Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-11-08
CATCHING A sCHoOLMAsTER
4" Young and handsomeY"

ess just as Hice AS chn De.
Single p
why, Of course. He is too young to
be married.
Then let's see who'll catch him.
laughed the pert girl of the village.
You WON'T said pretty Jessie War
ner.
And why not, wonder p
Because II don't think he is the
kind to be caught that way
'Oh, you are gong to try the coy and
retiring young women, are your said
Frank. Her name was Frances.
l am not going to try anything. He
has only been here few days.
Wen see, said Frank, tossing her
black curls. They say be is studying
law ard ! mean TO marry lawyer if L
can
The catching had hitherto been done
by the wiry, nervous schoolmasters,
made tyrants by the idleness and inse.
lence Of the larger scholars. They had
caught boys by the collar; caught the
older girls reading novels caught them
writing love letters, instead of compost
tions, and held them up to the ridicule of
the school.
This regime had passed away. A young
and handsome man had met the scholars
as a gentleman meets young ladies and
gentlemen, and now some of the girls de-
clare, as no girl with self-respect would
declare, that he was to be caught himself.
But, strangely enough, the master
seemed determ ined not to be caught
In vain, invitations poured in upon hun
to parties in vain the nets were spread
in his sight in vain some of the young
ladies dressed for him, and smiled at
him. He could be seen only at school,
in the street, or at church.
lie is just poke, said Frank pouting,
and do hate poke, young or old =
One pleasant evening, several of the
girls me t together in the sitting room of
Des. Tufts. Now the deacon was a Grip
pie, and as he had been chosen postmast-
er and could not go out to the office, the
Office came to him.
AS was often the case in these inform al
little meetings, the master was the sub
ject under discussion.
Have you caught him yet p asked
one of the girls Of Frank, slyly
'Oh, Jessie, here, seems 10 be the IA
vorite,' said Frank. He has eyes only
for her. Hope she appreciates the atten-
ton
OF course, | appreciate his kindness,
said Jessie, with a laugh. Why, only
think he's going to teach me French 7
Indeed the district doesn't pay him
for giving you private lessons, though I,
said Frank. almost angrily.
Certainly not, replied Jessie, but his
time is his own out of school hours. Of
course, | try to return his kindness.
You have the coast clear before you,
haven't you p
We'll if you mean he boards at our
house, and mist be treated kindly, yes.
The night you were all at the dance, he
took mother and me to ride
SO that's the reason he didn't come to
my party = cried Frank, her eyes red as
well as her cheeks.
Partly, and partly because he hates
dancng-he told me so.'
How well you are matched = retorted
Frank. You don't dance and he don t
like il. If you keep on you will catch
him, never fear y
'Oh, but neither wish nor intend to
catch him.
Maybe he is engaged to somebody
already, he acts like it, was the sugges-
ton Of Franks cousin.
lie has plenty Of letters addressed in
a lady's hand writing said he deacon,
holding one up for them to see, and he
turned away with queer smile, but
am pretty sure none OF them are from
sweetheart
Maybe he has got sister,
He has and Il mother, too. His sister
is married, and the mother Is with her.
oh, but then what does he want to
hire the brown cottage for p queried a
quiet little girl. Father has it to let,
you know, and ii seems to me heard
him say the schoolmaster wanted it for
bis family
Absurd = exclaimed Frank.
At this the postmaster laughed aloud.
II he is engaged he's mean enough =
said Frank, with warmth. The iGea OF
him coming here under false pretsnces =
Did he ever tell anybody he was not
engaged p asked the deacon.
don t know as he did, and I'm sure
don't care if he is engaged to dozen
girls if he is conceited enough to think
| do, I'll soon undeeeive him.
Hush, Frank, there is Mr.. Evans ! I
hope he didn It hear us, said Jessie, as
the tall figure of the clergyman entered.
Who cares p 1t you suppose am
afraid Of the minister, you are mistaken, ;
she added, and boldly walked up to him,
heated with temper and chagrin.
Mr.. Evans, you are one of the school,
committee, she said, with the assurance
ofa business matron OF forty. Will
you please tell US what is the mystery
about the teacher you have employed for
the Viutsr p
'Mystery-mystery y said Mr.. Evans,
Really, Frances, have never heard
that there was any mystery about him.
Well, there is, and l think it ought to
be cleared up. Tax payers ought TO
know what kind of men come into our
midst, especially when he has charge of
their daughters.
| . Hn 90 ma lith tho hnrt rooo... -. i !.