The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-08
A FEMININE FENIAN.
"what! Another fenian.r

"What! Another feniany'
"Waal, I wouldn't go ex fur e. calm
her thet James Francis. OF course,
bein' Mcthody, or Baptis', either hard
er soft kinder sots 'spiclon ON her in
Otter erik, but u fenian" The worthy
postmistress shook her head in charita-
bic doubt. II wouldn't prefer SIGH u
ser'us charge. She's pleasant spoken
young critter an not tall rev'looshanry
lOolein'."
kelly wuz a fenian," asserted q vet
eran farmer, deity balancing demi-
john of molasses against the sundry
contents Of huge bandanna handkcr-
chief. Pears ez Of this deestrlc' Is jes'
runnin' riot after SIGH fircbrands."
Kelly was the late Incumbent Of Otter
Greek, discharged by the selectmcn on
three counts; age, subscription to ill.,
cendiary literature and Indifference to
arithmctical accuracy, us proved by
his favorltc formula, "If you come
within three tiggers of the answer
you're nigh enough"
"She hes smilin' eyes," irrclevantly
remarked IN imprudent youth sorting
out hand rakes in the corner.
''Ilit Already, Abe" sncered the vet
cram. ''Smilin' eyes he bowed! Fer
II sarviceable schoolmarm give me a
savage lookin' gal. Howdy s'posc this
un Ill rassle 18th the mill gang?"
II don't favor her persuasion" cam
diilly admitted the stalwart James
Francis, 'but for all that I'm for CIV
ing her a fair trial, even though she
does turn the boss head ON the wrong
road to meetin'."
""Taint the boss head alone ut ii
be turned the wrong way" scoffetl the
grumbler; "evcry durn young fool In
Otter erik is ready ter fOllcr suit.
Smilin' eyes, indeed! l don't b'lieve
she kin 1iggcr through fraxions. am
fust chance git I'm goin' ter stick her
on the contents Of them logs out'n the
school yard. don't b'lieve in winmin
teachers anyway; but ef the erik can't
hire Il master for $75 a term an board,
why then it Ortcr look out fer the
homeless lookin' female at could be
hired fer money. Enythin' ut all
mss'ble makes fair idjits Of you young
fcllcrs."
And grizzly "hefting" his burden the
veteran departed. followed by re-
spcctful "cantankcr'us, mttldlin' old
cuss!" from the enamorcd Abe.
Here she comes now, a-caperin'
down the Hill with them Tucker chill
drcn," remarked the postmistrcss, Il
pleasant smile lighting up her comely
face. ut do beat all how a great
gruwed gal, an a schoolma'am at tibet,
Fs,t.
eny Of her scholars"
Quite unconscious of the interest she
had excited, the young teacher came
blithcly down the hill, her own rapid
step still further quickcned by the I'M
patient urging Of her small charges,
the little sailor hat tilted forward over
IL face pretty only in its youthful
curves and happy, frank expression.
The p0stmistrcss was quite right in de-
Gliding that there was nothing revolu-
tiOnary In her appearance; Abe also
was also correct In his opinion of her
eyes, aud James Francis, viewing her
critically, became conscious Of an
alarming Indifference to the manifold
evils lurking in her persuasion. SO i'm.
pressed was he by the unfairness of
his original remark that, after invest
ing in chocolates for which he had no
earthly use. he requested the genial
Mrs. Forbes to observe silence on the
subject, favor readily granted aud
quite as cheerfully withdrawn under
the irresistible temptations Of a coy
tea. with the girl teacher rs her guest.
Teaching in the country Is the ordeal
through which nearly every tyro must
pass before being allowed to engage
in city service. Though not the ideal
pursuit painted by pen artists, it Is the
stepping-stone from which many an
ambitious worldling hopes to climb to
the heights Of fame. In her unObtru-
sive way Cecilia Desmond was nmbi-
tio,ls. She coveted a college course,
and INDUCED roseate dreams of a
future crowned with honors, won by
personal effort. As step III the right
direction. when the Otter Creek va
cancy offered she promptly packed her
simple wardrobe and said good-by to
the dear ones In her city home. 1t
was the first separation, and the ache
Of parting throbbing in six hearts OK
pressed itself in Il copious shower of
youthful tears. quickly dried, however,
In IL flush of fun as the strenuous
efforts Of the stage driver to lash tho
trunk to the tailboard resulted In tho
breaking Of the rope, sending him
sprawling In the roadway.
After months experience of the
new life the young teacher was be-
ginning to realize that fame asks much
Of It's votarics. The routine Of work
was wretchedly monotOnous, varied
only by occasional skirmishes among
the different sections Of the district.
The constituency of Otter Creek acad-
envy had many subtle subdivisions
based on family feuds or political and
religious variance. To unite SO many
elements in even seeming harmony,
and ut the same time impart sufficient
instruction to satisfy the rather en-
acting community, was task Of gigan-
tic proportions, and one which the
girl in her home letters frequently as
serted could be accomplished only by
the united efforts of statesman, q
professor aud n police officer. As COM
parison ia u relief or o torture free to
all. Cecilia fell into the habit Of con-
Trusting her fate with her surround
ings. and thus became fully conscious
that her lot was not Us flOwery as
were the meadows stretching along the
slope and TRANQUILITY monopolizing the
fertile interval.
From the meadows her thoughts re-
verified naturally to their owner, the
fair-minded young farmer who had
championed her cause even while cor
denning her belief. He was one of
natures noblemen, she admitted rather
grudgingly, and censured herself Sc
verely for allowing her thoughts to
dwell pleasurably on his masterful
manner and vigorous, manly beauty.
| At such times. to atone for her mental
vagarics she locked herself in her sui
| try chamber, and. forcing her intellect
to the contemplation of some abstruse
| problem, beguiled herself into the be-
lief that she was fairly revealing in an
intellectual Elysum.
Notwithstanding this severe, self-in.
| fiictcd discipline, youth at times ran
riot and urged Cecilia to the commits.
sion OF many acts not ut all compatible
with the dignity Of her position or her
lofty intellectual pretensions. The or
chards, berry patches and sweet SMELL
ing hay fields were responsible for
many Of her deviations from the col
lege course, but that the handsome
James Francis was also an active
| agent was Fairly well known even BIZ.
fore the veteran farmer made his next
visit to the postofiice. and volunteered
tho information, "James Francis an
the fenian air gettin' kinder soc'ble;
he's mowin' the long medder an she's
drivin' the machine. So sot on each
other at they couldn't see me goin
by"