The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-13
HOW HE TOLD HER..
BY EMMA 4. OPPER.

AOit ILL LOao Ah4vi
BY EMMA 4. OPPER.
"She'll have to go; amt no way out
o that. She'll have to skip" said Da 6
Kinney. lie squinted in cross eyed
manner at the cracker crumb on his
tawny, scraggy beard, and transferred it
carefully to his mouth. There was a
wedge OF cheese on his left knee. When
the Fence Corners School Board-origi-
nally Fennett's Corners, but thus aptly
abbreviated he d a meeting, it was, by
genera! agreement, in d Hanks's gro,
cery, where crackers and cheese, and
mayhsp herring, might re icve its tc-
dium. But tonight there was an C.
Waiting interest.
"About the size of it," sad Silas
Saunders. He preferred tobacco, and
rolled a ouid under his tongue. This
amt no place fer her here. Wy,
wouldn't answer fer the consequences If
she sta'd; there ain't no tel In what
might happen, ner what cussedness them
boys might be up to. Look at Corny
Rourke, six foot two er three if he's an
inch, and chuck fu chuck full. He's
Always ben the one to put the teachers
out, and there amt no doubt but what
it's his ldee tn tine. Barricadin' the
school house right out bold first day o.
schoo; now, who but Corny'd "a
thought O. that?'
There was something of contcmplativc
admiration in his tone.
"Goin' to be done, whocver's doin'
It." said Kinney, exploring his cracker
bag. "Coin to git in at eight o'clock
tomorrow mornin an shut up the door
and fasten the windows, and any teacher
that gifts in II have to git in through the
key-hole er 4 crack; what they said
He had told it lefore; he had called
the meeting for the purpose OF telling it.
But it was interesting 10 dwell upon.
There was an impressive silence.
"Wal, We II have to give her notice.
You're Jest the one to do it, Thornton
eh?" Saunders observed to the third mem.
Der of the Board. He was himself n
easy. '.She got along fust-rate, sum-
mer terln," he added. lie appeared to
feel vugue and ilnpo!ent regret. Needs
the money, should jedge.'
ssshe needn't "a made no calculations
to teach no winter term here-not to
Fence Corners" Kinney responded, with
some contempt. "lf there h'ain't ben a
winter fer five years but what there S
ben arumpus, and gcncr'ly school shut
mp, wy, she needn't a looked fer there
going to be-"
1t was unanswcrable, 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 re.,oinder, and got
none. The School Boards attention
was centered upon no such whimsical
irrelevaucy.
"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.burning
lamp on the counter, his good looking
face, with its heavy light mustache, ap-
peared pale. He sat with his arms
crossed on his knees and his eyes on the
floor, silent.
"Jest So" said Kinney, with al air Of
impartial decision. "Iou can git it of
better n saunders or me, Thornton.
You're o better lookin' man. anyhow,
and you're better riggel up he con-
cluded with polite amiablcncss.
They made an attempt at careless
dismissal Of The sub ect Kinney got up
and threw his cheese.rind into the stove.
Thornton passed his hand over his mouth
and swallowed hard.
"You can jest put it easy" said Kin
ney, encouragingly. "iou can tell her
Jest how tits, and how it's fer her own
good, and amt to be put OF ner avoided.
You can tell her she done frst-class,
summer term. WY you can tell her
Jest what you're airline to-" cried Kin
ney, magnanimous!y.
Their colleague rose. He was tall
and powerful young fellow, but there
was an odd laxity in h 8 movements now
rs he 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.
IL s'poSe you've found out that Jim
Thornton's about the bashfuest fcller in
town, h'ain't you2' he cueried.
There was 40 response.
"And you've prob'ly susp'cioned, same
as other folks. that he's kind O sweet
on the schoolma'am, cr would be if he
dsstl" pursued the storckeepcr.
The School Board was Silent.
"Wal," he concluded, with q grin,
half of disgust, half of admiration, you
couldn't a hired me to ben that mean
tot yeller dog-not to yeller dog"
Thornton made his way up tie road
through warm and lightly fall ny ca ly
snow that whitcned and softened and
beautifed it, dark as it was from the in
frequency of buildings and hubby with
the fro eu mud. He forgot to pull his
hat on till he met q man in wagon,
Who stared at him. His face and hair
were damp with melted flakes. lie went
slowly. almo,t creepingly, for there was
in his heart a terrible. sinking dread OF
what he must do. 1t was almost more
than he could master.
Where was she. Bissel's; he knew
she boarded at Bissels, and it was not
far; he could see its Ii ght through the
ssow-laden trees. The pain at his heart
WIS all but physical; lie WINGED, and
kept his hand on his nervous mouth
tbere was a mist in his e.es, and it
prew into tears. He was not surprised
nj them, nor ashamed of them; he wiped
them off mechanically with his rough,