Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-03-21
4 LITTLE WHITE ARM

About twenty years ago I was the
Eacher in the village school of Marsh
rook. 1t was a lonely place, but it
ust suited my desolate heart, for the
nan who had promised to marry me
,ad basely Tilted me, and married an
,ther.
Marshbrook was named after the
brook there that runs through marshy
and and is soaked UP in it some sea-
IONS Of the year. The spring when I
vent there it was quite high and the
land all round it was golden with cow
slips. Doctor Emmons, who had Sc
cured the place for me, didn't say a
word about the school, until he set me
down at the house where was going
to board. Then he said looked as if
[ had no nonsense about me, and he
aad an idea / should get along well
md like the school. Then he add d.,
almost as if he hated to, that m ght
lust as well make up my mind not to
uay much after school at night time,
nd not to keep the scholars The
school, he earnestly declared, was in
'ather lonesome place, and then, too,
was rather damp there, near the
,rook, after the dew fell, and he did
OF think it was very healthy.
I said, every well.'
L began school next morning and
managed well enough. The school was
quite a large one, with about forty
PUPILS in it, and none Of them very
Id. They behavey we'll, however, and
taught them as well as knew how.
I did not stay late for the first two
weeks. not because 1 was afraid Of
,nything, for wasn't; but there was
20 occasion to. I didn't mind what
Doctor Emmons had said at all, as far
as [ was concerned, but thought 1t
would be wiser not to keep the chill
lren beyond the regular hours.
I went to church the next Sunday
ifter my move to Marshbrook. I sup
pose some folks thought 1 would get
somebody to drive me home, as it was
only six miles, but l felt as If would
'atner see some new faces.
I had pleasant home, just Mr..
eimonds and his wife, and she was as
peat as wax, and a good cook. She
was reserved. and did not talk much,
md. as didn't feel much like talking,
liked her. She used to have supper
arly, about as soon as got home
rom school, and then used to go up
tairs to my room and sit by myself.
drs. Simonds was not Of a soc:able
disposition, but after I came, folks
cooked in more I could hear them
alking down stairs; expected they
wanted to find out how was getting
long at the village school.
Once Mrs. Simonds said if she was in
ny place she would not stay after
chool. I said I hadn't any occasion
stay, and I hadn't. I didn't really
AVE any occasion the night I did stay,
,ut felt rather downcast, and didn't
want any supper, and just sat there
on the platform behind my desk after
the children had marched out Of the
Dom.
I don't know how long I sat there
quite long time, suppose. for it be-
gan to grow dusk. The frogs croaked
Us if they were in the room, and a
lamp wind blew through the window.
Suddenly, as I sat there, had 4
Queer feeling, as if there was some
Sody in the room. and looked up. I
saw down the middle of the room lit
Ne white arm raised in the dusk. 1t
| was the way the children raised their
1rms when they wanted to ask any
hing, and I thought for Il second that
one had staid or come back, unbe-
Known to me, and was raising an arm.
Of course, that was queer, but it was
sle only reason 1 could think Of, and
t flashed through my head.
What is it:' said I. and then
card a little girls voice pipe up:
please, teacher, find my doll for
ne, and hear my next lesson in the
| srimer."
"What?" said I, for it seemed to me
& could not have heard rightly. And
then the voice said it over again, and
that little white arm crooked out of the
gloom.
/ g1t up and went down the aisles be-
tween the desks. and when l came
close enough l saw little girl in Il
queer, straight, white dress, like Il
night-dress, sitting there. Her little
face was so white in the gloom that it
made my flesh creep. and her features
We're set: even her mouth did not move
when she spoke. 1t was open II little,
and the words Just seemed to flow out
between her lips.
"Please. teacher, find my doll for
ne and hear me say my next lesson In
he primer" she said again.
l put m" hand Oh her shoulder, and
Nlen ] Ded back and snntchcd 1t
away, for never felt anything SO cold
d her shoulder WAS II seemed as if