Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-02-26
HER CERTIFICATE.

The monthly teachers examination Of
Black County was about to begin. Milly
sat 10 corner of the big room, biting
her pencil aud gazing at the motley as
semblage Of teachers and trembling as
pirants for first certiilcates-in antique
shawis and hats In vogue five years ago,
and dresses Milly had not known that
anybody ever wore.
Mflly was an aepirant for fret certi1-
cate, but she was not trembling. She sat
erect aud bright eyed and charmiDgly
stylish In an obviously city-made suit
and wicket little cap to match. 1t was
clear to the most casual observer that
Milly was not Indigenous to Black Coun-
ty. She was bright oasis in the desert
of Black County styles.
The young man In tue next seat ap-
peared to think so. He looked at her
with quite frank approval. Milly could
not help-knowing II. She looked down
at her snug gloves ard pulled petal
from the yellow asters she wore, and
finally dropped her pencil He picked IL
up with anxious haste.
THANK your she said. He locked at
her still, but rather bashfuly. "What a
lot oil ,heml she sail, taking pity upon
him
eyes What do you think OF them?"
he responded.
she noticed that his light hair curled
thieslY, and that he had fine chin,
I-l-don't you think they're rather
irumpy2" sro said, seriously.
He laughed explo,iyely, bringing his
hand down en- his kuee.
THE word was made for theml' he
declared. you see Pm not of Black
County, though iutcnd teaching here,
aud l don't feel traitorous. Tney are
funny" lie looked at her with puzzled
incFednlity. Are you going TO ieach?"
nc mufmured. VI beg your pardon,
| bull
"oh, no, don't" cried Mllly. Was he
too talll No, indeed And his nose was
like Napoleoh's. "l'll tell you about It.
! like 10 tell people; ia so funny. Yes,
Pm going to teach II eau pass the ex-
aminat.ons. You tee, I've been staying
this summer AZ my Uncle Ridglcy's, out
on farm. Well, tue teacher in that dis
trict wac taken sick the other DAY, and
what did my Uncle Rldgley do but hire
me Tor the fall term-mel He's one oil
the school directnrs you see. He aaid il
would do me good 10 'spnuk up and do
it. Fe's always deplored my rot being
able make PIE crust and weed onions,
aud he wrote home himself AID got psr.
mission for ne. | know III emily IT,
TN be such new experience -but I'm
full Of awful quams. ! never taught
and don't knoa hos. Ana MY Ger III
e4te-Im 10 fear aud trembling. I've
been ~ boarding scrool and all that bu,
Pm d'eadiuily rusty in the common
bianchee."
She finished breathlcssly aud laughing,
and he laughed too,
"As Tor me" he said. in pleased re-
turn o. her confluence, It's merely {
means to m end, my teaching. want
TO study law, aud J want TO do II by ms
own exertious. Thns sounds rather
goody gooiy, doFsn't ia ButIdc. Nv,
taught a lew terms IN my own county,
and now I've school engaged IN y1uts
pVe-"
But n formidahly fat examiner rappel
on the platform desk, and sent n tb'uner
but equally awe-iospirlng col eague 1,
and Out among The seats with the ar tn
metic questions 10 purple typP-writiDg
and the Black county applicants sharp
ened their pencils and wrmkltd thei
brows etudicu ly and went to work.
MIlly opened her lunch BASKET, tine,
hours later, In the small room prov .dt
Tor the purpose.
There was enough for 3 rae men, III
unused, as she attacked sandwich.
bOny young womsn-in rcd and lay
ender hat-lust ehaklug of the crumb
Of her ascetic repasI OF soda-craeL ers aut
picked pears, re- arde1 her with SEER
Amusement az she withdrew.
Through the door sue passed through
came the young man WHO eat next I,
Miily.
| "oh, are you herei' he said, with
shallow prolenso TO surpr Sc.
He sat down near her with an expres
sion of very frank pleasure.
What was it that made him look 6,
handsome when he smiled, she won
dered--hi5 merry eyes or his whit
teeth"
"How have you got oni", he questioned
| sympathetlcally opening his lunch.
"Ilorridly," she admitted. "Ism worse
than | thought. I've forgotten every
thing" She looked at his seanty breaC
aud butter "FleAse have one of III,
sandwiches" she said, fhyly forcing il
upon'him. Everything, positively. I'm
shocked Mt mI self. IN afraid shan'i
pass at ali; aud then, what WI Uncle
Ridgley say? l made terrible work oil
those cube-root and brokerage problems,
/ know / did. How envied you, you
i looked $50 perfectly untiustered oyel
/ theml And now tho geography Good.
ness mel think did pretty well with
4 the Hebrides and YucatAn and the Obi
River; but, oh, deEr what are the isother.
j NAL zoneeF
she made her lips and her smooth
brow into ludlcrous pucker as she
| looked meekly up at hin.
He laughed, with that ENJOYING, boyish
slap OF his hand On his knee
Don't you know, honor bright" he
calculated.
She shook her head solemnly. 81
haven't the faintest idea. i never did
care Tor physical Geography. and it'sgone
right out OF my head. /"
She bit tart ruefully. "Won't yon
take one of thesei You zee how much oil
this ! could never eatl No, l don't be-
lieve I'll get certificate at all"
He gazed at her with poignant regret
in his eyes.
ooh, hope sol he said, sincerely.
you've handed in your papers, haven't
you" he added, vaguely.
She shook her head
mo; | was aounderlng through the
end Of It when ! got hungry"
They looked st each other with wide
eyes, started by common idea.
"Oh, no, mol you mustn't! II wouldn't
be right or honest" she gasped, hall
laughing, halt awed
"Abstractly, 1t wouldn't" the young
man responded, reilectiyely. "0rdi-
narily, shouldn't dream of doing it, in
deed; but, you see, you aren't adopting
teaching as professsion-you're mol
going to teach but one term, and that fol
the sake of its being new experience,