St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1890-03-29
HOW IT ENDED.


With Monday morning came the big
boys-a whole dozen of them.
In they tramped all at once, their new
No. 9s scraping on the floor in manner
that only district school teacher can inn
agine.
They stood around the stove like sullen
watchers and eyed the teacher in most
disagreeable manner.
Most of the faces were noticeable fol
their coarseness, and the most prominent
feature of the crowd was personal neglect.
Sure enough, "Sam" and 'Jim" were
there, and it was not long before clouds
could be seen rising along the horizon of
their good natures, and Miss Bailey began
to fear the foretold dangers. To avert
an immediate collision she called school.
The forenoon passed off quietly, and
the teacher began to look for clear
weather, when the clouds thickened and
in fifteen minutes settled down into real
cyclone, and Sam and Jim had fight,
some of the other boys participating, with
the result of Sam being badly bruised and
Jim having flesh cut in the face.
Of course this reused the ire of their re
spective sires, and the next morning long
before nine o'clock their reverend heads
were bobbing about the school house, COL
lecting facts from every ready boy and girl
Miss Baily arrived in the heat of the
discussion.
simultaneously and with one voice each
old gentleman demanded that she click"
the others boy. And when she seemed
indisposed to comply with their requests,
they both asserted her Friday evening s
promise to stand by his boy.
In amazement and doubt she stood be-
tween two fires.
She would gladly have retreated, but
she had nowhere to 60. As the affair as
sumed SO gloomy an aspect, she decided to
summon the honorable directors.
So in they stalked next morning, Brown,
Jones and Bachelor Thompson. Their
discussion was long and loud.
b. The respective fathers concerned consti-
tuted judge and jury. Each with elo-
quence and vehemence asserted the fault
of his neighbours boy.
Brown and Jones advised that the
teacher click 'em both" but as the boys
objected, Thompson suggested suspending
them from school q few weeks, which
could not be ruled out and the boys were
informed of their dismissal and walked off
with their fathers.
After that all went on smoothly till
Christmas vacation.
DR.. Miller drove out for Rose. When
DR.. Miller went to that much extra trouble
there was something more to follow.
There are times when one must strike
daring blow or lose all forever, and Dr.
Miller felt that he had reached just such
q point.
He had long since, in his own mind, de-
termined to marry Rose Bailey, but he
feared the opposing enemy, Oren Tides.
That afternoon as he folded his muller
closely around his neck, and buttoned up
his heavy overcoat, and turned his back to
the fire for last warm, he said to him.
self:
CDR. Miller, it's now or never. You've
lived thirty years single and alone, if ever
you expect to have a home, it's time you
were making it. Rose Bailey's the girl
you want to help you, and if you don't ask
her to- day, you may never have the chance
again. You're right, DR.. Miller, you
always are and I'll take your medicine"
With lighter heart than he had felt
for many day, he seated himself in a
shackely rig and pulled his buffalo closely
about him.
The old gray mare started off at full
trot.
For the first four miles he felt like get
ting out and pulling the horse. He
whipped and checked till they came in
sight Of small school house mile up the
swamp.
Then his nerve began to fail him, and he
felt futtering in the region Of his heart.
He wondered If he had heart disease. and
then felt paralyzed and wasn't able to
think.
Presently the old gray mare brought
him up in front of the door.
He alighted and knocked, and stood
trembling while he waited half moment
for the door to be opened.
Her reception was only friendly, and as
he sat waiting. something in his breast
kept saying, "Don't."
When school was out, and full dozen
little mouths had been kissed, they climbed
into the buggy, and the old horse, home
ward bound, stretched every step its full
length.
Rose chatted away, pleasantly, but DR..
Miller said never word, and constantly
tapped the old horse with his whip as is
q mans custom when thinking of some
thing he cannot exactly say.
They came to lonely stretch of road,
the tall hills on either side covered with
snow. 1t was lonely in its own quietness
s.Now's the time, !" he said to himself,
but his voice was so husky, he was
ashamed Of it, and began to talk around
the point:
Sat what are you going to employ your.
self when school is out n he asked.
Maybe some one will pick me up" she
said not catching his meaning st first.
Perhaps you would like to be pro-
fessional nurse, he said, suggestivsly.
eyes, think should" she said.
1.-THE nursing, Rose, is more than half
the doctoring, and a doctor without
nurse is only half doctor /"
This frightened him dreadfully, to think
he had been so bold, and he could say no
more.
Rose caught his meaning here, and in
her soul she felt keen rebuke for her
willful deceit.
Late" is the wrong time to make right
but 1t is better than never. So she re-
solved to let him know that her heart and
hand were not her own. They drove up
In front of the house, and DR.. Miller prom
ised TO call next evening,
CHAPTER XIII.
THE LAST STRAINS.