Wichita eagle., 1889-05-18


HE hadn't no business to sass the school
ma'am," said Mrs. Bugh, who was bustlinl
around to get out the best china for tea
"She sarved him right when she shet hin
up in the pantry where the states and tn,
big dictionary was KEEP. And he won't d.
it again; if he does, he'll get good latherin
to hum, that can tell himr'
John, who was roasting red apples il
the hot ashes, chuckled. He knew well
from long experience, that his step-moth
er's bark was many degrees worse than bel
bite.
''Me and the schoolma' am are good friend.
now," said he. 81 axed pardon afore all the
boys, and she promised to lend me Master
man Ready to read arter I'm done my sum:
at night. And, Gil, she knows geometry
and them things like book. And she say.
she'll show you without your goin' to schoo
and settin' among the boys that is little,
than you be-"
Once more Gilbert colored, but Miss Roo
knitted quietly on.
81 shall be glad 10 be OF use," said she.
81 wonder where you learned ell this p
remarked the young man, awkwardly.
~ am q graduate Of Tassel College, il
Rhode Island" said Miss Root. "They lay
Gilbert sat down, staring modify at the
fire. Here was he, strong, muscular giant
six feet high, and broad shouldered to cor
respond-there she sat round, rosy anc
dimpled, a nero dot Of woman, yet how
Isuch more she knew than he dbl
"She must despise me-" he thought, un
easily tugging at his rich brown mustache
''She can't help it! Such dumb-head as
Vat
soft-spoken she is"
Poor Gilbertl He was very wretched that
night, because Miss Root knew geometry
and he did not.
Yet what vague happiness it was to be
under the same roof with her!
If Gilbert had only known it, he was fab.
ing in love with Emma Root.
The schoolma' am stayed two weeks at the
Bligh farm, because the Widow Dunn's
lager" stubbornly held on, and toward the
end of her sojourn there came out one OF
those terrific transforms that sometimes
sweep the Western slopes.
II am going to hitch up old Sorrel and go
after Miss Root" said Gilbert, at noon.
''The red bridge foundations are pretty
nigh washed away, and I'll have to bring
her around by Piny Point"
Il low it's a good idear," said Mrs.
Bligh, scratching her head with knitting
needle. I'm glad you thought ont it,"
But either he had miscalculated old Sor-
rers rate of speed over the muddy roads, or
else the family clock was wrong; for when
he reached the red sohool-house il was
closed and locked and Miss Root was gone.
He drove at railroad rate to overtake her,
but just on the edge Of the river he saw
that he was too late.
The flinsy timbers of the bridge had given
way beneath her weight, and she was
struggling in the black watersl
''Gilbert-oh, Gllbert-save mel"
Through the rush of the swollen stream,
the roaring of the wind, her frenzied cry
reached his ears.
He flung off his heavy boots, his clinging
coat and jumped into the river And as he
did so an ode fancy eddied across his brain.
Geometry was If 20 use here. Mathe-
mates could be Of no avail. It was mans
strength, an experts skill, hero's heart
that counted now. Yes, he was her equal
more than her equal-at last!
us she deada Emma! For Heavens
sake, speakP'
"Deadli grumbled old Abraham Gaylor
''Ne more'n you be. Look at the color
comm back into her lips. But l say,
though, it was q narrow squeeze of it, one
time. That currents powerful strong, and
the bridge timbers was sweeping down on
We like g thousand o. brick. It's good
thing We knowed how to swim like an otter,
Gil Bligh. Yes, you're safe at home!
brung We both back wrapped in all the
blankets my ole woman had. That's your
own freight you're starin at"
"After all, it was only drenching, a
fright and chilli" said Gilbert that dusk,
as they sat by the fire, when Mrs. Bligh had
gone out to feed the late brood Of chickens,
and Johnny was in the shed trying to build
a ship that should be like the one described
in Master man Ready's" fascinating pages.
Emma shuddered.
Il have been rescued from the veryverge
of the grave" said she, land by you, Gil
bert. Gilbertr' looking wistfully up into
his face.
"Weu?"
"Wil-will you teach me to swim? You
are so strong, so noble, and am so weak
and ignorant Oh, Gilbert, after this you
will be my prince among menu
Emma, my love, my darlingr'
That was how it happened. There was no
formal proposal nor acceptance-only these
words-only lovers kiss, shy girls joy
full nesting TO the side of him whom she had
regarded as her hearts master; and so they
were engaged.
The people of Red Hollow expressed
themselves differently on the subject.
Gilbert Bhgh hasn't no book-larnin',"
said Squire Peters, land this young woman's
a eradicate of Tassel College. Don't see
how she came to fancy him."
THAT don't signify" said Widow Dunn.
Hes mortal smart, aud owns good patch
o. land right on the farmin' flats; bus only
hope they'll i've happy together. II was
man, l wouldn't dare TO marry gal that
had put me outer the school-'us. She must
hev temper"
But neither Gilbert nor Emma had any
misgivings-and, after all, they were the
chef persons concerued.-Saturday Night.
OIPHTHE RtA