Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-10-20

result.
"Gewhilliky crickets! Thunder an
lightning! Licked him all to smash =
said Bud, rubbing his hauds on hi
knees. THAT beats my time all hOl
ler,"
And Betsy short giggled until he
tuck comb fell out, though she was OF
the defeated side.
,Shocky got up and danced will
| pleasure.
But one suflocating look from tn,
aqueous eyes of Mirandy destroyed tn,
the last spark of Ralph's pleasure il
his triumph, and sent that awful be
low-zero feeling all through him.
He's powerful smart, is the ma.
ter" said old Jack to Mr.. Pete Jones
| He I'll beat the whole kit and tuck {
'em afore he's through. / knOw'd ht
was smart. That's the reason tuck
| him." proceeded Mr.. Means.
"Yaas, but he don't lick enough
Not nigh" answered Pete Jones, .'Nc
| lIckin', no larnin', says ~
1t was not so hard The other spell
lers on the opposite side went down
! quickly under the hard words which
the Squire gave out. The master had
moved down all but few, his OppO-
nents had given up the battle, and all
had lost their keen interest in a contest
to which there could be but one con-
clusion, for there were only the poor
spoilers left.
But Ralph HartSOOk ran against a
stump where he was least expecting
it. IL was the Squirrels custom, when
one of the smaller scholars or poorer
spoilers rose to spell against the mas
ter. to give out eight or ten easy words
that they might have some breathing
spell before being slaughtered, and
then give poser or two which soon
settled them. He let them run little,
as a cat does a doomed mouse. There
was now but one person left on the OPP
pOsite side, and as she rose in her blue
calico dress, Ralph recognized Han
nah, the bound girl at old Jack Means
She had not attended school in the
district and had never spelled in spell
ingschOOl nOtore, and was chosen last
us an uncertain quantity. The Squire
began with easy words of two sylla-
bles, from that page of Webster, so
well known to all who ever thumbed
it, as Baker," from the word that
stands at the top of the page. She
spelled these words in an absent and
uninterested manner. AS everybody
knew that she would have to go down
as soon rs this preliminary skirmish
ing was over, everybody began to get
ready to go home, and already there
was the buzz of preparation. Young
men were timidly asking girls if they
could see them safe home" which is
the approved formula, and were trem-
bling in mortal fear of the mitten."
Presently the squire, thinking it time
to close the contest, pulled his scalp
forward, adjusted his 81 lass eye. which
had been examining his nose long
enough, and turned over the leaves of
the book to the great words at the
place known to spoilers as ''1ncOmpre-
hility," and began to give out those
words of eight syllables with the
accent on the sixth" Listless schOl-
ars now turned round, and ceased to
whisper in order to be in at the mas
ter's final triumph. But to their sur
prise, "Ole Miss Meanses white mig
ger,n as some of them called her, i'll
allusion to her slavish life, spelled
these great words with as perfect ease
as the master. Still, nor doubling the
result. the Squire turned from place tn
place and selected all the hard words
lind. The school became utterly quiet,
the excitement was too great for tie
ordinary buzz, Would "Meanses Han
ner" beat the master? Beat the mas
ter that had laid out Jim Phillips ?
EveryhOdy's sympathy was now turn
ed to Hannah. Ralph noticed that
even ShOcky had deserted him, and
that his face grew brilliant every time
Hannah spelled word. In fact,
Ralph deserted himself. AS he saw
the fine timid face of the girl so long
flush and shine with inter
est, as he looked at the rather low but
broad and intelligent brow ard the
fresh white complexion, and saw the
rich womanly nature coming to the
surface under the influence of applause
and sympathy, he did not want to
beat. If he had not felt that a victory
given would insult her, he would have
missed Intentionally. The bulldog,
the stern relentless setting of the will,
had gone, he knew not whittier. And
there had come in its place, as he look
ed in that face, a something which he
did not understand. You did not,
gentle reader, the first time it came to
you.
The Squire was puzzled. He had
given all the hard words in the book.
He again pulled the top of his head
forward. Then out of the depths of
his pocket he fished up list of words
Just coming into use in those days
words not in the spelling-bOok. He
regarded the paper erattentively with his
blue right eye. His black left eye
meanwhile fixed itself i'll such stare
on Mirandy Means that she shuddered
and hid her eyes in her red silk hand
kcrchief.
'Daguereotype," shifted the Squire.
It was RaIph's turn.
"D-a-u, dau-"
"Next."
And Hannah spelled it right.
Such a buzz followed that Betsey
shorts giggle could not be heard. but
Shock shouted, Hammer beat! my
Hammer spelled down the master :"
And Ralph went over and cOngratula-
ted her.
And DIR. Small sat perfectly still in
the corner.
And then the Squire called them to
order. and said: &" As our friend Han
ner Thomson is the only one left on
her side. she will have to spell against
nearly all OH t'Otherside. | shall there
fore. take the liberty of procrastna-
ting the completion of this interesting
and exacting contest until to-mO. row
evening. / hope our friend Hammer
may again carry off the cypress crown
of glory. There is nothing better for
us than healtful and kindsimulati-n."
DIR. Small, who knew the road to
practice. escorted Mirandy, and Bud
went home with somebody else. The
Others of the Means family hurried on,
while Hannah, the champion, stayed
behind minute to speak TO Shocky.
PerhaIs it was because Ralph saw
that Hannah must go alone that he
scddenly remembered having left
something which was of no cOnse-
auence, and resolved to go round by
Means and get it. Another of Cupid's
disguises.
CHAPTER V.
THE WALK HOME,