The Delta independent., 1890-02-04
HIS NOTIFICATION.
How Thornton Executed His Com,
mission.

mission.
"She'n have to go; amt no way out o.
that She'll have to skip" SAID Dave Kin
ney. He squinted IN a cross-eyed manner ut
tho cracker-crumb on his tawny, scraggy
beard, and transferred it carefully to his
mouth. There was o wedge Of cheese on
his left knee. When tue Fence Corners
School Board-originaily Fenaetts Cor
ners, but thus aptiy abbreviated-held q
meeting, it was, by general agreement, in
old Hangs grocery, where crackers and
oheese, and maybap herring, might re-
fieve its tedium. But tonight there was an
alleviating interest
'.About the size of it." SAID S,las Saun-
ders. BE preferred tobacco. and rolled q
quid under his tongue. This amt no place
fer her here. Why, wouldn't answer for
the consequences IL she staid; there amt
no tellin' what might happen, ner what
devlitry them boys mioht be up TO- Look
at Corny Rourke, six foot two or three II
he's an inch, and chuck full, chuck full,
chuck fun! Hes always be'n the ono to
put the teachers out, and there amt no
doubt but what it's his idec this tine Bar
ricadin' the school-house right out bold
hrst day o. school; now, who but Corpy'd
a thought o. tAatf"
There was something Of contemplative
Adniiration in his tone.
"Goin' TO be done, whoever's doin' It,"
said Kinney, exploring his cracker-haR
''0oin' TO git In At eight o'clock tomorrow
mornin' an shut up the door aud fasten the
windows, and any teacher that gits in u
have TO git In through the key-hele or
crack; what they said"
He bad told it before; He had called the
meeting for the purpose OF telling 1t, But
80 tvnto \
There was an Impressive silcnce.
ssWall, we'll have to give her notice.
You're jest the one to do it. Thornton-ehi"
Saunders observed to the third member
Of tho board. He WAS himself uneasy
'She got along fustrate, summer term" he
added He appeared TO feel . vague and
wholly impotent regret '.Needs tbs money,
should jedge"
"Ahe need't "a made NO calculations to
teach NO winter term heTs-not TO Fence
Corners" Kinney responded, with some
contempt "If there h'ain't be'n = winter
fer i've years but what there's ben q rum
pus, and gener'ly school shut up, wy, she
needn't "a looked fer there gofn' 70 bc."
1t was unanswerable, but the store keeper
entered . weak suggestion over his motley
counter.
II should think that gang ought 70 be
broke up" he said
Ee expected NO rejoinder, and got none.
Tbs School Boards attention centered upon
NO such whimsioal irrelevancy.
"Rechon you're the one TO notify her,
Thornton" !" said Saunders, again.
He wriggled unquietly on his stool.
Thoraton sat inotionless. Whether in fact
or by trick Of the ill-burIing lamp on the
counter, his good-looking face with its heavy,
light moustache, appeared pale. He sat
With his arms crossed on his knees aud his
eyes on the floor, silent
"Jest So," said Kinney, with an ar Of Inn
partial decision. "You can git It OF better
N Saunders or me. Thornton. You're .
better lookin' man, anyhow, and you're bet
ter rigged up" he concluded, with polite
Amiableness.
They made an attempt u careless dis
missal Of the subject Kinney got up and
threw his cheese rind In the stove. Thorn
ton passed bis hand over his mouth and
swallowed hard.
"You can jest put It easy" said Kinney,
encoursginRly. "You can tell her Jest how
tits, and how ITS fer her own good, and
amt to be put OF ner avoided. You can
tell her she done hrst-elass, summer term.
WY You can tell her Jest what you're O.
mine TO-" cried Kinney, msgnanimously.
Their colleague arose. He was tall and
powerful young fellow, but there was an
odd laztty In his movements now a. he went
toward the door. He held his hat-brim To
his Lips, too. and turned hts face away from
tho Light. Hanks stared after him till the
door closed.
~ a'spoae you've found out that Jim
Thornton's about the bashfulest feller in
town, amt you" he qucried
There was no respnnse.
"And you've proh'ly suspicioned, Same a.
other folks, that he's kind o. sweet on the
school-ma'am, er would be II be dsstp pur.
sued the store-keeper,
Tho School Board was silent.
"Wal," he concluded, with grin, half Of
disgust, half Of admiration, "you couldn't
- hired me to ben that mean 10 . ycller
dog-not to yeiler dogl"
y \
Thornton made his way up the road
through warm and lightly falling early
snow that whitoned and softened and beau.
ned 1t, dark Is 1t was from the infrequency
Of buildings and hubby with the frozen
mud, he forgot to put his hat on till he met
man in wagon, who stared At him. His
face and hair were damp with melted fakes
He went slowly, almost creepingly, for
there was in his heart . terrible, sinking
dread Of what hc must do. 1t waa almost
more than he could master.
Where was shell Bissel's; he knew she
boarded At BissePs and IL was not far: he
could see IT. light through the snow Isden
sresa. The pain at bis heart was all but
physical; hc wiuced, and kept his hand on
his nervous mouth; there was mi~t in hM
eyes, and 1t grew into tears. He was not
surprised At them, nor ashxmed Of them; he
wiped them Oh mechanically with his rough,
strong hand. He did not know whether
they were from pity Of hsr.or Of himself;
be know nat which WAS tho stronger with
~ htmi he was not clearly conscious Of
either. but Of dull unhapPiness such - hs
bad never known.
He looked down at his clothes with faint
shame; they were mot his best ones. He
had ready-made suit At home, but these
his mother had made. He wished they
looked better Tho light in Bisssl's window