The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1889-08-03
HIS NOTIFICATION.
How Thornton Executed His Conn
mission.

ley. He squinted in cross-eyed mannerat
the cracker-crumb on his tawny, scraggy
beard, and transferred it carefully to his
mouth. There was q wedge of cheese on
his left knee. When the Fence Corners
School Board-originally Fennetts Cor
hers, bub thus aptly abbreviated u
meeting, it was, by general agreement, in
old Hanks grocery, where crackers and
cheese, and mayhap herring, might re.
lieve its tedium. But tonight there was an
alleviating interest.
'Aoout the size Of it," said Sllas Saun-
ders. He preferred tobacco, and rolled
quid under his tongue This amt no place
fer her here. Why, wouldn't answer for
the consequences if she staid; there amt
no tellin' what might happen, ner what
deviltry them boys might be up to. Look
at Corny Rourlie, SIX foot two or three if
he's an inch, and chuck full, chuck full,
chuck full He's always be'. the one to
put the teachers out, and there amt no
doubt but what it's his idee this time. Bar
ricadin the school-house right out bold
first day o. school; now, who but Corny'd
"a thought o. Mats''
There was something of contemplating
admiration in his tone.
'Goin' to be done, whoevers dom it,"
said Kinney, exploring his cracker-bag.
''Goin' to git in at eight o'clock tomorrow
mornin' an shut up the door and fastcn the
windows, and any teacher that gifts in IL
nave to git in through the key-hole err
crack; what they said"
he had told it before; He had called the
meeting for the purpose OF telling it. But
1t was interesting to dwell upon.
There was an impressive silence.
"Wall, We'll have to give her notice.
You're jest the one to do it, Thornton eh2"
Saunders observed to the third member
Of the board. He was himself uneasy
"She got along fust-rate, summer term" he
added He appeared to feel a vague and
wholly impotent regret. "Needs the money
should jedge."
"She need't "a made no calculations to
teach no winter term herc-not to Fence
Corners" Kinney responded, with some
contempt. ''If there h'aint BEN winter
fer five years but what there's ben rum
pus, and gener'ly school shut up, WY, she
needn't "a looked fer there gotn' to be-"
It was unanswerable, but the store-keeper
entered weak suggestion over his motley
counter.
81 should think that gang ought to be
broke up" he said
He expected no rejoinder, and got none.
The School Boards attention centered upon
no such whimsical irrelevancy.
''Reckon you're the one to notify her,
Thornton" said Saunders, again.
He wrigglcd unquietly on his STOOL
Thornton sat motionless. Whether in fact
or by trick Of the ill-burLing lamp on the
counter,his good-looking face with it's heavy,
light moustache, appeared pale. He sat
with his arms crossed on his knees and his
eyes on the floor, silent.
'Jest So" said Kinney, with an air OF inn
partial decision. you can git it Off better
N Saunders or me, Thornton You're a
better lookin' man, anyhow, and you're bet
ter rugged up" he concluded, with polite
amiableness.
They made an attempt at careless dis
missal OF the subject. Kinney got up and
threw his cheese rind in the stove. Thorn
ton passed his hand over his mouth and
swallowed hard.
you can jest putt easy" said Kinney,
encouragingly. "You can tell her jest how
tbs, and how It's fer her own good, and
amt to be put of ner avoided. You can
tell her she done first-cldss, summer term.
WY you can tell her Jest what you're a.
mine TO-" cried Kinney, magnanimously.
Their colleague arose. He was a tall and
powerful young fellow, but there was an
odd laxity in his movements now as be went
toward the door. He held his hat-brim to
his lips, too, and turned his face away from
the light Hanks stared after him till the
door closed
II sspose you've found out that Jim
Thornton's about the bashfulest teller in
town, amt youl" he oueried
There was no response.
And you've prob'ly suspicioned, same as
other folks, that he's kind o. Sweet on the
schoolma'am, err would be IL he dast!" pur.
sued the store keeper.
The School Board was silent.
"Wal," he concluded, with grin, half OF
disgust, half Of admiration, ''you couldn't
a. hired me to ben that mean to a yelle1
dog-not to yeller dog!'
4 1 n 3
Thornton made his way up the road
through warm and lightly falling carly
snow that whitened and sottened and beau.
fed 1t, dark as it was from the infrequency
Of buildings and hubby with the frozen
mud. he forgot to put his hat en- till he me,
man in wagon, who stared at him. His
face and hair were damp VITA melted flakes
He went slowly, almost creepingly, fol
there was in his heart terrible, sinking
dread Of what he must do. It was almost
more than he could master.
Where was shei Bssers; he knew she
boarded at Bissel's and it was not far; ht
could see its light through the snow lader
trees. The pain at his heart was all bu'
physical; he WINGED, and kept his hand OF
his nervous mouth; there was mist in hi!
eyes, and 1t grew into tears. He was no
surprised at them, nor assumed of them hi
wiped them of mechanically with his rough
strong hand. He did not know whether
they were from pity of her or Of himself
ne know not which was the stronger with
IN him; he was not clearly conscious o.
either, but Of dull unhappiness such as h,