The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-08

SAooA up llc WIS commanded
Alice could have kissed her youn.
champion for very gratitude. but she
mustered all the dignity she could
command, and said:
"Mr. Turner, cannot allow you to
Interfere with the management OF my
school; take your seat"
The youth obeyed without a word,
but kept his eye OH Nose. as if watch.
ing any delinquency. Alter this little
episod the exercises proceeded with.
out interruption till noon.
Alice had no appetite for dinner.
She leaned her throbbiny head upon
the desk and wondered wcarily how
long she could endure this.
She was aroused by one OF the little
girls running up to lirr, exclaimins:
"Teacher, teacher, the big boys are
fight ng!" She followed the child, ex.
claiming: ooh, why, did ever come
into such a den OF wild beasts?' At
the rear OF the school house stood
.Ilm Iurnerengagra ma hand-to.hand
combat with Nose Bradley and his
two brothers, both OF whom were
grown. As Alice stepped around the
corner Jim sent Moee rcclins t., the
eartha and then turned like a lion upon
his two remaining assailants. They
rushed at him from two sides. but
JIM was as active as a panther, and
Bill Bradley fell as il shot, from q
left-hanled blow, and his brother
Tom followed him in an instant. BY
this time Nose had secured u ball bat
and rushed upon Jim, but the latter
evadrd the llow. and wrcnched the
bat from his hand knocked Nose
headlong with u blow OF his fist.
AS the discounted trio arose Jim
laughed lightly and asked them chow
they liked it as far us they had got,"
picked up the bat he had taken from
Nose and called out, "come on bows,
let's have Il game OF BALL
The combat ended so quickly that
Alice had no chance to interfere. but
she felt that it would not do to let
this open violation OF school rules
pass mpunisllcd, so she rang the bell.
When the pupils We're assembled she
asked what the fight WIS about and
who began it. The Bradleys stood
sullen and silent, but Jim answered,
would rather not tell what it was
about. but began it by knocking
Nose Bradley down" Alice knew the
i.hl was the result OF Jim's espousal
oi her cause i'll the reading class, and
her Voice ialtere'l us she said: ''rhen
shall have to punish you; hold OUT
your hand"
Jim obcycd her instantly. She took
up the ruler with u trembling hand,
and began the punishment. Jim's
face never changed II muscle. The
look upon it was one OF quiet obe-
dience, in which there was no trace OF
BRAY ado or sulenness. As Alice in.
ilirted the blows upon the hand so
quietly held out to her, the thought |
rushed upon her mind that she was
shifting the only hand that had been
raised to b.fricnd her in that lawless
region.
Her face grew pale, the blows fell |
ialtcrin", the tears began to run down |
her cheeks, the ruler iel from her
hand, she sank into her seat, buried |
her face i'll her hands, and burst into |
u storm OF sobs.
Then Jim's coiintenance changed. |
His lip qnvrrctl. lie dashed his hand |
across his eyes to clear them OF un-
natural dimness, and the great lump
i'll his throat seemed to choke him
bark. a chuckle from Nose Bradley
recalled his self possession. however,
and he took u step or two toward the
latter with eyes that fairly blazed
with Indignation.
Nose rapidly retreated step or
two. and his chuckIc tiled an untimely
death, aud for II minute or two silence
lriyncd over he srlloolroom. At last
Alice raised her head and in n broken
voice dismissed her pupils TO the play
ground.
As the children passed out she heard
some say. $50 you got u whipping
after all, Jim" and Jim replied, "les,
and got enough to pass some of it
around ii anybody is anxious about
it."
At one O'Clock Aliceranu the bell with
II feeling of utter despair; but no
school ever moved moro smoothly
than did her school that aiteroon,
Quiet, obedience, study. good lessons
and icspe"ttn! attention We're univers.
al. But Alice had determined to quit
the school; she felt us if she would
rather he the poorest washerwoman
than he badgered, bullicd and tortured
for months at n time 10y set OF bru.
tnl rlillans, whose parents employed
her for the sole purpose OF enduring
this martyrdom.
So when Alice locked the school
house door that evening it was with "a
mingled feeling OF relief and humilia-
ton hat she started to offer her res
l.raton to the directors. AS she left
the school house she saw Jim Turner
IL few yards ahead OF her walking rap
Idly toward home. She called his
namc and he stopped and respectfully
waited until she had overtaken him.
"Mr. Turner" she said, 81 am going
away in the morning and wish to
thank you for your brave defense OF
me Il. school to-day. and to ask your
forgiveness Tor the punishment so
uniu-,ly inflicted on YOU" and in her
tnrmr-tness Alice held out her little
trembling hand and Jim instantly
grasi.d it.
"lhave nothinsto forgive" said he;
"you could not do otherwise nor
neither could /; nut you are surely
not intending to quit the school?"
"ics," answered Alice, 81 would
rather die than pass through three
months oi such scenes as l have TO.
dav2"
But you will have no more trouble; {
there is no one in the school that
would be at all likely to give you ,
trouble except the Bradley boys, and
rs long as am there will answer for
their good behavior"
At last Jim's eloquence prevailed.
and Alice finally consented to teach
week longer. and ut the end of that
ifNe she ,ipriiipti IN Stuv snr pavor
did Il school move along more smooth.
ly. At her request Jim was allowed
to ramain dnrin" the term; as soon
rs it closed he went to college.
Alice taught the Bear Greek school
successfully Tor three years, but in the
end tncie Zekcs prediction was veri. ,
fed, ior Jim Turner came back and
broke up he school. {
He married the teacher.