Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-08-21

." There's goin' to be meetin' down
to the schooihouse tonight to see about
havin' singin' school, shouted young
JOSH Baker, bursting into the room
where the Baker family were eating
supper, after the fashion of small hur-
ricane. "The teacher he came there
this afternoon, an. said as how he
wanted the appintment given out all
over. I low there'll be smart turn
out, an we'll hev heaps o. fun. He's q
cute-lookin' chap, I reckon. You'll hev
to keep a.sharp look out, Seth Brand,
or he'll cut you out with Nance. I
know she'll fall smack in love with him
the fust thing. The schoolma' am she
did. Golly! You'd orter a seen her
look sweet at him!" e....- .s.s...r.
ST just wish you'd shet up" said
Nancy, with sisterly tenderness. "You
be the biggest foolr' with sidelong
glance in the direction of Seth, their
hired man." who was rather enjoying
the confusion expressed in Ler blushing
face, called out by Josi's sally.
II it had been in these days he would
have most likely responded by saying
that she -" was another;" as it was, he
passed over the compliment with silent
contempt, and went on to giving glow
ing and authentic account OF the sing
ing teachers manners and looks, and
made him out to be combination of
Adonis and Chesterfield. "" H
"I s'pose you'd like to go down,
wouldn't your" said Seth to Nancy,
after supper.
eyes, I should" answered Nancy.
ct reckon there'll be heap O young
folks there" p ..'. .-'.'-
And so Seth and Nancy walked down
to the little schoolhouse together just at
dusk. Seth had never asked Nancy to
be Mrs. Brand some day, but his ac-
tions had said as much, and she had
given him to understand in the same
way that " Barkis was willin'." 1t was
accordingly taken for granted among
the neighbors that Seth and Nancy
"were goin' to make match" When
! they got to the schoolhouse, it was
pretty we'll filed. The teacher was
there. He was sharp-looking fellow,
with not unhaudsome face. He had
evidently seen enough Of the world, and
life in its different phases, to feel at
home anywhere, and he accommodated
himself to his surroundings with facil-
ity that made favorable impression on
most people present.
"Ain't he handsome?" whispered
Nancy to Seth.
" Not in my opinion" answered Seth.
"I think he's got O real mean, ugly
look about him. He don't look s if he
was actin his nat'ral disposition"
AT which Nancy fred up, and retorted
that she I" hated to see folks al'ays so
suspicious of others, jest as if they was
jellous." nm
eff onybody's fool enough to fancy
that chap, answered Seth, with warmth,
"he's welcome to their regards; I don't
want 'em, TIM sure" ......-'
| just here the cause OF this liitle tit
called the meeting to order, and there
was no further chance for quarreling.
At recess Nancy was introduced to
Mr.. Eastwood, and kept up rattling
conversation with him until singing be-
gan again. i4a " as# vam
| When the school was dismissed, Seth,
smarting little from the effects of
Nancy's remark, waited at the door for
her to come ont. He wasn't going to
crowd himself in to ask her if he might
see her home; if she thought he would
do SO, she was much mistaken. She
couldn't wind him around her little fin
ger. While he was thinking these very
pleasant thoughts, out came Nancy
hanging to the singing teachers arm,
and smilingly oblivious Of the existence
of any other man on the face of the
earth. The sight stung Seth SO that
before he knew what he was doing he
had stepped up and asked Hetty Green.
o girl he g hated wuss'n p'ison," he
had often averred, if he might see her
home, and stalked off with her on his
arm, feeling in anything but an enter
tanning mood. s ,, u,
The next morning Nancy was, cool
and distant, and Seth resolved that he
could be as cool as she. could, and
wouldn't speak to her when he could
avoid doing So The fact that the sing
ing school teacher was coming to board
in the family did not help to soothe
Seth's feelings much. a'et3 mtiil1ts1
III she wants to firt with him, I'm
willin'.". said Seth, savagely, to himself.
WShe didn't use, nae right, IN I'm goin'
to show her + ANTI to be bamboozled by
anybody. IF she thinks more O. him
| than she does O. me, oil right. That's
her privilege, I Is'pose. - 3, ...t.a. ,.i 7,
i Have you heard the news n said
Uncle Joe Benson--uncle to the whole
settlement dropping in at Mr.. Bakers
carly one morning ~ Samuel lost both
| his hosses las night"
i ss>You don't say r exclaimed Mr..
Baker, in aurprise. & What was the
matter with 'em ?" .salxa# ,etisee9
ssHoss thieves wss the matter with
en- answered Uncle Joe. I hadn't
dreamed o. such a thing as hoss thieves
in this yere part o. the kentry afore. = !
a. 4 - rfI y ke