St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1894-02-24
No. Six 5 SiyIgl'.
BERNARD BlGSBY,
"Loyal at Last" 'tThc Colonel
Of the Fourth" AMI Other
Excellent Novels.
: AUTHOR OF

ner-l HOTEiDlc nag ASAAekAS VA~A SaA-s
turbed her thoughts for years, when
the days of her bondage would other
wise have been forgotten.
Squire Robson escorted her TO the
scene OF her labcrs, a rude little cabin.
standing in the middle OF a square,
arid play ground fully mile from
the village. With his own official
hand he rang the bell TO summon the
scholars, who having shufled into their
seats were treated to an eloquent dis
course, which Mr.. Robson had origin
atcd as a Fourth of July orntion, and
which contained many graceful illusions
TO the 'sStar-bi-spangled Banyer."
Then, having discharged all his
oratorical fireworks, he left the pretty
teacher to her fate.
Could she ever forget the horrors Of
that unhappy day? How she fell into
confusion worse confounded; how there
were thirty-six pupils and thirty-seven
classes; how no two children possessed
the same text book; ;kow this ones NAV"
didn't take mo account o grammar,
and that ones ''paw" said he ''warnt
TO be learned .nawthin but 'rithmctic;"
how, when the shyness Of the red
checked, brown-legged urchins wore
away, and the hot sun made them cross
and stupid, they began to quarrel and
fight; and finally how-pandcmonium
broke loose. How she vainly tried to
still the storm, and at last bent TO its
fury in pitiful flood of tears. helpless
and crushed by her miserable failure;
how that big, rude boy. Jim Slocum, of
whom she had been in honest terror
from the first moment she set eyes on
him. suddenly and gloriously came to
her rescue by seizing two OF the worst
malefactors and humping their heads
together till they roared for mercy, and
vowed that he would ''slsin the hide off
the first fcller as troubled teacher. :"
How deliciously quiet was the calm
which followed this sanguinary
announcement; and, how, when the
rest were gone, she kissed the lads
bronzed cheek in fearful gratitude and
bound him to perpetual servitude.
But Wanda's trials wore not ended
with the close Of her school duties. The
climax of that days miseries were
only attained when she reached her
lodgings and found the Dolmans In
fussy preparations for company.
"A surprise party, teacher! All the
tip-tops Of the place coming to call
upon you," Miss Martha announced in
kindly glec.
s'Oh," said Wanda, with little gasp.
Must | really be present? | am SO
tired, L"
''rhe idee! Not be present, indeed!
Why, tlcre'll be the pastor an his
family, the Skinncrs, the La Forges,
Josh Black, the gentleman rs peddles
the milk, the Reidenbrocks, and HUI
dah's fcller-likcly as you could disap-
pint 'em."
"Huldah's fellow?" Wanda quaried.
amused in spite of horself
ayes, Huldah's feller, Jabez Short, :"
Martha Dolman snapped, $50 don't be
thinlzin' o settin' your cap at him. tor
he's bespoke"
"Pshaw, Martha" Huldah interposed,
cheerfully, teacher, has no cause "a
borrow sweethearts, for there's q line,
rich young gent coming all the way
from Glastonbury on purpose to keep
her company. Jabez Short, indeed
She's city bred and flies st higher game
than our rough lads"
Coming to see met" Wanda futteredj
"who can it be?"
..she means Alphonse Damiens =
what, do you pretend to say you donf
| nvan knoyy him nv sighT,-the biggest
catch in this county" Martha explained
"And you're quite welcome to HIM
Miss Arlington" Huldah added. "For
notwithstanding his handsome face ane
fine fortune, I'm glad it is you, not me
he's took fancy to-"
Wanda's cheek tingled with indigna
ton, but she was girl with much com
mon sense, 80 she passed without {
word to her room, little thinking, pool
girl, of the stormy clouds gathering
around her.