The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-07-05

'em."
But Steve was unimpressed.
my opinion has yet to bo altered"
he said rather stiflly.
And Mr.. Larkin looked discouraged.
"She spoke about needing . new
broom and water pail" he said as he
rose. II told her she'd better come to
you about it."
"That schoolhouse had now broom
last term, and water pail term before
lastr' said the young director emphati-
cally.
And Mr.. Larkin took discounted
leave.
The next Sunday evening the young
man, sitting in the pew Of a small
wooden church with his mother, and al
loving his eyes to rove about during the
rather long sermon, suddenly discovered
new face, and sat studying it for the
remainder of the evening.
1t was that of young girl-not re-
markably pretty girl, but fair and fresh
and innocent, with bright intelligence
in her dark eyes and sweetness in her
full lips.
"Who is shea' was the first question
after the services were concluded ad-
dressed, as it happened, to little Mr..
Larkin, who had come in late.
"That2' the latter asked in astonish-
ment. "Why, that's our teacher
that's Mollie Sanbor l am waiting to
take them home"
Steve Tenney found himself wishing
quite frequently after that that the new
teacher would come to him about the
broom and water pail.
Not that he should furnish them if he
found that they were not needed, but he
felt that he should not object to an in
terview with the school teacher.
He even mentioned the subject to Mr..
Larkin carelessly when he met him one
day.
'Well, you see" was the response,
sshe sort of hates to come to you. The
way you felt about her having the
school has got all around town, and l
spose she's heard of it. She can help
what her father was, Molly can't, and
she's real sensitive"
The young man looked disturbed.
That afternoon he left his work at an
early hour-not, however, admitting to
himself his purpose in doing so-and
strolled down tho street, turning off
but he persuaded himself that it was
not inten tional--in the direction Of the
school house.
Il might as well go in and see about
that broom and water pail" he said to
himself when he stood opposite the
little bare looking building.
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked considerably
startled when she opened the door to
him. sho dropped the spelling book
she held, and her voice was hardly
steady as she expressed her qualification
at seeing him.
Evidently, Steve reflected, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other evening. He sat down in a
front seat feeling unpleasantly ogreish.
She was hearing the last spelling
class. How pretty she looked, standing
there in her blue calico dress and white
apron. What sweet voice she had,
though putting out "hen, men, pen,"
to lot of tidgeting youngsters could
hardly show it to the best advantage.
| When the class was dismissed, and
the last small student had rushed
whooping down the street, the teacher
and the young director stood looking at
each other with some awkwardness.
II thought I'd come in" said Steve at
last, apologetically, "and see if any
thing is needed"
He did not mention the fact of his
being some six weeks late in the per-
formance of his duty.
| The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
'I-don't think So" she murmured.
'What brute she must think mel
Steve reflected, with some self-disgust.
He turned carelessly to the corner
where the broom stood.
Isn't this pretty far gone7" he said,
with eonscien ce-stricken glance at its
stubby end.
And the little teacher nodded.
"Your water pail seems to leak" the
director went on, indicating the empty
bucket and the wet floor.
eyes" the girl assented.
"Tll see that you have new ones"
Steve concluded.
And he was rewarded by q grateful
glance from the teachers soft eyes as
she took her hat from its nail.
He took her lunch basket from her
hand as they started away together, and
having taken it, could hardly surrender
it short of Larkin's gate.
He was a little reluctant to surrender
it even then. For their first awkward.
ness had quite worn off; their walk had
been far from unpleasant, and they
were feeling very we'll acquainted.
He walked home in an agreeable alb.
sorption, 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 charming to look at
and listen to.
His pleasant mood was rudely inter
rupted by little Larkin, who dropped