tlmcn Eetttn? l0iL nl1 her younge laly gf. cabinet u',rd carried," tho un-Si un-Si lhr nai ln ab0uL teacher. no A,n'L k fnn?' uu'r. V0 if: ftnswored tonchor &icL lt- v ncnrly aU yi,nc JWfto h?!?, ora teacher's desk fetbo Minth-3!00 Bl.rIne When MCInch Ui P' Projected Vm&W he waa a,l,tb? C"1yd too of his loslnrr nlrTacd' Morris was most to SC0raBe-he Wtt!J Indeed BBV1 dose i wLilwfly whon Patrick Smh " ar'd held h,m 10 Sfe ft'oiieht JS?1'. Buddenly. as a dhi gff "bo you a oJ1"? of Hibernian ances-M':Sj,,i:h ances-M':Sj,,i:h do you t?.V,otlo,n wlth another: IHV youT 0 anowored. "I don't fc,1 ?ou- flre.3 s? yo,ir hair tucked Hfa tdi- hiTr . 0 lonT down Wee you Ike you lyou a.ffs and tells ur. thl w5ft.eirl. I don't know," KnW.tr.Cci his rrlB," ont,n,nT. Pat-HT Pat-HT aujS'usly burled tho pin "$AY, HE PANT&D; " I SEEN K M iTEACHrlR KIT A.MAN T W h 1 . fb4j ANDSoydUSHALL.OLd L-SVI M m r t CHAP.". HE CRIED. "50 ff A- TaoV 'YOU SHALL! M Morris rushed blindly into the conversation, conversa-tion, with: "Say Teachci, Mies Bailey, bo you coin to get married?" and then dropped limply against hcr shoulder. "Well, perhaps so, Morris. Perhaps I shall, som-j day." "Teacher, no ma'an. Miss Bailey'" walled tho Monitor of tho Goldnsh: "Don't you go and get married mit nobody. no-body. So you do you couldn't bo Teacher , by us no more, und you're a awful nice teacher by little boys. You nln't too big. Vnd say, wo'd fool lorrlblo bad tho while you goes and goto married mlt somebody terrible bad,' "Should you really now?" asked Teacher, Teach-er, greatly pleased. "Well, dear, I too should bo lonoly without you." Somo days later Teacher arranged to go to a reception and a3 she did not caro to roturn to hor l-ame between work and play oho appeared at school ln rather festive fes-tive array. Room IE was delighted with Its transformed ruler, but to tho board of monitors this glory of raiment brought nothing but misery. Every twist in tho neat coiffure, ovory fold of tho pretty dress, every ruBtlc of tho invisible silk, every click of tho high heels, meant tho coming abdication of Teacher and tho disbanding dis-banding of her cabinet. Just bo had Patrick's Pat-rick's sister Mary looked on tho day sho wed tho milkman Just such had beon tho outward aspect of Morris's auntie on tho day of her union to tho promising vo'unjr salesman who was now a floorwalker floor-walker and MorriB'8 Uncle Ikoy. Momentarily they expected somo word of farowoll perhaps oven an lco-cream party but Teacher mado no sign. Thoy decided that she was reserving hcr Inst words for their private ear and wero greatly disconcerted to find thomsofveo turned out with the common herd at , o'clock. With heavy hoavts thoy followod the examplo; of Mary's llttlo Inmb and waited patiently about lU Teachor appeared, ap-peared, When she came sho was moro wonderful than evor, in a long ?.nd billowy bil-lowy boa and a wido and billowy bat. Sho had seemed In a breathless hurry while up ln Room IS, but now sho ntood rjulto placidly in a group of her small adherents ad-herents on tha highost of the schoolhouso Htcps. And tho cabinet, waiting gloomily apart, only muttered "I told yo so." and "It must be a awful kind feeling." when tho tall stranger came swinging upon the ficeno. Ono of lUs hands was held stlflly in tho pocket of tho baggy coat, the other carried gloves and a cam. When Teacher's Teach-er's oyos fell upon his sho began to force her wav through hor clinging court, and when he was half way up tho steps alio was half way down As they mot , hi drew from hln pocket tho hand and the violets lt held and Teachor was still ndjustlng tho 'lowers in her Jackot whon Bhe passed, with Hushed cheeks and shining shin-ing eyes, within touch but without know-led know-led go of hor lurking staff. "I didn't expect you at all," oho was saying. "You know lt was not a really doilnlto engagement, and men halo receptions." recep-tions." , . Tho gloom obscuring Patrick's spirit on tho evening wa of so devp a dyo that Mrs. Brcnnan dlaynoscd It as tho first filago of "a consumption." Sho administered admin-istered simple remedies and warm bathn with perseverance, but without cnToct, But moro potent to euro than bath or bottlo was tho sight of Teacher on tho noxt morning In her accustomed clothes and place. Tho board of monitors had hardly recovered re-covered from this panic when anothor alarming symptom appeared. Miss Balloy began to watch for letters and large envelopes began to reward her watchfulness. watchful-ness. Daily was Patrick sent to tho pow-erg pow-erg Jhpj; were to demand, a IttUr, and dally ho carried ono. and a sorely heavy hfcnrt. back to his sovereign. In exactly tho same sweetly Insistent way had ho been sent many a tlmo and oft to seek tldlng3 of the laggard milkman. His col-leegues. col-leegues. when ho laid theso fact3 beforo them, were of the opinion that things looked very dark for Teacher. Said Nathan. Na-than. "You know how she says wo should be monitors on hcr wedding? Well, lt could be lies. Sho marries maybo already." Patrick promptly knocked tho Monitor of Window Boxes down upon the rough asphalt of tho yard and kicked him. ' Miss Bailey's no sneak," ho cried, hotly. hot-ly. "If she was married she'd Just as lief go and tell." "Well," Morris began, "I had once a auntie " "Your auntie makes mo sick," snapped Patrick. "But Morris went on qulto undisturbedly un-disturbedly - "I onco had a auntlo un' she had awful kind feelings ovcr a stylish floor walker, und he was loving mlt her, So-o-oh! They marries! Un' they don't say nothings noth-ings to nobody. On'y tho stylish lloor-wnlker lloor-wnlker ho writes on my auntlo whole bunches of loving loiters." "Sho ain't married," Patrick rellorated. "Sho ain't " "Well, sho will be," muttered Nathan, vindictively "Und tho new teachor will lick you tno whllo you fights. It's fierce how you mako mo biles on my bones. Think shame." Whon tho ruffled Monitor of tho Window Win-dow Boxes had been soothed by tho peaceful Guardian of Jtho Goldfish, tho cublnot hcM council Nathan suggested that lt might be posslblo to bribe tho interloper. inter-loper. They would givo him their combined com-bined woalth and urgo him to turn his eyes upon Miss Blake, whoso room was across the hall. Sho was very big, and would do exceedingly well for him, whero-bb whero-bb she was cntlroly too long and loo broad for thorn. Morris maintained that Teacher might bo held by gratitude. A list should bo mado out, and, each In turn, a child a day, should give her a present. Patrick Ustoned to theso Ideas ln deep and rostlvo disgust. Ho urged instant and copious bloodshed. His big brother's gang could "lot daylight into tho dudo" with enjoyment and dispatch. Thoy would watch him ceaselessly, and they would track him down. Tho watching wan an easy matter, for Teacher, ln common with the majority of rulers, lived much In the public eye. Tho stranger was often detected prowling ln hor vicinity. Ho uven began to brlnu her to school in tho mornings, and on theso occasions there woro alwayo violets in hor coat. Ho used to appear at lunch-con lunch-con tlma and vanish with her. Ho used to como in the afternoon and have ten ln Room 18 with two other teachers and with Teacher. Tho antagonism of tho Monitor of Goldfish became so marked that Mlsa Bailey was forced to remon-struo. remon-struo. "Morris, dear," she began ono afternoon, after-noon, when thoy wero alone togethor, "you wero very rudo to Dr. Ingraham yo.Mtorday. I can't allow you to stay horo with me If you'ro going to behavo so badly. You Bulked horribly, and you slammed tho door againBt his foot. Of course, it was an accident, but how would you feel, Morris, if you had hurt Dr. Ingraham?" In-graham?" "Glad." said tho lonltor of the Goldfish, Gold-fish, savagely. "Glad." "Morris! What do you mean by 3aylng such a thing? I'm aslnvmod of you. Why should you want to hurt a friend of mlno?" "Don't you bo friends mlt him" cried Murrto, CvsorUug Mb &h and throwing i ) himself upon his teachor. "Don't you do lt, Teacher Missis Balloy. Ho ain't no friends for a lady." And then, ln answer to- Teacher's staro of blank surpriso, ho wont on: . "My mamma sho seen him by your sldo I und she 3ays I got to tell you in whispering whisper-ing how sho says." I Teacher meekly bent her hoad, and i Mcrris whispered In an awe-struck voice: "My mamma says she llko that: 'Ho could to be a Krlsht,' " and then drew back lo study Teacher's consternation. But sho seemed quite calm. Perhaps sho had already faced tho devastating fact, for sho said: "Yes, I know ho's a Christian. I'm not afraid of them. Aro you?" ; "Teacher, no, ma'am, Missis Balloy. I ain't got no scare over Krlsht3, on'y they ain't no friends for ladlos. My papa says llko that on my auntlo, und my auntie she's married now mlt a stylish floorwalker. floor-walker. We'm got a Krlsht by our houso for boarders, so I know. But .you couldn't to know "bout ICrlshts " "Yes, I do. They're very nice people' "No, ma'am," said Morris, gently. And then, still moro courteously: "It's a Ho. You couldn't to know about ICrlshts." "But I do know all about them, Morris, dear. I'm a Christian." Again Morris remembered his mannora. Again he replied in his courtly phr.ogo: "It's a lie." As he said It, with a bewitching be-witching rising inflection, lt was almost a caress. "It's a lie Teacher fools. You couldn't to be no right Krlsht. You ain't got no looks off of Krlshts." Teachor was mildly surprised. Sho was as Irish as Patrick Brennan, and In hor own way sho looked it Truly her eyes were brown, but tho faco and tho faith of hcr fathers woro still strongly hers. "Not look llko a Christian?" sho was saying. "Well, then, Morris, what do I look like?" jiiu iu'jrns, uver &u'"o &irojgii(. lo iuu point, replied: "You looks llko a stylish Sheeney," and wilted for this Intoxicating praiso to bring blushes to the light faco ho loved. It brought tho blushes, but thoy wero even redder and hotter than ho had expected. ex-pected. There was also a gasp on which he had. not counted, and a g.ueor Hash ln the brown eyes. "Morris," said Teacher, "Morris, did you ever see a Shconoy with a face llko mine?" Morris raised his head from tho red Jumper, climbed off tho from-sllk apron and solemnly contemplated tho llttlo bit of nose. Tho truth broke over him In sickening waves. The star of his llfo had sot; his doll was stuffed with sawdust, his Idol had feet of clay; his light faced laxly was a Christian. And yet she wa3 his tenchcr and greatly to bo loved, so ho bore tho knowledge, for her dear sake, as bravely as he could. -Ho returned to the from-sllk apron, wound a short arm around tho whlto collar, and sobbed: "Teachor, ylss, ma'am, you'm got a Krlsht nose. But you don't caro, no ono couldn't never to know llko you ain't a forsuro Sheency the while you got such terrlblo Sheonoy eyes. Oh, but they couldn't never to think you'ro a Krlsht. Und say. don't you havo a frightened. I wouldn't never to tell nobody. Never. I makes a Bwoar ovor It- I kiso up to God I hopes I drops down If I tells." At tho end of a month tho high heels and tho fcntlvo raiment appeared again, and the staff knew that tho tlmo for action had really como. They must bring tho Krlsht to terms boforo ho should sco teacher ln her present and Irresistible array. ar-ray. Ho wan alwajs first at the tryUlng plaoo, and thcro thoy ,would havo speoch with him. Thoy arranged to escnpo from room IS before S o'clock. Patrick feigned a nose-bleed, Morris dovolopod an Inward agony and Nathan, after somo moments of indecision, boldly plucked out a tottering tot-tering tooth and followed bloody but triumphant tri-umphant ln thoir wake. Thoy found tho onemy Just as they had expected, and Morris, being again elected spokesman, slopped forward and took him by his dastard das-tard hand. Tho adversary yielded, thinking think-ing that teacher had beon forced to greater great-er caution. Tho Monitors of Goldflflh and of Window Boxci followod closo behind, thoy having consented, ln view of tho enormous Issues involved, to act as scouts. Around the corner they went to a dark and narrow alloy, and, when they had reached a secluded spot between tho high wail of the school and tho blank windows of a recently-burned tenement houso, Morris began; "Teacher don't wants to go on tho party mit you tho who she ain't got no moro that kind feeling over you." "What?" cried tho astonished Dr. Ingraham. Ingra-ham. "Sho don't wants to bo married mlt you." "Did Miss Bailey send you with any message to mo?" The question was no fierce that tho truth was forced from tho unwilling Hps of tho spokesman. "No, ma'am no, sir," thoy faltered. "On'y that's tho feolln what alio had, Und bo you go away 'out seeing tcaoher. mo und tho other fellows wo glvea you f-l-v-e cents." Tho cabinet drew near to hoar tho answer an-swer to thin suggestion. It puzzled them, for "Now, look hero, boy," said Dr. Ingraham, Ingra-ham, "you'd better go homo arid got to bed. You aren't well." Morris conferred with hlB colleagues and returned with: "Wo gives you s-e-v-o-n conta so you go homo now 'out seeing tooohor. A nickel and two yonnlOBj (to you, go novft Und ay ( Miss Blake could go by your side. She has kind feelings over you." "Nonsense," said the man. "When will your teachor bo down?" "She ain't coming at all. Sho has no more feelings. So you goes now we gives you a dime, and a penny. Eleven cents. Wo ain't got lt; on'y we could to got. Teacher gives mo all times pennies." Just as tho stranger was wondering how much of truth theso extraordinary children chil-dren know, Teachor, calm-eyed and unruffled, un-ruffled, appeared upon tho scene. Sho said, as she generally did: "Doctor Ingraham! Who would havo thought lo Und you here!" And thon: "Aro you talking to my llttlo pooplo? Thoy aro the cleverest llttlo things, and such friends of mine. MoitIb hero and I aro tho greatest of cronies." Toacher'a manner as she bogan hor greeting was serene and bright, but a floomy, ovon a morose glance, from Dr ngraham's cold bluo oyo qulto changed her. His voice, too. considered as tho volco of lovo, soundod sulky as' ho said "So it seems. Ho has given mo an answer an-swer which you refu3od me." "How generous of Morris, and how thoughtful! He's always trying to save me trouble. And tho question, now, to which tho answer belonged. May ono know that?" "You know It well enough," with a glance up and down tho deserted alloy, for even Patrick had realized that discretion dis-cretion Is tho better part of statesmanship. statesman-ship. "You know lt too well. 1 asked lt yestorday and every day for weeks." "And Morris's answer?" "No." "They really aro tho cleverest children." "Ijlttlo brutes. I can't think why you como down hero every day. Tho brats aren't in tho least grateful." "But they are. They think mo perfection." perfec-tion." "That Is tho contagion of mental states." "And thoy'ro not fond of you." "They rotlcct your very thought" "Yes. tho insight of a- llttlo child is a marvelous thing. But como. We are a long way from Forty-sovonth street and our hostess." "Tea, do you know," said Dr. Ingraham, "Is a dreadful bore." "Of course. But cold toa Is worse. And the cakes aro so shattered toward the end Come." "I've changed my mind. I'm not going. I'm tired of this sort of thing. Answer mo now. "But tho children," faltorcd Teacher. "I should iniss them so." At this sign of weakening Doctor Ingraham Ingra-ham .favored tho queer old street with a tableau to which lt long had been a stranger, And tho cabinet, creeping back to rcconnolter, Immediately guessed tho worso. Said Morris: "She's loving mlt him und he's loving mlt her. They've got loving looks. I had onco a auntie" Thla was too much for the town spirit of tho Leader of the Line. Ho laid violent hands and feet upon tho Monitor of Goldllsh. Tho Monitor of Window Boxes promptly followed suit Morris' prolonged yell of agonized surprise brought Teacher Hying to tho rescue, and Teacher brought Dr. Ingraham. While the latter held and restrained Patrick and Nathan, Miss Bailey lavished endearments and caresses on hcr favorite. Tho captor grow as restless rest-less as his captives under this aggravation, aggrava-tion, and at last allowed his charges to cscapo him. "Miss Balloy" he rcmonclratcd; "I can't stand this sort of thing, you know. It's brutal." Tho Teacher's ears were all for Morris' talo of sorrow. "I don't know what la mit Patrick," ho was saying. "He hits me a hack some-thin' some-thin' fierce sooner I says about mlno auntie. Und Nathan, too, Is bad boys. Ho says you lies." VI?" said Teacher. "I?" "Ylss, ma'am, that's how ho says. On'y I know you don't lies. I know wo should bo monitors like you saya." "When, dearie?" "On your weddingo. You know you says mo, und Patrick, und Nathan, should bo monitors on your weddingo whon you marries mit him." And Morris stretched a painting finger at tho foe. Aftor ono radiant glanco at Teacher's crimson face. Dr. Ingraham possessed himself of a scrubby hand and-Bhook lt warmly. "And so you shall, old chap," he cried, "no you shall. You may bo best man If you so desire. Anything you llko." "New clothes?" asked Morris. "From stem to stem." "Ice cream?" "Gallons " "Papfr napkins mit birds?" "Bushels." "Can I mlno llttlo sister bring?" "A dozen llttlo sisters if you have them." , "Can I go ln a carriage, down and un? It's stylish." "You shall havo a parade of carriages one for each sister." "But I'm not going to lcavo you for a long time," Miss Balloy assurod him. "I shall get you. .another and is. nicer teacher boforc I go." I "All right," said Morris blithely. And , ho then sot out to spend tho untold wealth which the enemy had put into his hand. When Miss Bailey turned to Doctor Ingraham In-graham her "light faco" was still brightly pink, and the "terrlblo Shoeny oyos" held a combination of embarrassment, dismay Vfi.T K jl and anger. JfV Jft , IH "He !a making a dreadful mistake." sho ir); 1 U kl began timidly. "Believe mo, he l3 con- fjV' ' fusing things horribly. I can't explain. fi ' V U JM But you woro quite right when you cold fcl . ) 'H they wero ungrateful llttlo brutes. Thoy ifr i JM arc." m ' kl "No, no," Doctor Ingraham gently in- ilk tcrposed. "oYu wero right They arc the h A tM cleverest youngsters. Tho insight of a hi llttlo child is a marvelous thing, and your tj-'-' i crony, Morris, has answered me, after air'"' JLkl all." And then, as Teacher mado no sign li.' - t kkl of dissent, ho added, still moro gontly: tft; v "Constanco. dear." Br.) J1 1 iw i |
