The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-06-05
THE SCHOOL FLIRT.
The Path She Trod to Become a
Woman.

A name suitable alike for millionaire or
pauper, so when that nondescript, a
schoolmaster, gave it to the trustees, it ex-
cited no remark, and they merely handed
him the key with the directions:
"You board this week at Jasper Sparks;
the brown house just at the corner l
reckon you can find it. And one word about
the scholars; you needn't be afraid of usin'
the rod l reckon even with that you'll
find them a hard lot to manage Good
mornin', SIR
Mr.. Brown acknowledged both the direc-
tions and advice with a bow, and taking the
key, he walked to 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
tie toddleS Just beginning to lisp to bows
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 a smile of welcome to
every face, and teacher and pupils felt
that the awkwardness of Introduction was
happily over
The rusty key grated in the lock. The
door opened, and Mr.. Brown entered the
school house. It. was dreary, cherries
room, but he expected nothing better, and
with half sad smile, he arranged his
books, pens and the things in his own desk,
and then rang the great dingy bell to "cali
SCHOOL, In came the troop pell-melI. each
trying to excel the other in noise, till an
order from the teacher brought all to 81
lence, 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 all was finished:
each child had its task the dull, droning
sound of whispered study filled 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 a
few moments the door opened, and a 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 box that she carried. Every eye left
its book, and Mr.. Brown himself looked in
establishment; 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 demurely unconscious as if she were the
sole occupant of the room. Mr. Browns
brow flushed with annoyance, for he read
in those downcast lids, as plainly as if
written in foot-long letters over her head:
This is the school flirt, who comes only to
disobey and torment the teacher, and finally
ends her triumph by trampling on his heart
as she does his rules" He was annoyed,
but it was only for a moment, when he
mentally said; We'll, her vocation is use
less here, and she will soon tire of her fruit
less task" and then, in voice sterner than
he had used before, he asked:
Your name, Miss"
Lilly Elmer" in a mild little voice.
He entered it on the roll, and then con-
tinued:
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. The blue eyes were fixed on the
floor, and the dusky lashes swept her cheeks.
but the little twitches at the corners of her
mouth BODIED more trouble for the master
than open defiance. But he noticed moth
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"
Lily dropped 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
pale, regular face conceding him to
be very handsome, and resolving to
have him at her feet within a month.
The day passed by, and after it another
and another. To the amazement of the
school, Lily appeared in season the second
hdl, anu udu cOuIluueu 10 40 50,
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 Never
theless, the deep blue eyes had done some
work and the master found himself wait
ing more anxiously for the classes they
looked out from, than he would care to
confess; but he kept his feelings so well in
hand that not even the sly lass herself sus-
pected them
The month passed, and not once during
the time had Ned Brown offered Lily an
attention beyond the other scholars. Her
patience began to fail. 1t was the first
defeat the lady had ever met, and she
fretted under it sadly; BESIDES she felt
that the whole school was laughing at
her. and that they had good cause. What
could the man be made Of Well, she
wouldn't give up yet. Wait till his week
tn board at her house came; if 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 a bleak
December afternoon. As may be be-
lieved, she didn't feel amiable, and her
humor wasn't improved when she heard
footsteps behind her, and, on looking back,
saw Amelia Edwards running after her.
Amelia and Lily cordially hated each
other having been rivals in several hirta-
tions. Lily's disgust at seeing her can be
imagined. She would have hurried on
again. but Amelia called:
30, Lii, wait I've been trying to catch
you for the last ten minutes. 1t is SO stupid
walking alone. Don't you think soP'