Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-06-14

L
lation. The floor was so uneven one was ii
constant danger of being tripped up whlis
| passing across Il. The windows were
broad Sits in the walls. two on each side
and covered with bed-ticking tackled to q
rude framework, all four of which wert
now loose and cracking and slamminS dis
rnally in the high autumn blasts. The doo-
was swinging on its rusty hinges as If bent
| on getting free. II was a decidedly unfa-
vorable appearance to greet the eyes OF
young teacher, moro especially one who has
never taught.
| 'Verily, mine Is most open reception, y
exclaimed Zelna, with a smile, stepping II
and surveying the interior Of her temple OF
learning on Coyote Prairie. 1--WE shall moi
want for oxygen. The mudwasps have elab
| orateiy festooned the walls, while the spiders
evidently thinking that fiimy lanbrequins
| would add beauty TO the corners, have been
| auxiliary in weaving most delicate pattern:
| for my academy. What A great, ungainly
| dry goods box for the teachers desk. Now,
won't / look queenly and commanding be
hind that, seated on big, much-whittled
bench!
Gentlemen of leisure about town are said
TO find much pleasure in dry goods boxes as
seats, so I'll get all the enjoyment possible
out of this one as a desk 1t has not been
very well appreciated in the past, judging
from the jack-kHife defacements and at
tempts at hieroglyphics on its sides. Well
I'll make the best OF things as they are, for
the present. but when l draw my hrs;
months salary we shall behold some public
improvements. But | must not forget the
story of the milk-maid, lest !, too, may build
too much on the future"
Zelma's adaptability to circumstances en-
abied her to conquer all discouragemeIts
that she might otherwise have experienced
in the novel arrangements Of the school
room.
Jacob Hadley's numerous children tuck a
powerful li1in'" to the new teacher. as Mrs.
H. took the pains to inform her after one
week of school had passed.
Jake, the eldest, robust fellow of
eighteen. had told Zelma OF the unpleasant
experience of the last teacher, who, in Coy
Ote Prairie language, had been forced ito
git up an hustle" by the largest pupil be-
longing to the school. Bill Warren, who, rs
the elder Hadlcy said. was 80 holy terror,
and run the hull skule.''
Bill always goes armed" said young
Jake. 1.-THE other boys'u all mind We but
him. He rules the rOost at home and ever
body is as 'feard of him as o. Old Scratch.
He's twenty, now. and bigger than my pap.
But rough as Bill is he'll hardly 'buse a
woman, low"
st is to be hoped that he has too much
self-respecu, if not politeness, to do thai"
Zeima had replied.
The second Monday Of school Zelma dis
covered many new faces at the school-house
as she came walking from her home.
Jake came out to meet her and whispered
Lowry: "Bill Warren's here, teacher"
Zelma was all curiosity to see the ''holy
terror who could so fearfully convulse the
people of Coyote Prairie.
That's him leanin' agin the side O. the
house" whispered Jake, land he's got his
shOOtin' tixin's along"
As she approached the school-house ZelIna
gave swift glance at the tall, strongly
built bronze.faced fellow leaning carelessly
by the doorway, with one hand caressing
the muzzle of bright, new rifle. He was
quite handsome, she at once decided, with
his flashing eyes so deeply blue as to be
easily mistaken for black and his hair of the
hue of blac6bird's wing. He was dressed
in somewhat briGandish sty.e and wore a
richly finished belt. from which protruded
an vsory-handled revolver. ZelIna had never
seen ''holy terror before and the speci-
men by no means impressed her unfayora-
bly,.
For one week every thing moved along
without the least discord. Zelma seemed
to have got on the blind side o. thet thar
Bill Warren" Jacob HadIey told the neigh
bors.
All the pupils seemed to like their pretty,
energetic young teacher, who ruled them by
a wise combination of kindness and firm
ness.
The big boys all said that she was "hard
to beat, and even rough Bill admitted that
she was '.tolerably fairish like
"How a We gittin' crlong with tibet thar
Bill Warren?" asked Jacob Hadley, hailing
Zelma as she passed his house on her way
home after two weeks labor il the Coyote
Prairie school.
Every nicely, indeed" she answered. she
takes to books readily, and SO far, has been
real studious"
Hell break out all of suddint some day
like one of our Western Billiards, now you
uns mind eff he don't" chimed in Jacobs
better half from the door. He's got awful
nice, well edercated folks but they've lived
out hyar on Coyote Purary 50 long, Bill's
got the upper hand of 'eT, and he jest runs
wild, like an Injun, and his pap has no more
rulin' over him than nothin'."
When Monday morning came Bill Warren
did not put in an appearance at school. n
little sister of his han led elma note from
his father. 1t read:
Miss ARCHER-I write this to put you on
your guard. Bill, an sorry to say, is beyond
my control He declares that he will 20 TO
school no longer, and has threatened to break
up your school, as he did thu one held last
winter. His mother and were in high hopes
that YOU had won him over TO good behavior, he
started in SO tGyora5ly. But We are now in sad
despair.
''Yours rcgretfuIly,
''B. L. WARREN.
Zelma's face flushed little as she perused
this note, but almost instantly il took on
determined expression, one a soldier might
have worn, and she said slowly under her
breath: III he can not, l can. If have
any martial blood in my veins it is in arms
and ready TO dare or die'''
As soon as school was called, she asked if
any of the pupils had seen Bill Warren that
morning. She imme lately learned from
Jake that the ''holy terror was even then
amusing himself with target shooting on
the prairie back of the school-house, evil
IDENTIFY delighting in the thought that he
must be terrifying the new teacher.
Zelma ct once appointed six of the largest
boys TO so out and command the big truant
TO come into school. Tell him that his
teacher commands him to come Immediately
into the school-house and receive punish
ment for daring to play truant."
Her messengers grinningly obcyed, but
soon returned, saying:
''Ef We please, teacher. Bill swore at US
awful, an sent US to the hot place, an jes
stood US all off with his revolver. He says
he won't come nary inch, an you-uns KANT
make him.
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