The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-19
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quincy IOtCnSend, an Boston Courier.
NAN.
Bang
A snow ball whizzed through the air,
and away over the fence sailed the pro-
fessor's hat, battered and dishonored.
A ripple of girlish laughter floated up
from some one behind him, and looking
around angrily, the professor caught a
glimpse of pair dark, roguish eyes
peeping al him out of a pretty hood,
which did not hide the saucy face of the
maiden who had thrown the ball.
She watched the professor as he
climbed over the fence and regained his
disfigured tile, and tried, rather ruefully,
to smooth its battered sides; then she
scampered toward the schoolbouse.
Joel Sherwood had just emerged from
the University at W, with consider
able honor and the degree Of good opin-
ion most men of his age entertain for
themselves. He really was entitled to a
great deal OF credit for the courage and
steadfastness of purpose with which he
had toIled to make his way through the
tedious university course. He had done
it alone, and at the same time managed
to help his widowed mother in keeping
what had proved to be very gaunt and
persistent wolf from the door. But the
world, as is its custom, had been some
what slow in recognizing his genius; 80
that when the winter term of school at
Weston was offered to him, he was only
too glad to accept it, hoping that mean
time something better would come to
him.
He picked up his hat, with some sense
sense of disgrace, and strode on to the
schoolhouse.
1t was the eventful "first day." and 1t
must be confessed that Joel's heart for a
minute sank very low as he saw the
roguish face disappear through the door
Of the building which was TO be his cas-
tie for the next few months, He had a
dim forebodlng that trouble was in store
for him. But shortly his courage rallied
and with lips closed little more firmly
than usual, he stepped to his desk.
Nan, with many a girlish giggle, was
relating her adventure to circle of ad-
mirers.
1.-The idea of young fellow like him
bringing a tall hat down here. Myl how
mad he looked when the thing went over
the fence Well, it was rather mean
after ALL but I'll never see him again. /
don't know who he is. Some city chap
down to look at the natives"
Just then the door opened and the pro.
fessor walked in.
If Joel could have seen the glorious
crimson which swept Mans face, he
might have known how poorly priced
was her victory, But he was busy and
had almost forgotten the episode mo-
ment later.
1t was brought back again, however
when he chanced to glance at Nan
Once more the flood of crimson dyed heI
cheeks, but she buried he face in book
and waited until it had vanished.
That winter Joel Sherwood learned
many valuable lessons. 1t was a good
school for him. He knew more about
himself when the term was over than he
ever had before. He put away the silk
hat, and wondered why he ever should
have worn it down to Weston.
BY this time he did not feel himself sc
very much superior to the people there
as he had felt. They proved to be kind.
hearted and intelligent, and he liked
them better the more he knew them.
He had found Nan a disturbing ele-
ment in his little dominion. Not that
she meant to do anything wrong; but
she had too much mischief in her nature
not to be at the bottom of many a pro-
ject which brought the new teacher into
disrepute. She never pretended that
she had no hand in these plots. There
was no deceit in Nan. Whatever she
did was 80 frank that Joel's reproof was
tempered by strange feeling which
| 70 hn xyhi hinh
prompted Mans action-a feeling he
knew not how to analyze.
| Once, when she perpetrated some es-
pecially annoying trick on him, and he
had met her out of school hours on the
way home, her pretty smile and look of
respect had driven every spark of anger
from his heart and he broke out
"Oh, Nan Why will you"
But she had pulled her hand out of his,
and fled before the words were out OF his
mouth.
And Nan-she was the same thought
less girl, as far as Joel could see, as the
weeks sped quickly by and brought
them nearer the end of the term. She
led the boys and girls in every game.
She could outskate them; not boy
dared to challenge her to race on the
ice for fear of the defeat he knew would
await him. Her happy laugh rippled
everywhere. Not boy but would have
risked his life for her, Not a girl but
fled to her in time of trouble, for she
was ever to them a champion equal to
every emergency. To all she was SIM
ply Nan" - kind, loving, mirthful
MAN"
About the time Joel's school closed,
the river, which had been frozen all
winter, began to break up, and the ice
gave signs of going out. Here and there
great seams appeared, and a warning
roar sounded through the valley.
Some Of the older boys who had ex-
plored the stream higher up, very sage
ly predicted that there would be trouble
before night; but this brought to Joel's
mind little fear. He thought the stream
might rise, and carry away the ice, but
that would be all. He knew nothing
about the fearful gorges that sometimes
damned the river, and flooded the entire
country for miles around,
At noon the report came that a gorge
was forming short distance above the
school house. There never before had
been such pile of ice crowded into that
part of the river, and water was begin
ing to flow over the valley, A heavy
ra set in, falling for hours in torrents.
Still Joel had no idea what danger was
impending. This was his frat expert
ence with the river, and when some of
his pupils begged to go home, he thought
it best for them to wait until the storm
was less terrible or their parents came
for them. This latter thing happened
sooner than he thought likely, and some
of the sturdy yoeman came for their lit
tie ones quite while before the usual
time for their dismissal, and gravely ad-
vised Joel to close for the day, as they
feared trouble from the gorge up the
river.
At length, the young man, impressed
more by the anxious faces Of the child
rem than by any thought of real danger,
told them to go, and quietly proceeded
to help them get started for home.
Night was dropping down over the
valley. The storm king was abroad in
all his fury. The night gave promise of
being terrible one.
Joel's heart reproved him for not let
ting the children go sooner when he
opened the door and heard the sullen
roar which came from the gorge.
He listened sharply.
Yonder came a man on horseback,
riding rapidly.
What was the matter
The rush Of waters smote his ear. The
truth flashed oyer him.
The ice gorge had gwen way.
The young mans face grew pale as he
drew the children back into the house
and shut the door. He could not let
them 20 now. 1t was too late.
A few minutes more and wild cur.
rent Of water swept around the building, |
emitting off all hone of escspe on foot II |