The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-11
BOYS. He draws the line Of exclusion lust

beyond shoes and stockings. But these
boys have souls, Mr.. Denike; and they'll
surely go to ruin, unless they are taught,
not only for an hour on Sunday, but six
days in the week. If the responsibility
isn't mine, does it rest on the church? or
on the school board? or on the legislature,
Mr.. Denike? After all, aren't you some
what responsible yourself?"
BY this time she had stopped in front
of house, and was resting her hand on
the railing of the stoop.
"Th1s is your home!' he said, inquir-
ingly, without having answered her last
question.
eyes," she replied; 81 live here with
my mother"
"And may not call to see you some
time?'
Miss Pennyfeather hesitated-he was
certainly a very recent acquaintance, but
he promised to be a pleasa mt one. To be
sure he was interested in another girl,
but that need make no difference, except
as it might define more clearly their own
relations. Miss Pennyfea1her began to
feel quite friendly interest in the pref
ty face which Mr.. Denike carried in his
pocket SO she only said, with half
smile, in almost the same words she had
used before:
"Why, yes, if you want to-
| Denike bowed.
"Let me answer your question:" he
said, before go. Of course share the
responsibility with every one else who
iegislates for the people. But the prob
lem il difficult one. Maybe you have
some proposit:on," as ne noted her more
eager expression.
The girl gave little low laugh, per.
haps half ashamed Of her excitment.
Yes, have. Mr.. Denike." she said :;
g indeed it's my hobby. Whenever get
hold of people who have influence. bore
them with it until their lives become e
burden. My notion is to start here in
Chepachet an industrial school, under the
school board, where vagrant children can
be brought in and taught some useful
trade. It's my highest ambition, Mr.
Denike, to have the charge of a school
like that
Her eye kindled and her face glowed
with the words. John Denike, as he
Looked at her, forgot for a moment the
face in his pocket-book, and thought
he had never seen a much prettier
picture.
Indeed, Miss Pennyfeather," he said,
as though protesting against her sug-
gestion that he was bored, 81 am very
much interested. And I'd like to talk the
matter over with you. Perhaps 1 can do
something in the way oflegislation. May
| come soon and continue the CONVEX
sation!"
Miss Pennyfeather nodded EYES," and
babe him goo0-by. Then the door open
ed and shut, and Denike was left alone
But the thought of Miss Pennyfeather'
bright expression and the echo Of her
fresh, ringing voice fingered with him all
the way home.
Three months after that, the school
board of Chepachet found itself in a
great quandary 1t was seriously pro-
posed-indecd it had become law
that in Chepachet, education should be
made compulsory. More thaa this, for
the vagrant class and for children Of poor
parents an industrial school was to be
provided The question that concerned
the board was not so much who had en-
gineered the innovation, as whom they
should appoint as principal
"Properly." said old MIR. Gallup, who
was the senior member of the board and
very slow of speech, 1.-THE place belongs to
Miss Williams"
"But Miss Fairfield is very highly
recommended" put in Deacon Orwig.
''She is very young" remarked Mr.
Bushnell, who was himself verging on
eighty.
well. after ALL, declared Elder Knox,
"it amounts to about this: Denike has
more interest in this thing than an, body
else. He wants Miss Pennyfcather, and
she ought to be appointed"
And that settled ii.
In all her life Maud Pennyfeather had
never passed happier time than those
three months Never, indeed, had
months passed so quickly. In her rela-
tons with Mr.. Denike the industrial
school had from the very first been top
ic of absorbing interest. The legislation
affecting it was drawn in Mrs Penny
feathers neat little parlor. and all the de-
tails were there arranged from evening
to evening between the conspirators-
Having a secret of this profound and i'm
portant character. their friendship became
peculiarly intimate and informal. Had
it not been for the picture in Mr. Denike s
pocket book. Maud might have imagined
there was some purpose in his attentions
But of coarse the fact of the picture left
Maud no reason to infer anything of the
kind. And, strange TO say, while
she fancied she was glad of this, she more
than once found herself entertaining a
feeling of positive resentment against the
pretty original, and vindictive desire
to abstract the picture and tear it up. 1t
is only fair, though. TO say that Maud,
when she recognized these improper SEN
timenfs, would blush with shame and
vexatlon aad crowd them down in the
heart
1t used to annoy the girl; indeed, she
couldpnly hardly account for it that
when she first knew Mr.. Denike she was
quite unembarrassed in his presence,
but that now, when she went down stairs
to meet him. it would be with flush up
on her cheek, and tremor In her voice.
Try as she might, she could not regain
the composure of their carrier acouaint-
ance. She hoped it escaped his attention