The Opelousas courier., 1889-02-23

OFOl7 g ASASA
begun.
Guess you'll have to own up to being
in To wrong, Steve" he began. "We
haint had a teacher for years that has
given the satisfaction that Molly does.
The children rave about her-all of
EN-"
But Steve was unimpressed.
'.My opinion is yet to be altered" he
said. rather stif1V.
And MI. Larkin looked discouraged.
"She spoke about needing a water
pail and a new BROOM" he said as he
rose. 81 told her she'd better come to
you about it,
THAT school-house had a new broom
last term, and a WATERFALL term before
last!" said the young director, emphat-
ically.
And Mr.. Larkin took a discounted
leave.
The next Sunday evening the young
man, sitting in a pew of a small wooden
church with h1s mother, and allowing
his eyes to row about during the rather
long sermon, suddenly discovered a
new face, apd sat studying it for the
remainder Of the evening.
1t was that of a young girl-not a
remarkably pretty girl, but fair and
fresh and innocent, with a bright in
telligence in her dark eyes and Sweet
ness in her full lips.
.'Who is she?n was the first ques-
ton after the services were concluded,
addressed, as it happened, to little
Mr.. Larkin, who had come in late.
"Ihat?n the latter asked, in aston
ishment. "Why, that's our teacher
that's Molly Sanborn! am waiting
to take her home.n
Steve Tenny found himself wishing
quite frequently after that that the
new teacher would come to him about
the broom and WATERFALL.
Not that he should furnish them ii
he found that they were NOT needed,
but he felt that he should not object
t6oan~ interview with the teacher.
He even mentioned the subject to
Mr.. Larkin csselessly when he met
him M day.
well, you see,n was the response,
''she sort of hates to come to you.
The way you felt about her having
charge of the school has got all around
town, and I s'pose she's heard of it.
She can't help what her father was,
Molly can't. and she's real sensitive
The young nan looked DISTURBED.
That afternoeln he left his work at an
early hour-nos however. admitting to
himself his purpose in doing so-and
strolled down the street, turning off
but he persuaded himself that it was
not intentional-in the direction of the
school-house.
II might as well 60 in and see about
that broom and WATERFALL, 9 he said IL
himself when he stood opposite the Lit
tie bare-looking building. .
And he went in accordingly.
The little teacher looked consider
ably startled when she opened the door
to him. She dropped thee spelling
q book she held, and her voice was hard
ly steady as she expressed her gratifca
ton at seeing him.
Evidently, Steve reflected, some idiot
had pointed him out to her at church
the other evening. He sat down in g
front se~atfeeling unpleasantly ogreish
} She was hearing the last spelling
c1ass.e How pretty she looked, stand
4 L -. 49, So lar 1l,,n aoIson Eysc1 onf
white apron. What a sweet voice sht
had, though putting out ''hen, men
pen," to a lot of fdgeting youngsters
could hardly show it to the best nd
vantage.
When the class was dismissed ant
the last small student had rushe'
whooping down the street, the teacher
! aud young director stood looking q
each other with some awkwardness.
81 thought I'd come in,n said Stew
, at last, apologetically, land 9 II an.
thing is needed
: He did not mention the fact of hi
] being some six weeks late in the per
! Torrance of his duty.
: The girl dropped her eyes, timidly
"I-00n't think so,n she murmured
! what a brute she must think me!
Steve reflected, with some self-disgust
He turned carelessly to the corne
I whore the broom stood.
Isn't this pretty far gomez" he said
with i conscience-strickeu glance ut 1t
stubby end.
And the little teacher nodded.
s.Your w~ater-pail seems to leak, tn
: director went on, indicating the empt
. bucket and the wet floor.
s Yes the girl assented
: .TH see that you have new ones,
remarked Steve.
b And he was rewarded BY q grassfr
! glance from the teachers soft eyes
) she took her hat from its nail.
He took her lunch basket from be
q hand as they started away togethe'
/, and, having taken it, could hardly SUI
render it short Of Larkin's gate
t; He wassa little reluctant TO surrei
der It even then-for their first aWl
warlness had quite worn on; thel
: walk had been FAR from unpleasant
and they were feeling very VOL .
# auainted.