Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-06-06
WON BY A SCHOOL MIAMI.


 Nobody would have thought it. The chair man was leaning against his front gate with his checked shirtsleeves turned back and an ax in his hand, surveying the other two members of the board who stood outside the fence.
 It was meeting, nevertheless; and it's ob- ject was nothing less important than the se- lection of teacher for the full term.
 "Lyman Doty spoke to me about having the school" said the chair, dubiously.
 "Lyman Dotyl" exclaimed Steve Penney, stalwart young fellow, with thick brown hair, white teeth and square chin to mako up for his lack of downright good looks. "Why, Lyman Doty couldn't teach baby. He quit school before did, long enough. and he hasn't studied anything but potatoes and winter wheat since, that know of. Better stick to his farm-eh, Larkin"
 ''Guess you're right" responded the third member of the board, little man with a cheerful face and a tuft of gray hair sticking straight out from his chin.
 And the chairman nodded his agreement. "Well," !" continued little Mir. Larkin, with an air of importance, five had an applica- tion that I guess will suit. It's sort of rela- tive of my wifes, and just as nice a girl as ever was. Smart, too. She's got a certificate for two years, last examination. She'd make Q splendid teacher Molly Sanborn would" "Sanbornw said Steve Tenny, shortly; "any connection with the Sanborns over on the river2'
 'That's where she's from" said MT. Lar kin. ''She's old John Sanborn's girl-him that died last winter"
 Steve frowned.
 "You won't put her into the school, then, with my consentl" he said determinedly. hofm coiI M,. r while the chairman stared.
 What would you think" the young man responded, eff a 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 beforehands That was the trick John Sanborn served me. And he laughed ln my face when l wanted my money back No, sir! l can't conscientiously consent to putting any of the Sanborns in that school Bad lot, in my opinion"
 MT. 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 l can see. She's as fine girl as you ever set eyes on; not a bit of her father about her." "Well, we'll, fight it out between you," said the chairman, goodnaturedly, and returned to his wood chopping.
 The tall young man and the little old man walked up the street together, talking briskly. MT. Larkin was hot and indignant; Steve was cool and immovable ''There don't seem to be any mercy in you. D said the former, almost tearfully, as Steve was preparing to turn in at his gate. .sIf they'd been left we'll 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 1 case"-
 MT. Larkin walked away triumphant five minutes later.
 But Steve Penney had surrendered with bad grace.
 'I couldn't hold out after that, you see,' he said to his mother, relating the story over their tea; ''but I don't approve 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 attraction neal kitchen stoves
 Steve Penney held to his opinion concern ing the new school teacher and acted ac cordingly.
 He did not call at the schoolhouse the frs day, as was his custom, to leave the register and see if anything was wanted-the chair man having turned these duties over to hi younger colleague.
 He sent the register by boy, and was ut terly indifferent as to whether anything wa wanted. He turned the subject when tn new teacher was mentioned; and he avoided teacher boarded.
 The little man made him a call, however, month or SO after school had begun.
 "Guess you'll have to own up to being il the wrong, Steve," he began. ''We hain had teacher for years that's given the sal isfaction that Molly does. The children rav about her-aI of 'em."
 But Steve was unimpressed.
 My opinion has yet to be altered" he sai rather stifdy.
 And Mr. Larkin looked discouraged.
 s'She spoke about needing g new broo1 and water pail" he said as he rose. q tol her she'd better come to you about it"
 "That school house had a new broom las : term, and water pail term before last!" sai the young director emphatically.
 And MT. Larkin took discomfited leav
 The next Sunday evening the young ma1 sitting in the pew of a small wooden churc with his mother, and allowing his eyes 1 rove about during the rather long sermon suddenly discovered a new face, and s. studying it for the remainder of the evenin
 It was that of young girl-not remar ably pretty girl, but fair and fresh and inn cent, withs a bright intelligence in her da1 eyes and a sweetness in her full lips.
 ''Who is shea" was his first question aft the services were concluded, addressed, as happened, to little Mir. Larkin, who hs come in late
 "Thata" the latter asked in astonishmer "Why, that's our teacher-that's only Mol Sanborn. That's my wife she's with, do1 ,| you see2 I am waiting to take them home Steve Penney found himself wishing qui frequently after that that the new teach would come to him about the broom al water pail.
 Not that he should furnish them if he foul they were not needed, but he felt that should not object to an interview with t school teacher.
 He even mentioned the subject to MT. Ls kin carelessly when he met him one day.
 "Well, you see," was the response, 'ss sort of hates to come to you. The way y felt about her having the school has got \ around town, and spose she's heard of She can't help what her father was, Mo can't, and she's real sensitive"
 The young man looked disturbed i That afternoon he left his work at an cal
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