Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08


over apart in places, allowing ample venti-
lation. The floor was SO uneven one was Ia
constant danger Of being tripped up while
passing across it. The windows were
broad Sits In the walls two on each side.
and covered with bed-ticking tackled to
rude framework, all four OF which were
now loose and creaking and slamming dis
mally in the high autumn blasts. The door
was swinging on its rusty hinges as If bent
on getting free II was decidedly unfa
vorable appearance to greet the eyes OF
young teacher, more especially one who has
never taught.
ssverily, mine is most open reception"
exclaimed Zelma, with smile, stepping in
and surveying the interior Of her temple Of
learning on Coyote Prairie. eve shall not
want for oxygen. The mudwasps have elab
orately festooned the walls, while the spiders,
evidently thinking that filmy lambrequins
would add beauty to the corners; have b'sen
auxiliary In weaving most delicate patterns
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
benefit
Gentlemen of leisure abouttown are said
to find much pleasure in dry goods boxes as
seats, so III get all the enjoyment possible
out of this one as desk. 1t has not been
very well appreciated in the past, judging
from the jack knife 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 I draw my first
months salary we shall behold some public
improvements. But l must not forget the
story of the milk maid, lest !, too, may build
too much on the future"
Zelma's adaptability to circumstances en-
abled her to conquer all discouragements
that she might otherwise have experienced
in the novel arrangements of the school
room.
Jacob Hadley's numerous children tuck
powerful likin'" to the new teacher, as Mrs.
h took the pains to inform her after one
week of school had passed.
Jake, the eldest, a 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, as
the elder Hadley said, was "a holy terror,
and run thu hull skule.i
'tBill always goes armed" said young
Jake. ''The other boys'll all mind ye 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-respect, if not politeness, to do that, "
Zeima had replied.
The second Monday of school Zelma dis
covered many new faces at the schoolhouse
as she came walking from her home.
Jake came out to meet her and whispered
lowly: "Bin 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, "and he's got his
shootin' fxin's along"
AS sheapproached the school-house Zelma
gave a swift glance at the tall, strongly
built bronze.faced fellow leaning carelessly
by the doorway, with one hand caressing
the muzzle of bright, new rife. He was
quite handsome, she at once decided, with
his flashing eyes so deeply blue as to be
easily mistaken for block, and his hair Of the
hue of biackbird's wing. He was dressed
in somewhat brigandish style and wore a
richly finished belt from which protruded
an ivory handled revolver. Zelna had never
seen ''holy terror" before and the speci-
men by no means impressed her unfavora-
bly,.
For one week every thing moved along
without the least discord. Zelma seemed
to have got ON the blind side o. tibet 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"
allow a. We gittin' erlong with thet thar
Bill WarrenW asked Jacob Hadley hailing
Zelma as she passed his house on her way
home after two weeks labor in the Coyote
Prairie school
Every nicely, indeed" she answered. HE
takes to books readily, and so far, has been
real studious."
Hell break out all of a 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, we'll edercated folks but they've lived
out hyar on Coyote Purary so long, Bills
got the upper hand Of 'en, 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, A
little sister of his handed Zelnaa note from
his father. It read:
miss ARCHER-I write this to put you on
your guard Bill, am sorry to say, is beyond
my control. He declares that no will 20 to
school NO longer. and has threatened 10 break
up your school. as he did the one held last
winter His mother and were IN high hopes
that you had won him over to good behavior, he
started in 50 favorsbly But We are now In sad
despair.
"Yours regretfully,
"B. L. WARREN.
Zelma's face flushed q little as she perused
this note, but almost instantly it took on
determined expression, one a soldier might
have worn and she said slowly under her
breath, "If he can not can. If l 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 il
any Of the pupils had seen Bill Warren that
morning. She Immediately learned from
j ake that the "holy terror" was even then
amusing himself with target shooting on
the prairie back Of tho school-house evil
IDENTIFY deHRhting in the thought that he
must be terrifying the new teacher.
Zelna at once appointed six Of the largest
boys 70 60 out and command the big truant
to come into school Tell him that his
teacher commands him to come Immediately
into The school-hous and receive punish
ment for daring 30 play truant-"
Her messengers grtnningiy ooeyed, but
Soon returned, saying:
lei We please, teacher, Bill swore at Us
awful, an sent us to the hot place, an jes
-.anA -. III 81 18th hia ,saunlSar he "a us