Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-07-13


MY opinion has yet to be altered"
he said rath stinly.
And M. Larain looked discouraged.
''she spoke about reeding a new
troem and water PAIL he said as he
tosc. 81 told her she'd better como to
Aou about it"
J "Ihat scho lihousc had a new broom
iast term, and water phil term before
iastl' said tho young director cmphati-
eally.
Aud Mr. Larkin took discounted
leave
The next Su day evening the young
map, sitting in the pew of a small
wooden church with his mother, and al
lowing his eyes to rove a out during the
rather long sermon, suddenly discovered
a new iac', and sat studying it for the
remainder of the evening.
L was that Of a young girl-lot a re-
matkably pretty girl, lut fair and fresh
and innocent, with a bright intelligence
in her dark eyes aud sweetness in her
full lins.
'Who is she2' was the first question
after the services were concluded adj
dressed, as it happened, tC little Mr..
larlin, who had come in late.
"That2" the latter asked in astonish-
ment. "Why, that's our teacher
tsat's MoIlio san nbornl l am waiting to
take them hom,."
Steve Tcnney found himself wishing
quite frequently after that that the new
teacher would come to him about the
broom aud 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.
llo even mentioned the subject to Mr..
Larkin carelessly when he met him one
day
We'll. you Sec" was tho response,
~'Sc T-rt of hates to come to you. The
way you felt about her having the
school has got all around town, and /
spose she's heard OF it. She can help
What her father was, Molly can't, and
she's real scnsitiv :"
Tho young man looked disturbed.
That afternoon he lett his work at an
carry hour not. however, admitting to
himself his purpose in doing so-and
-s1'oIlcd down the street, turning off
bqa he pera uadcd himself that it was
no, intea tional lin the direction of the
-, house.
',yht -na--Asall. .s..- .saAsasssn.aus~s
room and water pail he said to
hiFasclf when he sto3d opposite the
little bare looking building.
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked considerably
startled when she opened the door to
him. She dropped the spelling book
she held, ard her voice was hard "
stcafly as she EXPRESSED her qualification
at ,c.ing him.
Evidently Steve ref cteI, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other evening. He sat down in a
1Lo1t seat feeling uaplcasaatIy ogreish.
She was hearing the last spelling
class. How pretty she looked, standing
there in her blue calico dress and white
apron. What sweet voce she had.
though putting out chen, men, pen"
to a lot OF f!seting youngsters could
hardly show it to the best al vantage.
When the class was dsmi sed and
the last small stu lent had rushed
whooping down the street, the teacher
and the young director stood looking at
each other with some awk war lncss.
Il thought I'd come in, said Steve at
last, apolOgctically, ''aud see if any
thing is needed"
Ho did not mention the fact of his
Being some six weeks late in the per-
formancc OF his duty.
The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
'l-don't think so" she murmurcd.
What Lluto she must hi TX mer
Steve reflected, with some self-disgu,t
He turned carelessly to the corner
where the broom stood
'lsn't this pretty far goae2' he said.
with conscicn cc-strickou glance at its
stubby end.
Aud the littIo teacher nodded.
Your water pail seems to leak, - the
director went on, Indicating the empty
bucket and the wet floor.
'Ycs," the gir. asscnted.
"Tll see that you have new ones"
Steve concluded.
And he was rewarded by a grateful
glance from the teachers soft eyes as
she took her hat rom its nail.
lie took her lunch basket from her
land as they started away together, aad
laying taken it, could hardly surrender
t short OF Larkin's gate.
Ho was little reluctant to surrender
even then. FJr their first awkw.rd.
less had quite worn of; their walk had
'een tar from unpleasant, and they
we're feeling very we'll acquainted.
lie walked home ia al agreeable ab-
oFption, repeating to himself the things
he had said aud recalling her pretty
way Of saying them.
He did not pause to consider that it
vas old John Slnborn's daughter of
'hom he was thinking; ho was only
onscious that she was a bright young
.irl, whom it was charming to look at
nd listen TO.
Ills pleasant mood was ruIely inter
upted by little Larkln, who dropped
n that evening.
ttT NM n