Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-17
THE SCHOOL FLIRT.
Tho Path She Trod to Become
Woman.


n pauper, so when that nondescript
schoolmaster, gavo II to the trustees, 1t OK
cited no remark, and they merely handed
him the key with the directions:
"You board this week at jasper Sparks;
tho brown house just at the corner !
reckon you can find 1t, And ono word about
the scholars; you needn't be afraid Of usin
the rod ! reckon even with that you'll
find them n hard lot to manage. Good
mornin', sir"
Mr.. Brown acknowledged both the direc-
tions and advice with bow, and taking the
key, he walked 10 the little school house In
the woods, OF which he was that morning to
take possession. There he found a motley
collection OF humanity, varying from lit
tic toddlos just beginning TO lisp, To boys
on the verge OF manhood, and girls just
budding into womanhood. They stood
gathered in little knots, looking at him
with shy curiosity, till his pleasant Good
morning" brought smile Of welcome to
every face, and teacher and pupils folt
that the awkwardness Of Introduction was
happily over
Tho rusty key grated in the lock. The
door opened, and Mr.. Brown entered the
school.housc It was dreary, cherries
room, but he expected nothing better, and
with half sad smile, he arranged his
books, pens and the things inhis own desk,
and then rang the great dingy bell 10 ''call
SCHOOL, In came the troop pell-mell. each
trying tn excel the other in noise, till an
order from the teacher brought all to ST.
lencc, and they filed into their seats as qui-
city as drilled soldiers. Then came the
trying work Of examining and chasing,
encouraging the bashful ones, and checking
the forward, till at last oil was finished,
each child had its task; the duh, droning
sound of whispered study filed the room,
and the teacher leaned back on his stool OF
state, TO rest his tired brain and await the
next development.
1t came sooner than he expected In n
few moments the door opened, aud young
| girl entered; young girl, so near the verge
| Of womanhood that one could scarcely con
meet her with the strap Of books and the
lunch hoX that she carried. Every eye left
its book, and Mr.. Brown himself looked in
astouishmogt; but without noticing either
master or pupils, she walked to the back
bench, where she hung up her hat and
| jacket, and took her seat with the big girls,
as dcmurely unconscious as II she were the
sole occupant Of the room. Mr.. Browns
brow flushed with annoyance, for he read
in those downcast lids, as plainly as IL
written In footlong letters over her head:
"This is the school ilirt, who comes only to
|
euds nor triumph by trampling on his heart,
as she does his rules He was annoyed,
but II was only for moment, when he
| mentally said; "Well, her vocation is use
less here, and she will soon tire of her fruit
less task, and then, in avoice sterner than
he had used before, he asked:
"Your name, Missin
| LILLY Elmer,n in mild little voice.
IIo entered it ON the roll, and then con-
t!nued:
miss Lily, be so good as to remember
that school begins punctually at nine
o'clock, and every FIVE minutes after that
gives demerit to the delinquent. Now |
will look at your books, and see where to
class you.
Lily took her books and walked to the
desk. Tho blue eyes were fixed on the
floor and the dusky lashes swept her checks,
b1t the little twitches at the corners OF her
mouth hoded more trouble for the master
than open defiance, But he noticed IL 10Th
Ing, and put her through the questions as
mercilessly as he had done Jim Jones,
marked her lesson. and then said:
That will do, Miss Lily. You may go to
your seat.n
Lily dropped a sweeping courtesy, that
brought litter from the school, but not a
ripple on his own face, and obeyed, men.
tally reviewing on her way Mr., Browns
very black hair, dark grey eyes and
palo, regular face, coneeding him to
be very handsome, and resolving to
have him at ber feet within month.
The day passed by, and after it another
and another. To the amazement Of the
school, Lily appeared In season the second
day, and had continued to do so, behaving
altogether IN such an exemplary manner
that the school was astonished, and Mr..
Brown began to tell himself that his fears
and conclusions were groundless.
The month passed, and not once during
the time had Ned Brown offered Lily an
attention beyond the other scholars Hei
patience began to fail. It was the first
defeat the lady had ever met, and she
fretted under 1t sadly; besides, she felt
her, and that they had good cause. What
could the man bo made of We'll, she
wouldn't give up yet. Wait till his weeh
to board at her house came; il she didn't
break down that dignity, then might she
be an old maid forever. These were the
thoughts that filed Miss Lily's head
as she trudged home on bleal
December afternoon. AS may be be
lieved, she didn't feel amiable, and hel
humor wasn't improved when she heart
footsteps behind her, and, on looking back
saw Amelia Edwards running after her.
Amelia and Lily cordially hatod eacl
other, having been rivals in several fiirta
tions, Lily's disgust at seeing her can bI
imagined. She would have hurried oil
again, but Amelia called:
20, Lii wait I've been trying to catcl
you for the last ten minutes. 1t is so stupiC
walking alone. Don't you think sop
This was q spitefuffling at the days whel
the teacher carried Lily's books home 70
her. She took it, and replied with spirit:
ut isn't half SO bad as disagreeable com
pany,n
: 10, isn't itl" retorted Amelia. as tina
the reason you never lot Mr., Brown wall
with youl DO you know, Lip Cn conf
Dental Tone 1--WE girls think awful quee
you do not get along better with him
There were Bangs, and Simpkins, and hal
dozen others, who were at your feet in
week, and he's been here over month an
you haven't gained an inch. It's q fact
those other follows we're awful soft; bu
Just think whole MONTH We think
awful meanl And you've been 80 goot
tooln
u wish, Amelia Edwards, that you an
tho other girls would be so good as TO min
your own affairs, and let mine alonepi
70, then You do consider Mr.. Brow
your affairs' You haven't given up hoI
yeti Wou, there is nothing like courag
Nlshu--u
dAnd wish you good afternoon. II
going over her" half screamed Lily; on