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

"My opirioa has yet to bo altered, i"
he said RI .umy.
And NJ rFain looked discouraged.
"sho ,p'ke about needing new
broom and 81 ter pal,' he said as he
rose. Il told her she'd better como to
you about it,"
That sclp p3ihouse had new broom
last term, aud water pmI term before
la-tr said the y,ung director emphati.
cl.ly
AID Nj, I,arIin took a discounted
leave.
The next su day evening the young
man, sitting IA the pew of a small
wooden chutch with his mother, and al.
lowing his eyes to rove a out during the
rather long sermon, suddenly discovered
a new fac', and snt studyIlg it for tho
remainder ottbe evening.
1t was that OF young sirl-aot a re
markabIy pretty girl, lut fair aud fresh
aud innocent with bright intelligence
in her dark eyes aud sweetness in her
full iips.
who is sAcl' was the fr.t question
after the servics were conc udoI all
dressed, as it happened, tC little Mr..
Larkin, whohad come in late.
"That| the b.ttcr asked in astonish-
mont. "Wuy, that's our teacher
that's Molic Saabornl l am waiting to
take thom hom,."
Steve Teuucy found himself wishins Z
quite frequently after that that the new
teacher would come to him about the
broom and water pail.
Not that no should furnish them if he
found that thay were not needed, but he
felt that he should not obj ct to an in-
tcrvi9w with the school teacher.
lie even mentioned the subject to Mr..
L7rkia carelrssy when he met him one
day
well, ycp sec,' was the response,
"sho sort OF Eates to come to you. Tho
way you fcf about her having the
school has gft all around town, and l
pose she's 1card Of it. She can help
what her fat lcr was, Molly can't, and
she's real sclt itiv +"
Tho YOUNG man looked disturbed.
That afto;Boon he lett hi, work at an
carly hour-tot, however, admitting to
himself his nrposo in doing so--and
strolled dow the street, turning off
but he pcrsJ ded himself that it was
not intcl ito Il-iH the dircctio of the
school hous
L might we'll 90 in and see about
thpA~-- ~., pail" he said to
himself whey ho sto.d opposite the
little bare -l6d liking building.
And he v mt in accordingly.
The little deacher looked con siderably
startled whe5 she opened the door to
him. Sac droppcl the spelling book
She held, ard her voice was hardly
stcaly as she expressed her qualification
at e.ing him.
Evidently, Steve ref ctod, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other ovcaiug. lie sat down in a
front seat feeling u1p!casa1tly ogrcish.
She was hearing the last spelling
class. How pretty She looked, standing
there in her blue calico dress and white
apron. What sweet voco she had,
though putting out chen, men, pon, y
to lot OF flgetine youngsters could
hardly show it to the best advantage.
When the class was dismi sed, and
the last small stu lent had III he'd
who3ping down the street, the teacher
and the young director stood looking at
each otlicr with some awkwar lness.
Il thought I'd come in" said steve at
last, apoIoge tically, ''aud sec if any
lhllg Is needed.
IIo did not mention the fact of his
being some six weeks late in the per-
formanco Of his duty
The girl dropped her eyes timiily.
'I-don't think so, she murmured.
What lutc she must thi TX me :
Steve h.ctod, with some sclf-di5eust
lie turned carclessly to the corner
where the broom stood.
"Isu't thi' pretty far go1c1' he said,
with conscience-stricken glance at its
stubby end.
Aud the little teacher nodded.
Your water pail seems to leak" the
director went on, Indicating the empty
bucket and the wet floor
"Ycs," the girt assented.
'Tll see that you have new ones, >
Steve concluded.
And he was rewarded by a grateful
claace from the teachers soft eyes as
she took her hat rom its nail.
He took her lunch basket from her
hand as they started away together, aud
having taken it, could htrdly surrender
it short OF Larkia's gate.
He was little reluctant to surrender
it even then. For their first awAw ,rd-
ness had quite worn OFT, their walk had
been far from unpleasant, aud they
were feeling very we'll acquainted.
H. walked home in an agreeable alb
sorption, repeating to himself the things
she had said and recalling her pretty
way Of saying them.
lie did not pause to consider that il
was Old John Slnborn's daughter o
whom he wa, thinking; ha was only
conscious that She was bright young
girl, whom it was charming to look at
and listen to.
His pleasant mood was rudoly inter
rupted by little Larkln, who dropped
in that evening.
Lyme Doty couldn't have tn,