The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-03
Selected Storm.
The New Teacher.

pleadingly, and looked up half implor-
ingly into the eyes of the rough,
bronzed, backwoodsman by whose side
she was sitting. No one would ever
know how her heart yearned for mega
tive answer. Least of all did Silas
Hardy understand this.
Wall" he said with gruff kindness,
Eye may, and again we mayn't. This
ere schools got hard name, as We
know, and there's hard crowd goes to
it, as We kin guess. But, bless yer
pretty face, thar amt one o. 'em, as 'ud
lay hand on a woman; specially on
sech an onerly little miss as you; that
is, not one o. 'em, onless it's that 'air
Sam; he's case fer sure"
And you think, then, he will cause
me treublep
Shouldn't wonder"
And the others?"
oval, t. others amt bad sort
most o. 'em. But there re one or two
o. the big boys that's likely ter follow in
Sans lead My son Toms one o. 'em.
"And won't Sans father interfere?"
"Haw, haw," roared Mr.. Hardy, evil
IDENTIFY much amused, Why, faint no
use tackling Sam. l reckon more straps
hev been worn out on that 'air boy, N
'ud 90 TO make first class double-team
harness. It's no use. He's vicious an
good fer nothin'. wish he war well out
20 the county; Toms a'gettin' more
like him each day. l think I'll hev ter
warm Toms hide afore long; the lickin'
won't come amiss, nohow, We see."
eyes, see," answered the girl, but
her heart sank.
This girls name was Lena Melville.
She had come all alone up to this rough
lumber region to take charge of the
school at Rocky Gorge-a school with
so unsavory a reputation that not
man could be found who would venture
to teach it. But perhaps there were
few men who were so deeply in need
of little money as Lena. An invalid
father and a sick mother, with long
DOCTORS bill to boot, had helped her de-
cision very greatly.
Lena had thought she had pluck
sufficient to keep up her spirits; but all
during the long journey they had sunk
lower and lower, till at length, when
she got off the train at the lonely sta
ton, she had so little left that she
could hardly keep the tears from her
eyes. Silas Hardy was waiting for her
with his heavy, numbering wagon,
drawn by span of sturdy oxen; he
greeted her heartily, even kindly.
During the tedious siX-mile ride to
Rocky Gorge, he was very attentive and
loquacious; he explained the mystery
of the wood-cutter's art, pointed out all
the landmarks of interest, and when
they passed over the low bridge, which
stretched across the Saginaw river
this name is used tictitiously-he went
on to explain how the giant trees were
felled and chopped into logs and
1oated down on the swiftly-running
stream to great cities far below. Re-
cent rains had so swelled the river that
the torrent of water, in its wild rush
swept but few feet beneath the
bridge.
AT another time Mr.. Hardy's dis
course might have interested Lena
greatly, but now, with her mind harr-
assed by vague forebodings, it was all
she could do to present an appearance
of attention. And oh, how thankful
she was when the wagon at last drew
up before the door of Mr.. Hardv's
home; it was here she was to board
during her stay at Rocky Gorge. She
almost wept when Mrs. Hardy, pleas
ant-faced, motherly, old lady, met her
on the threshold and gave her hearty
kiss of welcome. Mrs. Hardy did not
dress as a Quaker; but she evidently
belonged to that sect, for she spoke
after their quaint manner.
"Thee must be tired, dear" she
said, "and hungry. Thee shall go to
thy room right away, and if thee wishes,
thee can have dinner there tonight"
"Good for you, WIFE" cried Silas,
heartily, "The gal is kinder pekered
out; / reckon she won't mind restin'."
As for Lena, she was very grateful,
and could not thank her kind hostess
too often. And she was shown up to
her little attic room, and once there she
went straight down upon her knees to
ask him, who is ever willing to uphold
the weak and suffering, for strength and
courage to endure that which she felt
must come, yet dreaded so deeply.
When she arose to her feet she was
comforted She decided it would be
better to make a beginning at once, so
went downstairs to dinner.
Much to Lena's relief, Tom was not
present at the first part of the meal; but
he dumped heavily in, as the inds-
pensable pie was being cut, and sat
down in his place, cycling Lena fur
lively. He was a great, hulking, rude
beast of fellow, with an unintelligent,
though not mean face, and little bits
of twinkling eyes which gave him the
extraordinary appearance of China
man and white man mixed. "Tom,"
said Silas Hardy, this is Miss Melville,
the new teacher"
Tom made no motion that he heard
or saw, other than applying himself
more assiduously than ever to his bread
and butter.
Tom," roared Mr.. Hardy in an awful
voice, whar's yer manners?"
Amt got none," responded the
young hopeful; and Lena was certainly
willing to acquiesce in this.
During the progress of the meal
Toms curiosity got the better of his
surliness, and he cast several glances
from the corner of his eyes in Lena's
direction: the girl, UNDERSTANDING from