The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-08-21
JUST FOR ROMANCE.
{ A LITTLE STORY.

A LITTLE STORY.
written by one Of our subscribers for
The Representative
s1've got it! I've got it," and Wess
Parker danced about the room, waving
the letter he had just read triumphantly
above his head.
"Got what? Got struck by the tail end
Of a cyclone?" demanded Frank Roland
Nov, Frank, that's too bad" reproved
Wess, coming to an abrupt and breathless
standstill. AREN'T you going to congrat-
ulate fellow?"
What the dickens shall I congratulate
you for?"
"Why, the Brookdale school, explain
ed Wess. Read this and he thrust the
letter, little the worse for it's recent
travels, into Franks hand.
Mr.. Wesley Parker: .
Dear Sir-Your qualifications meettwith
the approval of the board, and if you are
satisfied with $50 per month allowing
81. so per week for board, you may con-
slider yourself employed Respectfully,
G. G. MERWIN,
School Clerk, Brookdale.
There" exclaimed Wess triumphantly,
when his friend had finished the perusal,
'fwho says I'm not in luck?"
''Well,'' returned Frank dryly, IT hope
the luck will last"
Last" echoed Wess, nettled at this re-
ception of his good fortune; what do
you mean, Frank Roland?"
II mean that it's altogether unneces-
sary, this project of yours. A fellow of
your means needn't teach school,
"A fellow of my means can afford to
do unnecessary things" retorted Wess
holly
Seeing Frank vouchsafed no reply, he
continued cajolingly: Besides, it's so ro-
mantle, don't you see, old fellow? My
being rich and doing it Just for pleas
ure."
Perhaps you will tire of the romance
when you come to the reality" retorted
Frank as dry as ever.
1t was three weeks later that Mr. Yves
ley Parker, in his own opinion, looking
very much like pedagogue, in tall silk
hat and gold-rimmed glasses arrived at
Brookdale and began teaching Frank
had been forced to reconcile himself to
''that project of his" having followed him
to the station and hidden him farewell
with the paternal remark, Every well,
my son, see no harm in it, and certainly
wish you the best of successes"
Brookdale was small town, with MOTH
ing in the least aristocratic about it, but
rural and picturesque, and very refresh
ing, Wess thought, after the brisk and
busy city.
He boarded at the school clerks, whom
he found to be jovial old gentleman,
though it did not take him long to dis
cover that the latter's daughter, Miss
Charlotte, was the evil spirit of his school.
For piece of paper found pinned to his
coat tail, little boy was kept in at re-
cess, though ,Wess had good reason to sus-
pect that Charlotte had instigated him to
the prank. On another occasion, a tur-
keys feather ornamented his cherished
silk hat, concerning which deed, all the
school was blank, but for a ha,f-suppres-
sed twinkle in Charlotte's downcast eyes.
Still Wess always went home smiling,
success, and to Mr.. Merwin's invariable
wrote Frank glowing accounts of his
question If his daughter had been good
girl, replied in the affirmative
However, one day, when the little ones
had been unusually incorrigible, he gath
cred courage to demonstrate with her.
You must be careful" he said sternly,
"the board will complain of my manage
ment, which am sure would be better if
you did not Interfere
Charlotte did not attempt to contradict
his last statement, only answered with
mock penitence, I'm sorry, try to be
good, but, as Topsy says, rs so wicked 2
But you will break up the school if
you behave so' demonstrated Wess.
His words seemed to take effect, and for
week Charlotte was a model OF be-
havior, and the little folks grew so angelic
that Wess was beginning to exult that
he had at last come off conqueror Alas
for his hopes! In an unguarded moment
Charlotte's mischievous spirit again got
the better OF her. Wess approached her,
one Friday evening after school had been
dismissed, looking very pale and firm.
You have defeated me, Miss Merwin, .
he said sadly, lone month remains of
school, but l shall go home tomorrow"
He paused and waited for her reply,
but she gave none. She stood silent,
twirling the hat she had been about to
put on. Neither did Wess speak, until
suddenly two tears rolled down the pink
cheeks and fell on the desk before her.
moved by an Impulse which he could not
master, Wess stepped forward and folded
her in his arms
What is the matter. Charlotte?" he
asked tenderly, "tell me, please
Charlotte did not attempt to free her
self, but laid her head on his bosom, sob
bling penitenrly, Il didn't mean to-for-
give me- O, didn't mean to-
And then-but why need we spin out
the story? Suffice it to say that Wess
taught another month at Brookdale, and
when he returned to the city, he brought
with him one, whom the world was soon
to know as Mrs Wesley Parker Frank
is still bachelor, but he often visits his
friends home, and have heard him say
he believes it pays to teach school.