The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-03-15
CATCHING THE SCHOOL MASTER.
"Young and handsome?

/
"And why not, wOnder" /"
"Bccause II don't think he's the kind to be
caught that way"
"Oh, You are going to try the coy and retiring
young woman, are yOuY p said Frank. Her name
was Frances.
'I am not going to try anything" was the re-
| sponse "lIe has only been here few days..
''Well see," said Frank, tossing her black curls
"They say he is studying law, and mean to marry
a lawyer if cam"
The Catching" had hitherto been done by the
wiry nervous, much enduring school masters made
tyrants by the idleness and insOlence and nsubor-
| dination of the larger scholars They had caught
boys by the collar "caught" the older girls read
| ing novels under cover of well-thumbed school
books caught them writing love letters, instead
of competitions, and held them up TO the ridicue
of the school. One who is always on the watch
for mischief is sure to find it.
This regime had passed away. young and
| handsome man, a very Chesterfield IN manners,
| had met the scholars gentleman meets young
ladies and gentlemen, and now some of the girls
declared as no girl with sef-respect would declare,
that he was to be caught himself
So enthusiastic, so really imbued with his work
was he that he easily inspired the best spirits in
| the school, so that they We'd with each other in
keeping up in their studies and in general good
| behavior.
But. strangely enough, the master seemed de-
| termined not to be Caught" In vain invitations
| poured upon him to parties, to all the haywood
gaeties in vain the nets spread in his sight;
| in vain some of the young ladies dressed for him,
smiled at him-he was apparently insensible to all
! alurements He could be only at school, in
the street, at church.
'Hes just poke" said Kate, poutlng, land 1
| do hate poke, young or old"
One pleasant evening several of the girls met to-
! gether in the sitting room of Deacon TUFTS. NOW
| the deacon was a cripple, and as he had been
chosen postmaster and could not out to the office,
| the Office came to him.
1t was a pleasant room, and generally quite well
filled with applicants for letters As was often the
case in these informal little meetings. the master
was the subject under discussion.
"Have YOU caught him yet ?" asked one of the
| girls of Frank, shyy.
"Oh, Jessie, here, seems to be the fsvOrite" said
Frank. "He has eyes only for her. Hope she
| appreciates the attention. He ought to be good
to her, or maybe his supplies would be cut on
"0f course, appreciate his Kindness, said Jes-
| sic, with laugh "Why, only think he's going
to teach me French"
| "Indeed The district doesn't pay him for CIV
| ing you private lessons, though! said Frank, al
most angrily.
Certainly not" replied Jessie, "but his time is
his own out of the school house. OF course, Will
! try to return his kindness"
"I dontd doubt it but pray tellus in what wayF'
asked Frank, ironically. t......a
"Oh, put flowers in his room to make it look
| cheerful, and on the table to make little bOquet
for his coat-thatis did make one, but he wouldn't
wear it," she added
| "Quite sentimental You have the coast clear
before you, haven't you"
"Well if Won mean he boards at our house and
must be treated kindly, yes. The night you were
| all at the dance, he took mother and me to ride.
$50 that's the reason he didn't come to my par
ty " cried Frank, her eyes red as well as her
cheeks.
"Partly, and partly because he hates dancing
he told me so.'
"How well you are matched y retorted Frank.
"You don't dance, and he don't like it. If you
keep on with your flowers and your rides, you'll
| catch him, never fear )!
"Oh, but Ineither wish norintend to catch him."
"Maybe he is engaged to somebody already he
acts like it,, was the suggestion of Franks cousin
"I told Frank she ought to find out"
"He has plenty of letters addressed in lady's
handwriting" said the deacon, holding one up for
| them to see and he turned away with queer
smile "but I'm pretty sure none OF them arefrom
a sweetheart"
"Maybe he's got a sister,"
ale has. and a mother, too. His sister is mar
| ried and the mother is with her,
| "Oh, but what does he want to hire the brown
cottage for ?" inquired quiet little GIRL "Father
has it to let you know, and it seems to me heard
him saw the schoolmaster wantedit for his family.
"Absurd ~ exclaimed Frank.
| At this the postmaster laughed aloud. 80
"Ifhe's engaged, he's mean enough |" said Frank,
| with warmth. "Theidea of his coming here under
false pretences"
"Did he ever tell anybody he was not engag-
| ed ?" asked the deacon.
81 don't know if he did, and I'm don't
care if he's engaged to dozen girls. If he's con-
ceited enough to think do, I'll soon undeeeiVe
| him."
Tt was always self with the foolish girl. Her
undue consciousness had led her into trouble more
| than once
"Hush, Frank, there's Mr.. Evans. 1 hope he
didn't here u.s." said Jessie, as the tall figure Of
| the clergyman entered.
"WhO cares? If you suppose am afraid of the
| minister, your are mistaken" she added, boldly
walking up to him, heated withtemper and chagrin.
! "Mr Evans, you are one of the School Commit
tee." she said, with the assurance Of business
| matron of forty. "Will you please tell us what is
the mystery about the teacher you have employed
| for the winter"
| "Mystery-mystery ?" said Mr.. Evans, looking
Mt her in surprise "Really, Miss Frances, l have
never heard that there was any mystery about
| him."
"Well, there is, and think it ought to be clear
| ed up. Taxpayers ought to know what sort OF men
come into our midst, especially when he has charge
of their daughters"
''He came with the best recommendations" said
the minister, more and more surprised.
.'Well. sir. the deacon declares he is not engag-
ed to be married. and yet he is looking for house
| in which to live, understand, and he is at the
same time playing the free young gentleman among
u.s." t- F+ft.
"Has he showed any special attention to you, or
trihed with any of my young flock $40
"He is certainly trying to with Jessie, SIR
"Oh, Frank, how can you say so !" cried Jessie,
her face ahame, her eyes sparkling Indignantly.
"He is perfect gentleman" she added turning
| TO the minister "and i know all about him, and
meant to tell Frank after having little fun Why,
he has been married year to a most beautiful
| girl. He told mamma, after we had become q lit
| tie acquainted that he married her just after ne
| graduated, because she was alone and had no
| friends or protector. He is now studying day and
night to get admitted to the BAR and he is anxious
to bring his wife here; that's why he was looking
at the little cottage, it has few rooms furnish-
| ed. Now you have the whole mystery.
"You might have told us beforeY cried Frank,
with a scarlet face. "You, too, Deacon Tufts.
ought to be ashamed Of your conduct for Of course
| you knew it"
questions, young lady thought Iwould let you
run on awhile, and get all the nonsense out of you.
| The master made no particular secret of his mar
riage that know of, neither has he proclaimed it
upon the housetops. Maybe he ought to-I don't
know. You knew he was married, Jessie !"
| "Oh, yes L knew IT, ne sho"ed mother MS
wfes photogras sh, and it seems she can teach bot
any and conchology and music. She can help
him great deal if she comes here"
Then the minister read Frank and the girls a
short lesson, ending with these words $40 &
"When you are old enough and wise enough to
have homes of your own, you will wait till some
worthy man throws out the line and catches you.
And am sure you will find in the young woman
who is coming beautiful, discreet and lOvable
| companion; and although none of you have caught
the schoolmater, you ought to catch many wise
lesson from his manly, modest demeanor, as well
as from his instructions from the desk"
ass- Madame asked her husband for n new out
ft "My darling" he replied, "that would make
the third in two months, and times are so hard
that" "You kill !" exclaimed the lady, burst
ing into tears "and my funeral expenses wiiI
cost YOU more than new Dress" "Ah, but