San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-11-19
WON By A SCHOOL MA'AM.

Perry township, were holding a meeting.
Nobody would have thought it The chair
man was leaning against his front gate with
his checked shirtsleeves turned back and an
ak in his hand, surveying the other two
members of the board. who stood outside the
fence.
1t was a meeting, nevertheless; and its OBJ
ject was nothing less important than the So
lection of teacher for the full term.
Lyman Doty spoke to me about having
the school," said the chair, obviously.
Lyman Dotym exclaimed Steve Tenney,
a stalwart young fellow, with thick brown
hair, white teeth and a square chin to make
up for his lack of downright good looks.
why, Lyman Doty couldn't teach a baby
He quit school before did, long enough, and
he hasn't studied anything but potatoes and
winter wheat since, that | know Of Better
stick to his farm-eh, Larkinp
Guess you're right" responded the third
member of the board, little man with a
cheerful face and a tuft of gray hair sticking
straight out from his chin
And the chairman nodded his agreement
WELL" continued little Mr. Larkin, with
an air of Importance, i've had an applica-
ton that | guess will suit. It's a sort of rela-
tive of my wlfe's, and just as nice a girl as
ever was Smart, too. She's got a certificate
for two years, last examination. She'd make
a splendid teacher, Molly Sanborn would"
''Sanhorn" said Steve Tenry shortly;
any connection with the Sanborns over on
the riverF
That's where she's from" said Mr. Lar
kin She's old John Sanborns glrl-him
that died last winter"
Steve frowned
You won't put her into the school, then,
with my consentl" he said determinedly.
What" said Mr.. Larkin, with a gasp,
while the chairman stared.
what would you think" the young man
responded, IF a man sold you fifty head of
sheep at good price, and half of them died
off in the next week of disease he must
have known beforehand That was She trick
John Sanborn served me. And he laughed
in my face when l wanted my money back
No, sir! | can't conscientiously consent to
putting any of the Sanborns in that school
Bad lot, In my opinion"
Mr. Larkin's small bright eyes snapped
old Sanborn wasn't too straight and
everybody knows it." he admitted "But
what that's got to do with Molly is more than
| can see. She's as fine a girl as you ever set
eyes on; not bit Of her father about her."
"Well, well, fight it out between YOU said
the chairman, goodnaturedly, and returned
to his wood chopping.
The tall young man and the little old man
walked up the street together, talking briskly
Mr. Larkin was hot and indignant; Steve
was cool and immovable
There don't seem to be any mercy in YOU"
said the former, almost tearfully, as Steve
was preparing to turn in at his gate. IF
they'd been left well off it would be different,
but they're poor as poverty, and Molly needs
the place the worst way"
you hadn't mentioned that" said the
young man, turning back. IF that's the
casen-
Mr. Larkin walked away triumphant five
niiIrut?S later
DuI Sieve Tenney had surrendered with
iad grace
Il coU!dn't hold OUT after that you see"
ia ",;ni 10 his mother, relating the story over
their tea. "but don't approve of it. There's
not much good in the Sanoorns or lose my
guess.
School began two weeGs later, when the
first rooi wave was depopulating front
porcheS and increasing the attraction near
Gitchen stoves
Steve Tenney held to his opinion concern
ING the new school teacher and acted ac.
ror,lin2iy
lie did not call at the schoolhouse tie first
day, as was his custom. TO leave the register
and see if anything was wanted--the chair
man having turned these duties over to his
younger colleague
He sent the register by a boy, and was ut
forty ind iTpIa,lr n U-hethar aI,y-t
wanted He turned the subject when tlrg
new teacher was mentioned, and he avoided
Mr. Larkln's comfortable home where the
teacher boarded
Tie little man made him call, however,
month or so after school had begun.
Guess you'll have to own up to being in
the wrong. Steve" be began. We hain't
had a teacher for years that's given the sat
about her-all of EN-.
But Steve was unimpressed
My opinion has yet to be altered" he said
rather stiGly
And Mr. Larkin looked discouraged.
"She spoke about needing a new broom
and water pail" he said as he rose. II told
her she'd better come to you about it"
That school house had a new broom last
term, and water pail term before astw said
the young director emphatically
And Dir LarkIn took a discounted leave
The next Sunday evening the young man.
sitting in the pew of a small wooden church
with his mother, and allowing his eyes to
rove about during the rather long sermon
suddenly discovered a new face, and sat
studying it for the remainder OF the evening
1t was that Of young girl-not remark
ably pretty girl, but fair and fresh and limo
cent, with a bright intelligence in her dark
eyes and sweetness in her full lips