Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-08-25
MFFLNToWN JUNATA WEDNESDAY AUGUST o. 1856
And Mr.. Larkin took a discounted

And Mr.. Larkin took discounted
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 dis
covered a new face, and sat STUDYING il
for the remainder of the evening.
1t was that of a young girl-not a
remarkably pretty girl, but fair. and
fresh, and innocent, with a bright intel
ligence in the dark eyes and a sweetness
in the full lips.
"Who is she?" was his first question.
after the services were concluded. ad-
dressed, as it happened, to little Mr..
Larkin, who had come in late.
, ''That?'' the latter repeated. in
aStonishment. 'Why, that's our teacher
that's Molly Sanborn. That's nv
wife she's with, don't You see? 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.
WV NAAhN AiO nAAoA4h lilClll III lie
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 See," 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 |
s'poSe 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
Strolled down the street, turning Off
intentional-in the direction of the
School-house.
Il might as well go in and see about
That broom and water pail he said TO
himself, when he stood opposite the lit
tie 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 at see
ing him.
Evidently, Steve reflected, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other evening. He sat down i'll a
front seat, feeling unpleaSantly Ogreish
She was hearing the last spelling-elaSs.
How pretty she looked, standing there in
her dark-blue calico dress and white
apron. What sweet voice she had,
though putting out ''hen, men, pen, > to
a long line of iidgeting youngsters could
hardly show it to the best advantage.
When the class was dismissed, and |
the last small student had rushed, |
whoOping down the street, the teacher |
and the young director stood looking at |
each other with some awkwardneSS.
II thought I'd come in" said Steve |
at last, apOlogetically, and see if any |
thing was neeu1ng. "
He did not mention the fact of his /
being some six weeks late in the per- /
formance of his duty.
The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
''I--don't think so," she murmured. |
''What brute she must think mel''
Stew reflected with some Self-disguSt. /
He turned carelessly TO the corner
where the broom stood.
''Isn't this pretty far gomez" he said,
with a conscience-Stricken glance at its
And the little teacher nodded.
''Your water-pail seems to leak the
director went on, indicating the empty
bucket and the wet floor.
Yes the girl assented.
"I'll see that you have new ones"
Steve conclued.
And he was rewarded by grateful
glance from the teachers soft eyes as
She took her hat from its nail.
He took her lunch basket from her
arm 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 awkward
ness had quite worn off; their walk had
been far from unpleasant; and they
were feeling very well acquainted.
He walked home i'll an agreeable alb
sorption. 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 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 drop
ped in that evening.
'sI.vme Doty couldn't have the
school" he observed with chuckle,
.sbut it looks as though he was going to
have the teacher.''
''What?n said Steve, with sudden,
sinking of the heart.
Hes hanging around considerable,
lnvhow.n said Mr.. Larkin. 'Went to
visit the school last week; and he was
asking me to-day whether MOlly's got
any way of getting home Friday night.
He said he'd Just as lief take her in his
buggy as not. Molly generally walks;
but / guess she'll be glad of lift"
ssYou don't mean to tell me-" said
Steve warmly, that she'd have any
thing to do with him!"
Mr.. Larkin stared. What could Steve
are with whom old John Sanborn's
laughter had to do?
But he only said, deprecatingly:
"Well, Lyme's a good, steady fel-
ow."
'sHumphr' was the scornful reJoin-
ler
The Young man unused long and seri-
,usly when his visitor was gone, ana
vent to bed with lighter heart, having
.ome to a firm conclusion.
When the new teacher closed school
he next Friday night, she was feeling
-ather worn out, as she was apt to feel
# the end of the week; nor did the pros
,ect of her four miles walk home serve
o cheer her.
She locked the door and started down
he path with a sigh.
,,ont little hnrry vas coming briskly