The Republican journal., 1888-05-24
Won by the School Ma am.


Lyman Doty spoke TO HE about having tht
| school, said the Chair. obviously.
Lyman Doty!" exclaimed Steve Tcnncy. Z
stalwart Young fellow with thick brown hair
white teeth and square chin to make up fol
hi> lack Of downright good looks. "Why Lyme
Doty couldn't teach baby. He quit school be
fore dill, long enough. and he hasn't studied
any thing but potatoes and winter wheat since
that know Of. Better stick to hi farm eh
L4rk'u?"
"Gucs> You're right responded the third
member Of the board. little man with a cheer
ful face and dttuft Of cray hair sticking straight
out from hi> chin.
And the chairman nodded his agreement.
"Wcll,' continued little Mr., Larkn. with an
air of Importance I've had an application
that guess will suit. It's a sort of relative OF
my wife'> and just aS nice a Girl l> ever was
Smart. toe. She's got certificate for TIVE
| wears. last examination. She'd make Il >pci-
did teacher, Molly >anborn would
''Sanhorn.. said Steve Tcnnv. shortly: "auN
| connection With the Sanhorn> over ON the
| river:
That's where she's from" said Mr. Larkin.
"She> old John Sanhorn'> girl-hm that die,
| last winter.
steve frOwned
~ on wont pat her into that school. then.
with my consent" lie said decrminedly.
What - said Mr.. I.arkin. with gasp while
| the chairman stared.
What would YOU think the Young man rc-
sponded. 'if man sold you fifty head of sheer
| at good price, and half Of them died of in the
| next week of adi>eaSe he must have known be-
forehana: That was the trick John >anhorii
serNe ed me. And he laughed in my face when |
wanted my money back. No. sir, can't con-
| srlenti0u>iv consent TO putting any of the san
born> in that school. Bad lot in my opinion =.
Mr.. Larhin'> small, bright eyes snapped.
''bid Sanhorn Wasn't too straight and every :
body knows it, he admitted. But what that,
got to do with Molly is more than can see.
| shes line "A girl a. YOU ever set cycS on: moi
a bit of her father about her."
We'll. well. fight il out between YOU" said
the chairman. good-naturcIly: and returned IL
his wood chopping.
The tall young man and the little old man
walked up the street together. talking hr>kiy
| Mr.. Larkin WAS hot and Indignant: >ttNe was
cool and immovabc.
| ~ here don't seem to be any mercy in YOU
! said the former, almost tearfuIly, as Steve WAS
preparing To turn i'll III his gate. IF thcy'l
been left well off. il would be different: but
they're poor AS poverty. and Molly needs the
| place the worst way
"l on hadn't mentioned that" said ;lc voung
man. turning bach. II that's the ca>e---''
Mr.. Larkn walked AWAY triumphant liv,
minutes LATER.
| But Steve TcnncN had surrendered with bad
| grace.
II couldn't hold oft after that Num >ee." h,
said To hi mother. relating the story over their
tea: "hut don't approve of it. There's not
much GOOD in the Sanborn> or ! lose my GUESS =.
school began two weeks later, when the iir>t
cool wave was depopulating from: porche> and
increasing the attraction near Kitchen stoves.
steve Tenney held TO his opinion conccrnn.
the new school teacher and acted accordingly
He did not call at the >choolhou>c the first
| day, IA was his cu>tom, to leave the register
| and sec if ANYTHING WAS Wanteh-thc chairman
| having turned these duties over to his Younger
| colleague
He sent the register by Il boy. and was uttcrl,
| indifferent a. to whether anything was wanted
lie turned the subject when the new teacher
was mentioned; and he avoided Mr.. Iarkiu',
comfortable home. where the teacher boarded
The little man made him q call however,
month or so after school had begun.
"Gues> you'll have to own up to being in the
wrong, Steye," he began. 1--WE haint had ;
teacher for years that's given the satisfaction
that Molly does. The children rave about hel
all of EN-
But Steve was unimpre>sed.
My opinion has vet to be altered he sal,
rather >titily.
And Mr.. Larkim looked discouraged.
">he spoke about needing new broom All,
water pail he said he rose. Il told hcl
she'd better come to YOU about it,.
That school house had new broom la
term, and water pail term before last - >aic
the Young director emphaticaly.
And Mr.. Larkin took discounted leave.
The next Sunday evening the Young man
sitting i'll the pew Of a small wooden churci
with his mother, and allowing his eyes to ROY,
about during the rather long sermon. >iddenl,
discovered a new face. and sat studying it fol
the remainder of the evening.
1 hat, i.I Il al. /,
prettl girl, but fair and fresh and innocent
with bright intelligence III her dark eyes an,
a sweetness in her tul! lips.
''Who is >he:f was the first question aftc
the services were concluded. addressed. is i
happened, to little Mr.. Larkin. who had conn
in late.
That the latter asked i'll establishment
why that's our teacher-thal'S Molly san
born. That's my wife she's with. don't yo,
see: am waiting TO take them home
Steve Tenney found himself wishing quit,
frequently after that that the new teache
would come to him about the broom and waite
pail.
Not that he should furnish them if he foun,
they We're not needed, but he felt that h
should not object to an interview with tn
school teacher.
He even mentioned the subject to Mr.. Larkil
careles>ly when he met him one tiay
Wv ell, you see, was the response, 'she sor
! of hates to come to you. The way you feI
about her having the school has got all aroun,
town, and s'pose she's heard of it. She can
help what her father was, Molly can't. an,
she's real sensitive
The young man looked disturbed
That afternoon he left his work at an earl
hour-not, however. admitting to himself hi
purpose in doing so-and stroled down tn
, street. turning oh'-but he persuaded him>el
that il was not imtentonal-in the direction o
| the school house
81 might as well 20 in and see about tina
broom and water pail he said to himself
when he stood opposite the little bare-lookn
building.
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked considerably start
led when she opened the door to him. Sh
dropped the spelling book she held. and he
voice was hardly steady as she expressed he
qualification at seeing him.
, Evidently. Steve reflected, some idiot ha
pointed him out to her at church the otlIe
evening. He sat down in Il front seat feelin
unpleasantly osrei>h.
, She was hearing the last spelling class. Ho.
pretty she looked, standing there in her dar
blue calico dress and white apron. What
sweet voice she had. though putting out '.he,
men, pen" to lot of lidgeting youngster
, could hardly show it to the best advantage.
, When the class was dismissed, and the las
n | small student had rushed WhOOping down tn
y street, the teacher and the Young director stoo
: looking at each other with some awkwardncs,
81 thought I'd come in,' said Steve at last
| apologetically, land see if anything is needed.
He did not mention the fact of his bein
some six weeks late in the performance of hi
duty.
The girl dropped her eyes timidly.
"I-don't think so," she murmured
: 'What brute she must think met Stew
> reflected, with some sef-disgust.
T. He turned carelessIy to the corEer where tn
broom stood.
isn't this pretty far gomez he said, with
conscience-stricken glance at its stubby end
And the little teacher nodded.
"Your water pail seems to leak,' the dire,
tor went Oh, indicating the empty bucket an
. . the wet floor.
EYES," the girl assented.
t 'fll see that you have new ones.' Steve co,
r cluded.
I And he was rewarded by a grateful gIanc
from the teachers soft eyes she took her b.;
! from its nail.
! He took her lunch basket from her hand /;
they started away together, and, having take
: it, could hardly surrender it short of Mr.. La
kin's gate.
. He was little reluctant to surrender it eve
: then. For their first awkwardness had quit
worn of; their. walk had been far from III
e pleasant, and they were feeling very well AZ
. quainted.