The Placer herald., 1873-03-29

When Houghon arose next morning and
opened his window to The fresh breeze, odor-
Gus with the purtume of the climbing honey
snckles, he felt that, after all, residence in
a reu ole village, even with parcel of rough
boys to take Gaze of, was preferable 10 the
dusty, unfamiliar streets of San Francisco.
He smiled as he unpacked his ioils and box
ing gloves, little sadly too, for they were
linked with many pleasing associa, ons of his
undergraduate days.
"Wel," he solloquized, as he straight
ened his arm and looked at the finely devel-
oped muscles, 81 ought to be able to hold
my own in a staud-up fight with these troub
Iesome boys of mine. This is my day OF
trial, however, and before noon we shall
probably have had our oa,te out"
The schoolhouse, Il raw, unfinished look
ng frame building, stood hard hy the river,
about half "A mile from the town. When
Ioughton opened the rckey wooden gate
that led into the school lot, he found II crowd
had already assembled. Among them was
Sam Seymour and Ike Walker The htter'e
sister, pretty girl of sixteen, was leaning
'ganst the fence with half dozen OF her
friends, for the Russian Bar school was ar
ranged for the accommodation of both sexes.
Houghton handed the key to the nearest
boy, and asked him to open the door. With
4 look at the others and a half grin on his
face, he obeyed.
"Now, boys, muster in, said Houghton,
cheerfully to the boys.
They all passed in-Seymour and Walker
list. The latter took II good look at the
schoomaster rs he went in When they
were seated, Houghton stood at his desk ANA
laid II heavy ruler on the books before him.
"Now boys, he said, 81 hope we shall
get along pleasantly together lou treat me
fairly and you shall have no reason to
complain, promise you. Silence and obe-
dience is what require, and IA strict atten
ton to the matter of our instruction.
Giving them portion Of the grammar to
prepare for recitation, he walked quietly up
md down the room, occasionally standing at
the windows, but appearing to keep the sur
veillance On The boys. Suddenly the crack
Of match WAS heard, followed by general
litter
Uouglton turned quietly from the window
md saw the blue smoke arising from where
seymour sat.
"What is your name, boy ?" he asked in
Il stern tone.
"My name is Seymour replied the mu-
lneer, insolen lv.
"And are You smoking?"
81 guess SO.
"Leave the room.
81 guess not.
There was dead silence in the school
room now, AMI Iloughton felt that the hour
of trial was at hand.
Seymour" he said again, very quietly.
"What?"
"Come here"
Seymour, putting his hand in his pockets,
sauntered from his desk, stood within yard
of the schoolmaster and looked sneeringly in
his face.
Leave the room, said Houshton again
in lower voice.
Ono"
The light arm straghtened like fash of
tightening and the rebel measured his length
on the floor whilst the blood gushed from
his nostrs. In IA moment he sprang to his
feet and rushed iurousy at the schooImasler,
but went down again like reed, before that
well aimed blow. The second time he fell,
Houghron stopped down and lifting him up
IS if he were IA child, fairly flung him out
side the door. Seymour, confused and
amazed, staggered down to the brook to wash
his face and reflect on the wonderful force OF
that slight arm, and Honghton, turning to
the school, without a word of comment on
lhe scene, commenced the recitation. Walker
was mum. Seymour's fate had appalled,
him, and in fact the entire mu nous spirit of
he scholars of te Russian Bar school was
IN "A fair way of being totally subdued.
When the trustees heard of the affair they
unanimously commended the schoolmaster
pluck
81 tell you what, boys" sa!d Perkins to
of old sledge, in his bAr-room, "Houghtou
knows thing or two about managing boys.
He'll fix 'em off, or my names not Perkins
ANEW PURSUIT.
Houghton was Hospitality treated by the
folks Of Russian Bar. They felt him to be
man of refinement, brought down in the
world but showing no offensive superiority
his intercourse with them. Tie Doctors
wife pronounced him to be the best New
Yorker she had ever met, and the gosslps
nsinuaed that Mrs. Blunt, the widow, was
setting her cap or him.
Gypsy Lane, the daughter of leading
man in Russian Bar, aud made wealthy by -
saw-milI, which all day long groancd and
screamed some distance down the river did
not express her opinion as to lloushton's
merits, but in the Summer evenings, when
the schooimaster, rod in hand, wandered
cross the stream and threw his line across
the ml-dam. Gypsy was seldom far away.
Mrs. Lane, when Gypsy was but baby,
was laid TO re, in Lone Mountain, long he
ofe La ever though, OF settling at Russian
Bar. Seymour and Walker were the besi
md most industrious pupils the young master
had, and were happy when accompanying
him on his excursions In fact all agreed in
Jaol, rin,, that tho a1,,cat ion.u fIpnartmpnt in