The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-06-20

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remainder of the evening.
1t was that of young-not re-
markably pretty-girl, fair and fresh
and innocent, with a bright intelligence
in her dark eyes and sweetness in her
full lips.
"Who is she?" was his first question
after the services were concluded, adj
dressed, as it happened, 10 little Mr..
Larkin, who had come in late.
"That?" the latter asked, in astonish-
ment. "Why, that's our teacher
that's only Molly Sanborn. That's my
wife she's with, don't you see? l am
waiting to take them home"
Steve Tenny found himself wishing
quite frequently after that that the new
teacher would come to him about the
broom and WATERFALL.
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 carelessly, when he met him
one day.
"Well, you see," was the response,
I" she sort of hates to come to you.
The way you felt about her having the
school has got all around town and l
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 strolled down the street, turning
off-but he pursuaded himself that it
was not intentional-in the direction of
the school-house.
I" 1 night as well go in and see about
that broom and WATERFALL" he said to
himself, when he stood opposite the
little bare looking building.
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked consider
ably 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 gratifica-
ton at seeing him.
Evidently, Steve reflected, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other evening. He sat down in a
front seat, feeling unpleasantly ogerish.
She was hearing the last spelling
class. How pretty she looked standing
there in her dark-blue calico dress and
white apron. What sweet voice she
had, though putting out chen, men,
pen " to lot of fidgeting youngsters
could hardly show it to the best advan-
tage.
When the class was dismissed and
the last small student had rushed
whooping down the street the teacher
and the young director stood looking at
each other with some awkardness.
&C thought I'd come in" said Steve,
at last, alphabetically, " and see if any
thing is needed"
He did not mention the fact of his
being some six weeks late in the per-
Torrance of his duty.
The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
"I--don't think So" she murmured.
What brute she must think me, :"
Steve reflected, with some self-disgust.
He turned carelessly to the corner
where the broom stood.
Isn't this pretty far gomez" he said,
with a conscience-stricken glance at its
stubby end.
And the little teacher nodded.
Your WATERFALL seems to Leak" the
director went on, indicating the empty
bucket ana lDe wet llOOr.
Yes" the girl assented.
"I'll see that you have new Ones"
Steve concluded.
And he was rewarded by grateful
glance from the teachers soft eyes as
she took her hat from its nail
He took her lunch-basket from her
hand as they started away together,
and, having taken it, could hardly sur
render it short of Mr.. Larkin's gate.
He was little reluctant to surrender
it even then, for their first awkward
ness had quite worn off, their walk had
been far from unpleasant and they
were feeling very we'll acquainted.
He walked home in an agreeable alb
sorption, repeating to himself the things
she had said and recalling her pretty
way of saying them.
He did not pause to consider that it
was old John Sanborn's daughter of
whom he was thinking; he was only
conscious that she was a bright young
girl, whom it was charming to look at
and listen to.
His pleasant mood was rudely in
terrupted by little Mr.. Larkin, who
dropped in that evening.
Lyme DOlJ Couiu III nave Ine
school," he observed, with chuckle,
" but it looks as though he was going
to have the teacher"
What?" said Steve, with sudden
unexp!ainable sinking of the heart.
He's hanging around considerable
anyhow" said Mr.. Larkin. event to
visit the school last week and he was
asking me to-day whether Molly's got
any way of getting home Friday night
He said he'd just as lief take her in his
buggy as not. Molly generally walks
but | guess she'll be glad of lift"
You don't mean to tell me said
Steve, warmly, " that she'd have any
thing to do with him?"
Mr.. Larkin stared. What could
Steve care with whom old John San
born's daughter had to do?
But he only said, deprecatingly:
"Well, Lyme's good steady fellow
Humph!" was the scornful re
joinder.
The young man unused long and seri
ously when his visitor had gone and
went to bed with a lighter heart, hav
ing come to a firm conclusion.
When the new teacher closed schoo