Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-06-29

"Your water pail seems to leak,n the direc-
tor went on, indicating the empty bucket
and the wet floor
"Yes," the girl assented.
CPL 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 it's nail.
He took her lunch basket from her hand
aa 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 off; their walk had been far from
unpleasant, and they were feeling very well
acquainted.
ton, 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 charm
ing to look at and listen to.
His pleasant mood was rudely interrupted
by little Mr.. Larkin, who dropped in that
evening.
"Lyrne Doty couldn't have the school, he
observed, with chuckle, ''but it looks as
though he was going to have the teacher!"
"What?' said Steve, with a sudden unex-
plainable sinking of the heart.
Hes hanging around considerable, any
how" said Mr.. Larkin. event to visit the
school last week, and he was asking me to-
day whether Molly's got any way of get
ting 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"
"You don't mean to tell me-" said Steve,
warmly, 'that she'd have anything to do
with himT
Mr.. Larkin stared. What could Steve care
with whom old John Sanborn's daughter had
to doa
But he only said, deprecatingly:
well, Lyme's good steady fellow"
"Humphm was the scornful rejoinder
The young man unused long and seriously
when his visitor was gone, and went to bed
with lighter heart, having come to firm
conclusion.
When the new teacher closed school the
next Friday night she was feeling rather
worn out, as she was apt to feel at the end of
the week; nor did the prospect of the four
miles walk home serve to cheer her.
She locked the door and started down the
path with a sigh.
A neat little buggy was coming briskly up
the road. Molly gave start as the driver
pulled up the horse and sprang to the
ground.
1t was the young director, and he was COM
j ing toward her.
II won't make any excuses, Miss Sanford, ="
he said, with humorous solemnity. 81 won't
say Pm going over the river on business, and
happened to think you might like to ride.
The truth is that it's a carefully laid plot.
Will you be an alder and abettor?'
The little teacher laughed appreciatively as
he helped her into the buggy.
81 must stop at Mr.. Larkin's and leave my
dinner pail" she said, demurely.
Mr.. Larkin was standing at the front gate.
He stood staring at the young director as
the latter assisted the teacher to the ground
and sat down on the horse block waiting for
her.
'tLyme Doty was here after Molly just
now," he said gaspingly. 81 sent him down
to the school house."
eve met him. said Steve "You see," he
added, making bold attempt at careless
ness, but speaking, nevertheless, in shame
faced way, and avoiding the little mans eye,
''You see, I feel as though it's my bounden
duty to keep Lyme Doty away from her.
Pure impudence, his hanging around her that
way"
The little teacher came tripping back, and
the young directors buggy whirled away in
| cloud of dust
''steve Tenney's taking Molly home in his
buggy" said Mr. Larkin, joining his wife in
the kitchen and sinking dazedly into chair
| 81 guess the worlds coming to an endP
| ''Steve Tenney amt a fool" his wife re-
sponded practically. 81 knew he'd get over
| that ridiculous notion of his-and especially
after he'd seen Molly"
Essays he's doing it from sense of duty,
said Larkin, chuckling slowly as the humol
of the situation dawned upon him. "Won
der how far his sense of duty will take
! him?'
81 shouldn't be surprised at anything!'
said Mrs Larkin mysteriously.
The Larkins-and, perhaps, Lyme Doty-
were the only people who were not surprised
when the new teacher gave up the school al
the end of the term and was quietly married
to the young director.
The chairman Of the school board is Won
dering over it yet.-Hartford Daily Times.