Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-04-07
I've got to decide; can't put it off any

lhere not straw between uH,
answered Cleve, hopelessly. "Both OF
'um are as pretty as pictures"
"Whew-w.wl" wbistled Mr.. Mecklem,
Give it to the poorest one"
Miss Brown supports her mother and
her little sisters, and Miss Smith is the
sole dependence of her bedridden father,
and her young brothers"
"Worse and worse" said Mecklem,
(which applied first2"
"Miss Brown, but Miss Smith has
been here the oftenest."
"Upon my word, / really don't see
what you are 10 do in this matter" OBJ
served Roy, feeling his chin in medita.
tive fashion.
"Dontt talk to me in that sort OF a
way" said Cleve fercely. came here
to be helped not hindered"
Toss up penny" suggested Mr..
Mecklem, with spice of irreverence in
his manner. Heads, Miss Brown, tails
Miss Smith! Or draw cuts. Let fate de.
eide what mortal canno; choose"
Roy. you are fool"
Gransed-but what better can you
do2"
Nothing suppose" and Cleve drew
out great green penny from his pocket
"Here goes, then; but tell it not in
Gath or Askeon, that School Trustees
dignity was sunk SO low "a to toss PEN
n.y."
He gave the insensate coin twirl as
he spoke; it revolved round and round
on the desk moment, and then fell head
upward, on the green baize cover thereof.
Heads cried Roy, leaping gleefully
up.
"Will you hold your tongue p said
Cleve wratLfully covering his compan-
ions mouth with his hand. Do you
want all Riverglen to know what an idi-
otic trick we have been compelled to re-
sort to p
Don't be crusty, Langlon,'' coaxed
Mecklem. an SIS Brown is it, and let
the little Smithkin take care of herself!'
"And the old father, too, and the lit
tie brothers, added Cleve, disconsolately.
"Well, I've done the best | can
And he went back TO the waiting dam
sells in the front office and told them in
as Gignifed manner as he could sum
mon, that "the committee had decided
in favor Of Miss Theodora Browns APP
plication.
Miss Browns eyes sparkled to her
the sixteen dollars month opened per-
feet mine of prospective wealth. Miss
Smiths head dropped like clover bios
som, after the wind had gone roughly
over it, and her cherry under lip quiver-
ed. But she rose up bravely and left
the office, while Miss Brown stayed to
receive few suggestions as to the open
ing other new empire, ruling the uuman-
ageable, and other things whereof the
Trustee knew considerably less than she
herself did.
Presently Roy came in, and Miss Brown
withdrew. Roy came up to his friend
"Was that the rejected school ma'am
who came past the back window five
minutes ago?"
What sort of person %
Dressed in blue, with yellow, tang.
led hair, and mouth like strawber-
ry"
Yes, poor thing" Cleve answered,
feeling strangely gui ty.
"She's pretty, isn't she?'' went on
Mecklem, trying hazardous experiments
with an ivory paper knife.
Cleve nodded abstractedly.
81 wish could do something for her.
Somehow feel as if / had unwittingly
taken the bread out of that fathers
mouth"
"By the names of Minerva, whom /
take 10 be the grand originator of all the
school ma ANS" exclaimed Mecklem, II
know what | should do if | we're in your
place y
"And what is that p
81 should marry her !"
What marry Jenny Smith,"
Exactly SO. Why, man, she has got
face like flower"
"I never thought of that" said Cleve
rather excitedly.
81 have heard you say dozen times
that you wanted wife" went on Roy.
$50 do" assented Langdon.
" 1t would be better than teaching dis
tricl school for her. and I'm very sure it
would be an Improvement on your pres
ent condition." said NJ ,cklem.
but suppose she were to say MOI
THAT would be no more than justice,
if she did. You said no to herl But she
WON'T
| Langdon thought it over; and at twi-
light be went TO the little cottage where