The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-04-22
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ninAii0n to fuldl that unfortunate en-
gkEementf
IhArdly see bow ! am 70 avoid it
Frank. a. the case stands Had ! kuowI
thai you wanted me, / sboad have ans
wered The application differently, @
course
Al you aid not know But you d,
now, and sou belong to me aud ! shsi
Insist upon implicit Obedience. This Ii
my first command Write to this pom
pous school director aud say: Am sorry
to disappolBt you, but circumstance
over which have no control will prevent
me from teaching in your district Ih'
ensuing term, or coming winter, as yog
please.
. Very convenient, to be sure, the lad,
replied, laughing Is that the way you
advise your more wealthy clients in the
face Of written contract
! Perhaps not Bat propose o put in
claim as guardian,
/ On what plea, Mr. Tmpudeneei Am
/ | to be regarded as child, luuatic, OF
non comp0s meRtlsf
I The latter, perhaps, for promising TO
marry poor lawyer who needs house
keeper, and has little else but loving
heart to offer you,
I And that Is all ask and now you
will urge no more objections, please, Il
/ Is only twenty miles away, but three
months to teach, aud then | will return
to 20 forth no more as the schoolma'am.
Well, go IN peace, II YOU must. But
you will write every day.
Hardly, but once a week, surely,
Aud the next day Mereia Meadows
was conveyed by the time-honored stage
coach to the little country neighborhood
where she was to teach primary school
for the term OF three months at liity dol
lars month
II was the custom in District Number
Three, IN the township Of c., to em-
ploy man teacher in winter aud wo-
man in summer. But Miss Meadows
was an experienced teacher, aud for
some reason, not yet explained, the di.
rector, Squire Peters, had insisted upon
employing q woman for the winter term.
As he had two unruly boys, OF seventeen
and nineteen, who caused more distur-
bance, and were harder TO manage than
any others in school, the other two off.
GERS allowed him to have his way, al
though they had many doubts, neverthe-
less.
And Miss Meadows went aud was duly
installed in her boarding place with
pleasant family who resided near the
schoolhnnse; she had stimulated for this
and ,he.yery first evening received visit
from Squire Peters. lie was loudspok-
en-, coarse, self-important man, aud in.
spired the teacher with feeling of in-
tense dislike.
was afraid yOu might be lonesome
like among strangers, and SO called TO
make you feel more at home, he said,
Immediately after the introduction had
taken place.
The young lady thanked him politely,
although she could not possibly see why
she should feel more at home with him
than any other stranger. Had he brought
his wife, she thought, she might have ap-
preciated his kindness.
lie managed during the evening to
inform her how many acres Of land he
owned, the sire OF his house, aud the
number OF horses, cattle and sheep he
possessed,
My children are as good as you often
see, The two eldest boys are little
headstrong, perhaps, but they mind me
like mill; and will promise that they
shall never trouble you. Why, would
just knock their heads of II they so much
as give you sassy word.
Again Miss Meadows thanked him aud
then remained silent, wondering at her
strange visitor. When he lett, which he
did at late hour, she fancied she de-
teeted sly looks between him aud her
host. .##l.. ##. ....#
Aud how do you like Squire Peters
the latter said, the next morning at the
breakfas table.
am hardly prepared to say, the teach
er replied, evasiyely should have
been better pleased had he brought his
wife.
His wife aud he laughed immoderate-
ly. Why, he Is a widower! | supposed
you were aware Of the fact.
Certainly not, she replied, with dig
nifty but do not see anything amusing
Ia his misfortune.
suppose not, the man said little
sbashed; but it seemed funny that you
did net know.
hardly see why | was expected to
know without being told, she replied,
eoldly.
The fret few days passed pleasantly
enough In school, although every even
Ing found the director at the boarding
place OF The teacher, At length bis At
tentions became quite demoustraliyc, al
though his gallAnlries were more like
the prabcing Of an OK than the wooing
OF a gentleman.
Mia Meadows tried In every possible
way, except by positive rudeness, to
show perfect indifference. Bat, blinded
by his absurd egotism, be could not zee,
and at last, after little more than three
weeks acquaintance, she was obliged to
listen 90 . proposal % beeomc Bic vie.