Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-02-14

"Oh," said Alice. "But mine is
very small already. Only twenty
pounds year. don't think they can
possibly reduce il much"
"They can reduced it to ten, emit
they ?" said Miss Negley, shortly.
ain TINT case," ventured Alice, Il
could go and be Il shop girl in my un-
cle's shop in the city. One must
live -
you've no proper pride" " said Miss
Negley. IA shor.girl, indeed But
l don't intend that they shall carry out
their Eefarious plans. If
"My good gracious me there comes
Mr.. Barthrone now, Jogging along on
his old grey horse just as composed as
if he wasn't bent on an errand of evil.
They do say that old Barthorne is the
head and foot Of the whole business.
IN show him A reduction of salaries,
Indeed I! .. OIL
81 dare say be means to wheedle a
consent out of us beforehand, so that
everything shall seem smoth tomorrow
when the comittee meets. But he'll
| find that he has mistaken his customer
this time"
Little Alice began to tremble all 0v-
er, and to grow piuk and white by
turns, after her usual fashion when she
was disturbed.
I'll am so frightened" hesltated
she. "Please may go home ?"
Yes, you little coward" impatient
ly responded Miss Negiey "that is if
you haven't the courage to stand up
for yourself and your rights"
"But Mr.. Barthorne has always been
so kind to me, "faltered Alice Hopkins,
and if he should tell me that it was
best, I almost know that ! would con-
sent to having my dear Miss Negley,
that if it had not been for him l never
should haYe received the appointment
at ALL"
~ don't wonder" said Miss Negley
apostrophizing the ceiling, "that they
aren't willing to allow women the priv
ilege of suffrage in this benighted coun-
try. And you, Alice Hopkins, you
may go home. You certainly will be
of no use at all to me in fighting this
battle"
And Alice, heartily thankful for
this grCdgiDgly accorded privilege, put
the copy-books into the desk drawer,
piled up the dictionary and definer,
caught her little pink lawn sun.bonnet
from its nail, aud vanished like flying
shadow into the nearest patch of green
woods.
Miss Negley sat very upright, with
folded arms and prominent elbows, her
nose slightly tinctured with the rosy
hue of coming battle, her lips COM
pressed while Mr.. Barthorne,a pleas
ant-faced gentleman of ave-and forty
or thereabouts, trotted up to the school
house door, leisurely dismounted, tied
his horse to the hitching post, and, to-
tally unconscious that he was observed
alike by Miss Negley from her post of
authority on the school-room cesk, and
little Alice Hopkins by the spring in
the wood, paused to dlst his boot
with his yellow silk pocket. handker-
chief, and to adjust his thick dark locks
before he raped on the door.
'I'm glad I'm not there" said Alice
Hopkins with long sigh of relief.
And then, having cooled her face and
hands in the transparent springs she sat
down to think.
To her, a reduction of her scanty sal
arY ment nothing less than starvation.
AS things were, she could scarcely pay
her board and other expenses.
And sitting there in the shifting
shadows of the wind-blown branches,
she cried little, to think how solitary
and friendless she was in the world.
Miss Negley, however was in u very
different mood.
Come in - she had answered
brusquely, to his knock at the door,
without taking the trouble to move
from her seat.
And when Mr.. Barthorne entered he
espied her sitting stiff, silent, straight.
"Good afternoon, Miss Negley," said
the trustee, depositing his hat on the
nearest desk, land venturing on an apol
ogetic bow.
"Good afternoon, Mr.. Barthorne !"
Miss Negley answered, with just about
as much warmth as an icicle in her ad-
dress.
81 kope do not intrude," said the
the trustee civily.
sob, not at all ~ said Miss Negley
"A-hem 'said the trustee, evident
ly i'll at ease. ''IT amt easy to broach
the business I'ye come on, Miss Neg
ley"
81 should think not" said the lady.
ttBut [ called lust at this hour. when