Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-08-07
But Steve was unimpressed.

SAID, rather stihy.
And Mr.. Larkin looked discouraged.
.'She spoke about needing new broom
and water-pail, " he said, as he rose. sI
it."
"That school-house had new broom
last term, and water pail term before
lastp said the young director, emphatic
ally.
And Mr.. Larkin took a discomfted
leave.
The next Sunday evening, the young
man, sitting in pew of the small wooden
church with his mother, and allowing
his eyes to rove about during the rather
long sermon, suddenly discovered new
face, and sat studying it for the re-
mainder of the evening.
1t was that of young girl-not re-
markably pretty girl, but fair, and fresh,
and innocent, with bright intelligence
in the dark eyes and sweetness in the
full lips.
"Who is she2" was his first question,
after the services were concluded, ad-
dressed, as it happened, to little Mr..
Earkin, who had come in late.
"That" the latter repeated, in aston
ishment. why. that's our teacher
that's Molly Sanborn. That's my wife
she's with, don't you seea am waiting
to take 'em home"
Steve Tenney found himself wishing
quite frequently after that that the new
teacher would come to him about the
broom and water pail.
Not that he should furnish them if he
should find that they were not needed;
but he felt that he should not object to
an interview with the teacher.
He even mentioned the subject to Mr..
Larkin, carelessly, when he met him one
day.
''Well, you sce," was the response,
''she sort of hates to come to you. The
way you felt about her having the school
has got all around town, and 1 spose
she's heard of it. She can't help what
her father was, Molly can't, and she's
real sensitive"
The young man looked disturbed. :.
That afternoon he left his work at an
early hour-not, however, admitting to
himself his purpose in doing so-and
Etrolled down the street, turning Off
but he persuaded himself that it was not
intentional-in the direction of the
school house.
II might as we'll 60 in and see about
that broom and water pail, " he said to
himself, when he stood opposite the lit
tic bare-looking building.
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked considerably
startled when she opened the door to
him. She dropped the spelling book
she held, and her voice was hardly steady
as she expressed her qualification Mt Sec
ing him.
Evidently, Steve reflected, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church the
other evening. He sat down in front
seat, feeling unpleasantly ogreish.
She was hearing the last spelling class.
How pretty she looked, standing there in
her dark-b]ue calico dress and white
apronl What sweet voice she had
though putting out "hen, men, pen" to
long line of fidgeting youngsters could
hardly show it to the best advantage.
When the class was dismissed, and the
last small student had rushed, whoop-
ing, down the street, the teacher aud the
young director stood looking at each
other with some awkwardness.
II thought I'd come in, said Steve at
last, apologetically, land see il anything
was needing"
He did not mention the fact of his
being some six weeks late in the per-
formance of this duty.
The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
"I-don't think so, she murmured.
"What brute she must think mel"
Steve reflected, with some self-disgust.
He turned carelessly to the corner
where the broom stood.
'1sn't this pretty far gomez" he said,
with conscience stricken glance at its
stubbly end.
And the little teacher nodded.
"Your water-pail seems to leak" the
director went on, indicating the empty
bucket and the wet floor.
Eyes" the girl assented.
'I'll see that you have new ones,"
Steve concluded.
And he was rewarded by grateful
glance from the teachers soft eyes as she
took her hat from its nail.
ne TOOK ner luncn DaskeC from ner
hand as they started away together; and
having taken it, could hardly surrender
it short of Mr.. Larkin's gate.
He was little reluctant to surrender it
even then. For their first awkwardness
had quite worn of; their walk had been
far from unpleasant; and they were feel
ing very well acquainted.
He walked home in an agreeable alb
yorption, repeating to himself the things
she had said, and recalling her pretty
way of saying them.
He did not pause to consider that it
was old John Sanborn's daughter of
whom he was thinking; he was only
conscious that she was a bright young
girl, whom it was charming to look at
and listen to.
His pleasant mood was rudely inter
rupted by little Mr.. Larkin, who dropped
in that evening
Lyme Doty couldn't have the school" ("
he observed, with chuckle, ''but it
looks as though he was going to have the
toacherl"
"What7, said Steve, with a sudden,