Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-01-27

As soon as school was called she
asked if any OF the pupils had seen
Bill Warren that morning. She learned
from Jake that the "holy terror" was
even then amusing himself with his rifle
on the prairie back of the school-house.
Valley appointed six of her largest
boys to go out and deliver her COM
mand to the big truant. "Tell him I
command him to come Immediately into
the school-room and receive punish
menu for his having played truant."
Her messengers had grinningly
obeyed, but soon returned, saying:
"If We please, teacher. Bill swore at
us awful when we told him yer say. and
Jest stood us off with his revolver He
says he won't come
"Ah! We shall see" was all Valley
said. But her dark eyes flashed and
her lips were firmly compressed.
Bidding the scholars be quiet and at
tend to their studies, Valley left the
room.
A short distance from the school,
house she found Bill Warren, sitting
down examining the load in his rifle.
His back was toward her She slipped
noiselessly UP to him, and ere he was
aware Of her presence she grasped him
by the coat collar and shook him quite
soundly.
"You rough. unmanly follow, tosend
lady such message. Are you not
ashamed of yourself?"
Bills face was q study. Surprise,
anger, and shame struggled for mas
terry there.
GIVE me that rifle and revolver, sir,
and come back to school at once. lin
tend to punish you for your truancy
and for the use OF rough language to
your schoolmates, whom sent to carry
my ORDERS"
He hung his head, his bronze face
covered with bushes of shame. He
was too utterly confused to offer resist
ance, even if he had been 80 inclined,
as Valley bravely possessed herself Of
his rifle and pistol.
"Now, sir, march to the school-room
at once" was her next command.
Bill started to comply, but suddenly
halted, and confronted her with a
changed countenance. An expression
of intense resentment flashed into his
eyes and he said:
I'm not a young one to be ruled over
by any flip of girl from back East, I'll
give you to understand, and he
Strengthened himself up like young
giant. "Give me back my weapons, {"
and he made hasty step toward her.
There was little click of the pistol
in Valleys hand and he paused.
"Thunder! you'd as lief shoot fell
low as not, L believe" he said,
and he could not help gazing at the
spirited little teacher, who stood SO
imperially before him leveling his own
revolver at his head, with some degree
of admiration.
"You will not find it very safeto
menace me. I expect to be obeyed,
and without further trihing. Do you
surrender, Bill Warren?" asked the
plucky girl.
The angry, sullen look faded from
his face, and no word was necessary to
show that he was conquered. For
answer he turned and walked back to
the schoolhouse by Valleys side.
The incredulous stares the scholars
favored Valley with, as she marched in
with her captive. can be imagined
more easily than described.
She lectured him on the sin of DISC
bedience before the whole school. He
humbly stood and took it, then when
she had finished the crushed bully
took his seat and was very attentive to
his books
That night she dismissed them all
but Bill, whom she sat down by to
hold conference with
Little Lola Warren hurried home
| with wild eyes, to tell the news to her
papa and mamma
"You ought to saw Bill" she said to
them, excitedly, "Why, he looked
just as scared like as could be, when
Miss Valley made him come in. And
she's kept him in, and she's got his
rifle and pistol by her desk, and ex-
pect she'll nigh about wear Bill out if
he don't mind her"
God grant that she may reform my
wild boy, sighed Mrs. Warren, deeply.
And the husband echoed the praverful
hope.
AS Valley sat by her conquered
scholar that evening she implored him
to consider his parents, to whom his
wild ways showed no respect; she APP
pealed to his sense of honor; she urged
him kindly to think and develop the
better manhood she assured him he was
capable of developing, When she
ceased talking, there were tears in
Bills eyes.
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