The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-09
HER CERTIFICATE.
ny EMMA A, oPpER,

4Hv uuululy teNcneTh EXAMINATION
Black county was about to begin, Mill!
sat in a corner OF the big room, bitlni
her pencil and gazing at the motle.
assemblage Of teachers and trembling
aspirants for lirst certilCates-in antique
shawls and hats in vogue five years ago
and dresses Milly had not known tha
anybody ever wore,
Milly was an aspirant for frs
certificate, but she was not trembling
She sat erect and bright eyed and charm
Ingly stylish in an obviously city-madt
suit and q wicked little cap to match. II
was clear TO tho most casual observer
that Milly was not indigenous to Black
county. She was a bright oasis in the
desert OF Black county styles,
The young man in the next seat up,
peared to think 80, He looked at her
with quite funk approval, Milly could
not help knowing It. She looked down
at her snug gloves and pulled a pctal
from tho yellow asters she wore, and
finally dropped herpencil. He picked II
up with anxious haste.
"Thank you'll" she said. He looked
at her still, hut rather bashfully, "What
lot Of them!" she said, taking pity
upon him.
Eyes. What do you think OF them? p
he responded,
She noticed that his light hair curled
thickly, and that he had a fine chin.
"I-1-don't you think they're rather
frumpyT she said, seriously.
He laughed explosively, bringing his
hand down on his knee.
1.-THE word was made for them!" he
declared. "You see Pm not OF Black
county, though l intend teaching here,
and | don't feel traitorous. The ara
funny" He looked at her with puzzled
increduility. "Are you going to teach|'
he murmurcd. VI beg your pardon,
but"
doh, no, don't" cried MiIIy. Was he
too tall? No, indeed! And his nose
was like Napoleon's. "I'll tell you about
1t. like to tell people; its so funny.
Yes, I'm going to teach ii | can pass the
examinations. You see, Pve been stay.
ing this summer at my Uncle Ridgeley's,
out on farm. Well, the teacher In that
district was taken sick the other day,
and what did my Uncle Ridgely do but
hire me for the fall term-mC! He's one
OF the school directors, you see. He
said 1t would do me good to 'spnnk up
and it. He's always deplored my not
being able to make q pie crust and weed
onions, and he wrote home himself and
got permission for nc. know I'll enjoy
it'll be such Il new experienCe-but
I'm full OF awful qualms. I've never
taught, and ! don't know how. Andmy
CertidCate-l'm in fear and trembling.
I've been at boarding school aud all that,
but I'm dreadfully rusty in the common
branches"
She finished breathlessly and laugh
ing, and he laughed too.
"As for me-" he said, in pleased re-
turn Of her confidence, "irs merely a
means TO IN end, my teaching. want
to study law, and ! want 10 do 1t by my
own exertiOns. That sounds rather
goody goody, doesn't It? But do. I've
taught q few terms in my own county,
and now I've school engaged in yours
I've -"
But iormidably fat examiner raped
on the platform desk, and sent q thinner,
but equally awe.inspiring, colleague in
and out among tho seats with the arith.
metic questions in purple type-writing;
and the Black county applicants sharp
ened their pencils and wrinklcd their
brows studiously and went TO work.
Milly opened her lunCh.basket, three
hours later, In the small room provided
for the purpose.
There was enough for three men, she
unused, as she attacked a sandwich.
A bouy young woman-in red and
lavender hat-just shaking OIL the
crumbs OF her ascetic repast Of soda.
crackers and picked pears, regarded her
with stern amazement rs she withdrew.
Through the door she passed through
came the young man who sat next to
Milly.
"6h, arc you hcreP" he said, with u
shallow pretense olsurprise.
He sat down near her, with an express
sion OF very frank pleasure.
What was II that made him look so
handsome when no smiled, she wonder.
ed-his merry eyes or his white teethP
GLOW have you got on2" he ques.
toned, alphabetically, opening Ills
lunch.
Horribly" she admitted. 'I'm worse
than ] thought. I've forgotten every.
thing" She looked at his scanty bread
and butter. "PleNse have one Of my
sandwiches" she said shyly forcing Il
upon him. Everything, positively.
I'm shocked ut myself. Pm afraid
shan't pass at all; and then, what will
Uncle Ridgley say2 l made terrible work
OF those Cube.root and brokerage prob.
lens, l know l did. How envled you,
you looked 80 perfectly unnustered oyei
theml And now the geography Good
ness mel think ! did pretty well with
the HebrideS and YuCNtan and the Obj
River; but, oh, dearl what are tho
isothermal Eonesp
She made her lips and her smooth
brow into ludiCrous puCker as she look
ed meekly up ut him.
He laughed, with that enjoying, boy.
ISL slap Of his hand on his knee.
Don't you know, honor bright2" he
calculated.
She shook her head solemnly. ~
haven't tho ialntest idea. Inever dlt
care for physical geography, and Us CONT
right out OF my head"
'sho bit a tart truefully. "Won't yor
take one Of these7 You sec how much
Of this could never eaL No, / dom
believe Ill get u certificate at all"
lie gaEcd al her with poignant rcgre
In his eyes.
d0h, hope sol" he said, sincerely
"You'Ye handed In your papers, haven
your" Ito added, vaguely,
She shook her head.
nNoi was Laundering through tn
end Of II wien | got hungry"
They looked AZ each other with Wild
eyes, startled by common idea.
"0h, no, no you MUSTN'T 1twould
mt 10 right or honest !" she gaspod, hal
laughing, half awOd.
HAbstfaCtedly, II wouldn't, 1.-THE younI
man responded, regeCtively. h0FdI
narlly, shouldn't dream Of doing II, In
decd but, yOu sec, you aren't adaptel