The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-06-14
WON BY THE sCHOOLMA,Am.


veying the other two members of the
board, who stood outside the fence.
1t was meeting, nevertheless; and
its object was nothing less important
than the selection of a teacher for the
fall term.
Lyman Doty spoke to me about hav-
ing the school, said the chair, obviously
Lyman DotyT exclaimed Steve Ten
ney, stalwart young fellow with thick
brown hair, white teeth and square
chin to make up for his lack Of down.
right good looks. why, Lyme Doty
couldn't teach a baby. He quit schoo
before l did, long enough, and he hasn'
studied anything but potatoes and win
ter wheat since. that l know of. Better
stick to his farm-eh, Larkinp
Guess you're right responded the
third member of the board, a little mar
with cheerful face and tuft of gray
hair sticking straight out from his chin
And the chairman nodded his agree
ment.
WELL continued little Mr.. Larkir
with an air of Importance, I've had an
application that guess will suit. It's g
sort of relative of my wife's and just as
nice girl as ever was. Smart, too. She
got a certificate for two years last exam
ination. She'd make splendid teacher,
Molly Sanborn would
'Sanbornr said Steve Tenney shortly
amy connection with the Sanborns over
on the river?
That's where she's FROM said Mr.
Larkin. She's old John Sanborn's girl
him that died last winter.
Steve frowned.
You won't put her into that school,
then. with my consent! he said deter
minedly.
WHAT said Mr.. Larkin with a gasp,
while the chairman stared.
GWI.et -~ouId JOu think the VnnnG
man responded, if man sold you fifty
head of sheep at good price, and half
of them died off in the next week of a
disease he must have known before
hand That was the trick John Sanborn
served me. And he laughed in my face
when wanted my money back. No,
sir! l can't conscientiously consent to
putting any of the Sanborns in that
school. Rad lot, in my opinion!
Larkin's small, bright eyes snapped
old Sanborn wasn't too straight, and
everybody knows it, he admitted. But
what that's got to do with Molly is more
than / can see. She's as fine a girl as
you ever set eyes on; not a bit of her
father about her.
We'll, well, fight 1t out between you,
said the chairman good-naturedly, and
returned to his wood-chopping.
The tall young man and the little old
man walked up the street together, talk.
ing briskly.
Mr.. Larkin was hot and indignant;
Steve was cool and immovable.
There don't seem to be any mercy in
you, said the former, almost tearfully,
as Steve was preparing to turn IN at his
gate. IF they'd been left well off it
would be different; but they're poor as
poverty, and Molly needs the place the
worst way
You hadn't mentioned that said the
young man, turning back. If that's the
case
Mr. Larkin walked away triumphant
five minutes later.
But Steve Tenney had surrendered
with bad grace.
4 couldn't hold out after that, you
see.' he said to his mother, relating the
story over their tea; but | don't APP
prove of it. There's not much good in
the Sanborns or lose my guess!
School began two weeks later, when
the first cool wave was depopulating
front porches and increasing the attrac-
tion near kitchen stoves.
Steve Tenney held to his opinion con.
corning the new school teacher and act.
ed accordingly.
He did not call at the schoolhouse the
first day, as was his custom, to leave the
register and see if anything was wanted,
the chairman having turned these du
ties over to his younger colleague.
He sent the register by boy, and was
utterly indifferent as to whether any
thing was wanted He turned the sub
ject when the new teacher was men
toned; and he avoided Mr.. Larkin's
comfortable home, where the teacher
boarded.
The little man made him call, how
ever, a month or so after school had be.
gun.
Guess you'll have to own up to being
in the wrong, Steve he began. I'VE
hain't had a teacher for years that's
given the satisfaction that Molly does.
The children rave about her-all of EN-
But Steve was unimpressed.
My opinion has yet to be altered, he
said rather stiffly.
And Mr.. Larkin looked discouraged.
She spoke about needing new broom
and water pail, he said as he rose. i
told her she'd better come to you about
it,
That schoolhouse had new broom
last term, and water pail term before
last said the young director emphati-
cally,
And Mr.. Larkin took discounted
leaVet
The next Sunday evening the young
man, sitting in the pew of a small wood
en- church with his mother, and allowing
his eyes to rove about during the rather
long sermon, suddenly discovered new
face, and sat studying it for the remain
der of the evening.
1t was that OF young glrl--not re-
markedly pretty girl, but fair and fresh
and innocent, with bright intelligence
in her dark eyes and sweetness in her
full lips.
Who is sheT was the first question
after the services were concluded, ad-
dressed, as it happened, to little Mr..
Larkin, who had come in late.
That 7 the latter asked in astonish-
ment. why. that's our teacher-that's
Molly Sanborn. That's my wife she's
with, don't you see. | am waiting to
take them home
Steve Tenney found himself wishing
quite often 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 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 careessly when he met him one
day.
We'll, you see, was the response, she
sort of hates to come to you. The way
you felt about her having the school has
got all around town, and | s'pose she's
heard of it. She can't 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
strollsd down the street, turning OIL (but
he persuaded himself that it was not in
tentionaD in the direction of the school
house.
Il might as well go in and see about
that broom aud 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. She 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