Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1888-12-20

I
crease the yearly stipend he received for
salary; and he was between nope and
| fear as TO whether the chairman's hand
! some daughter, the belle OF the village
had taken exception 10 a Christmas token
he had sent her that afternoon by her lit
tie brother.
Dorothy Flint's nature was rs raeh in
direct opposition 70 her es,.e as her fathers 8
was IN keeping With It While she was
dutiful and affectionate daughter, she had
mind Of her own and a keen perception
Of the right and many Of her fathers
! transactions. II grieved her deeply that
her father should be 80 meFcless and
hard-hearted toward every ono save her.
self, for Il certainly was a fact that he
was utterly Indifferent 70 every one alike.
and, with the exception OF his handsome
Dot no one could exert the slightest inhu
ence over him.
Dots little brother brcHgEt home the
Christmas present fof her intrusted him
by tho schoelmaster, and as Dot was not
IN the house, he opened IL, as he said, ITO
sce II it's bettern mine"
II was merely volume Of poems nicely
bound in blue and gold, and on the ag.leaf
was inscribed;
"To Miss DOROTHY F1rSr; With beet
Chr sllnss wishes of the giver Aon PGrfIN."
Old Mayor Fiint howled worse than
the Wind hoWled around the ruins Of tho
deserted farmhouse that JOB paced as
he toiled through the snow he was not
much of = hand al writing; but after
rolling hls Tongue over the outside Of his
stubble- bearded lips for few m'rates,
during which time no twisted his head
INTO positions whitA would make Il almost
impossible Tor a ready writer to see what
Ne was inditing, ho produced the follow.
ing note;
"OLD CoG-Dsar Sir' I beg leave "a I'VE
yew the balunts dew yew fof shuoi teach n tor
DAFT and trust yow ken dow better AZ Il sum.
mers else ca hov des.ded IN iourgo youf
sarvicos ca toaehnh
"lorc obedyunt Raryint
Z" ESRA ERAsrus FLINT.
Mayer Of Cdcrburg."
THIS being done he placed II in AN ch.
velopc, retled the volume, then Inserted
the letter beneath the strirgs that bound
the package and sect his boy TO summon
Job TO tha house.
Mayor Flint was at heart a timid man.
ana after sending his boy on the errand
nc rSpente not having had him carry the
volume and letter as we'll He foresaw
trouble IN the village for Cog was well
liked and the villagers had a voice them,
selves regarding who should be school.
master, He could not tell, either 90
Job or tho villagers, tho trae reason for
the dismissall neither could he make a
truthful explanation 70 Dot, for he feared
she might demand the pedagugue's rein.
statement, as she was always singing
praises OF his kindness toward his little
pupils.
1t irritated the naturally turbulent des-
pot 10 think that tho poor schoolmaster
had dared TO lift his eyes toward Dot
But he knew little OF the teachers strength
OF character. The mute Christmas token
was the only evidence he would have
given 10 indicate that the poor and hu ~ bic
mentor Of the district school entertained
toward the rich mans daughter any other
feeling than that Of the most profound rev.
erence and loyal respect.
Mayor" Flint decided 20 be absent
when job should arrive, and he left orders
that the parcel on the comfortable shculd
be handed the schoolmaster.
Job pulled and blowed and kicked so
hard on the scraper outside the maynuto's
front door that he was heard long before
be attempted 10 ring the bell. As he was
about 70 ring the door opened softly aud
Dot held out hand Of welcome that sent
an electric thrill through the schoolmas.
tors system when her litLle fnger.tips
touched his cailoused hand. Job was an
lchaDod Crane In appearance, but bis man
ners were those OF a polished member Of
the intellectual and refined grade in soci.
ETY., over which money Is without iufiu-
ence; so. externally, he appeared entirely
at ease In Dots company, yet II the truth
was known, his heart was fiutter.ng be-
meath bis vest like a Gagged bird.
" Here Is Christmas present, job, !
made Tor you myself" said Dot, hand ng !
him parcel, ps he stood ready TO depart |
you must not open IL until you hear the |
Christmas chimes at midnight @, al. |
most forgot that Father left IL for you.n |
she added by the way OF explanation u
presume II may contain another Christ. |
mas remembrance.
As she took the volume from the table, |
JOB watched her beautiful face, aud when |
their eyes next met his own told OF his |
smothered passion as plainly as II he had |
spoken. She trembled, blushed and huCg !
her head as she lnnOcently proffered the |
package addressed 10 him by her father.
dob glanced az the package aud started |
as he recognized the volume through It's |
Lorn wrapper
Mechanically he received the book, but |
Il fell from his nerve!ess grasp. He es- |
sayed TO speak, and his tongue refused its |
Junction. With one parting glance no |
iottered through the doorway and along |
.he path leading TO the road, where he |
'auRnt a glimpse of the mayors scowllng |
lace as the moon shone on a window IN |
he second story Of the house.
He walked with hoad cast down, neither
ooking 70 the right nor the left He was
LACED. lie was like one whose reason was
'louded II her eyes spoke tho truth-but
40, his Christmas tokenl Why did she
'eturn II II such WIS the casei Aud yet
10, he had even no right 10 think that Il
night have been natural embarrassment
hrouga fear Of wouuding his feelings by
he return Of The book
HeiloS, Gpg" exclaimed a familiar
.oice, ~ the path was locked by a form
hat was irrecVga ziblo oenoith is great.
oat aud n,syy mun,r. "hyoris a letter
uf yer n1f out a. llla an. l.l..loft 90 oro |