The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-01
the school in squeedunk hollow suc-
ccedcd gloriousiy. The school was
large that winter, and Berta had
several pupils older and taller than her.

the school III Squeeuunk hollow sue
g~loriousiy. The school was
that winter, and Berta had
several pupils older and taller than her.
self.
Among them was one who troubled
her sorely sometimes. not by misbe-
havior. for he was a model for the
but she was strangely puzzled
sometimes at his questions, and. only
her quick wit saved her from disastrous
failure. rs, with the eyes of the school
upon her, Horace Gray would come to
her innocently with some difficult
problem or puzzling catch-question.
Many a night she sat up late, in her
working for hours ut some elu-
sivc problem, until she solved it;
triumphant next morning when she
saw the mischievous, brown eyes sober
into Il look of quiet surprise as he
looked at the plucky little teacher.
The days went on happily. There
were sociablcs, and donations, and
surprise parties innumerable. Squee-
dunk hollow had never before seen SO
lively Il winter. Berta was responsible
for all the mcrry-makings and good
times. She %ornanizcd a singing
school, and secured the services of a
teacher from the city, who came up
and held his class in the bright little
school-house. Tryphena and Tryphosa
Joined the class, and sent their quaver-
inr voices along the notes p%ersever-
iEglv, ii not very tunefully. Horace
Gray's fine tenor attracted the notice
of the professor. who praised it highly,
and took special pains with its cultiva-
ton.
Horace and Berta We're thrown much
together by means of their voices,
which blended finely. Often he would
remain after school and sing while
Berta sat at the little organ and ac-
c%ompanied him.
The winter term drew toward a close,
and rcgretlul words were heard on
every side. Every one was SORRY to
lose the little schoolma'am. She her.
self strangely dreaded to go. The
thought was hateful to her. Well, per-
haps the trustees would hire her again.
and she would come back-strange, she
thought. that she should have grown so
attached to such lonely country place.
The places: All, Berta!
One day Il dreadful thing happened.
Horace Gray, the tallest and oldest
Young man. whom all the other boys
looked mp to and veneratel. because of
his seniority and mustachc. behaved so
badly ali the afternoon that the teacher
wrote his name on the blackboard. as a
, mark of disgrace, and commanded him
to remain after school for punishment.
The other pupils looked ut her in
amuxclnrni. never doubling shat the
great fellow would promptly throw her
out OF the window il she attempted 10
punish him, but loving and admirin2
her all the more for the pretty, indiy.
nant flash in her blue eyes.
'%'ChiIdren," she said, Il have eve
used this fcrulc rs Il means of punish
nlnut, but | mean to try it Tonight"
An audible gasp broke from twenty
pairs of lips, and Horace Gray, with a
lot flush on his face, and his eyes down
cast, looked at the palm of his large
hand, with a queer, little smile lurking
about his mouth,
Tho school WAS dismissed. and the
amazed urchins dispersed to their
homes to tell the news:
''yeacher's going to whip Horace
Grav!"
The silence in the little school-house
grew oppressive. The clock licked
noisclessly on the wall. Berta felt as
though it were her heart beating there.
Her breath came fast as she touk her
irruic from her desk, Her voice
trembled.
Horace Gray, come hcre!n
The great, brOad-shouldered fellow
rose obedicntly and came down the
aisle, standing respectfully before thu
little tcnchcr,
"Hola oer your hand" she com
mandnh.
lie held it out at once-his strong
brown, right hand. Berta took it il
her own; then dropped it suddenly
Her face flushed crimson, and the tear
cane into her soft eyes.
Il can't strike YOU, Horace" sh
said, you are too big. but 1 am no
afraid of you. 1t would be shameful
to strike you. 1t would humilate M
as much rs YOU. What shall I do wit
you, you great, unruly fcllow?"
lie raised his eyes and looked at he
his whole heart in his eyes and on hi
lips:
Love mc," he said, land be N,
wife,"
Bcrta turned away and put the ferul
i, in her desk, locked it, aud then di
sundry other little things about tn
room before she noticed him. The
she came back to him, and locke
straight into his eyes from the platforl
on which she stood-with u strang
look in her eyes, a culver of her lips
a paling of her face-thcn she laughed
That is the greatest punishment
could inlet upon you, Horace!" sE
said,n and l will do it,
When they were walking homewar
. in the dusk, he said:
Il was bad purposely, Berta-
longed for you to punish me. / love
you so could not help wishing to L
kept after school. J. have alway
made you trouble, haven't |? l can
tell why, only that I could not bear
f be unnoticcd by you, and l wantc
you to think of me, even as a bottle
. and Il trouble to YOU"
=, Berta looked up at her tall pupil, he
eyes alight with loving mischief,
Its perfectly ridiculous. isn't i
liorace-my falling in love with one
my own bad boys, and Il Squeedunkt
at that! What will Aunt Marie say!!n
He did not com to school any mol
! that term. The children never foun
out exactly how he was punished. b,
supposed that, being too big to ferul
:. the little teacher had expelled him.
AT the grand concert which woun
=, up the singing-school Tryphena al
: Tryphosa nudged each other in IL
ribs, and nodded significantly whe
Herta and Horace stood up together
sing their duet.
Mus be they've made up" one vi
gin sister whispered to the other; '.ju:
! like Horace Gray to 90 and marry tn
, highty-tighty city girl!"
, Berta's wedding outfit was gimp
, and inexpensive. Those who knev
y said it could lot have cost more tina
|, $40, but she looked as winsomea brio
as ever the sun shone on when, in Jun,
she gave her life into the keeping
Horace Gray,
Berta knew how she paid for hi