The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-09-20

"You are requested to be present At a meet.
Sng OF the board of education to be held in the
First ward school this evening at sever
O'CLOCK PErTIGREw WIxoN,
Moderator -
A weak-eyed young woman, daugh-
ter OF Wizon'S foreman, handed the
young schoolmaster this misSive as
soon as the days session was begun.
This girl, Susan Green. was one of
Grey's oldest scholars, and certainly
his most troublesome one. 1.-THE early
advent of the handsome teacher. she
had done her poor best to attract his
admiration, and, having failed. had
imbibed dislike to him that amounted
to rabid hatred.
Grey read Wixon's letter and asked.
quietly: Ibid the captain desire an an
swer?'
''No, he didn't
The schoolmaSter did not condescend
90 notice the insolence of the girls
tone, though the other pupils looked
at each other in mute surprise.
We'll" he said, you can tell him
at dinner time that W / be there"
You can carry your own messages"
the girl said in loud aggressive accents
Theyoung schOolmaster gave glance
of panied surprise and ordered her to
leave the room, which She did with as
much noise as it was possible for her to
make.
when the drcary mornings work was
over, Grey sat brooding upon this un-
accountable trouble, which. to man of
his sensitive nature, was more than
mere passing annoyance.
Presently hand touched him on the
shoulder and aroused hlm from his
revcric
'Elsicl" he cried, reprovingly. why,
any dear child, have you not gone home
with The other girls?''
Ont of doors was sprinllling of rain,
and Elsie had donncd a long cloak.
Whose blue hood formed a picturesque
frame for her exquisite features
Even Frank Grey was struck with
Ehe loveiness and youthful freshness
of the fair face turned up to his so
pleadingly.
The round, pansy eyes were moist
with tears, the lips were trembling.
hnd she spoke hurriedly with much
emotion.
Dear Mr.. Grey, do not be worried
about Susan. 1 could not go without
saying to you that THAT is all the |
girls in my class are ashamed of her !
conduct to you. That THAT is they, |
Rre very sorry for you, and"
Nay, Elsie, " replied the teacher with
much tenderness, 1t is not on Susan's |
account only that am troubled to-day. |
pther things are weighing on my
spirits. Thank you very much for your
Sympathy Go home now. l VIII fol-
bow you presently"
Then you have other troubles and 1 |
do not know them" there was a world |
of emotion in her tones. Why Is there
so much trouble? We were so happy; |
and now-oh, sir she broke out |
passionately, will anything happen /
that viii cause you to leave OrctOwn?n
Il hardly think SO. | do not know
he said, looking at the girl with
strange newborn interest.
''0h, dear Mr.. Grey, what should I |
do if You were to go away and leave
ane, and should never see YOU again?
What would become of me?"
In the passion of her appeal, while
the tears were streaming down her
sweet face. the child had grasped his
hand in both her own.
Ere Grey could reply. he saw. to his
utter discontinue, that they were not
alone. Standing in the doorway but a
5esy yards from him was the portly
figure of Capt. Nixon, and beside him
posed the man he had seen on the hill
by thc lake.
No soand had hcralded their ap-
proach. A deep blush of vcxation
amounted to the check of the Schoolmas-
Per, as he bade the girl leave him and
turned haughtily.to receive his visitors.
With sinister grin on his coun-
fenance Wixon came forward and abb
ruptly introduced Rev. Archibald Dodd,
a gentleman interested in schools.
!: The minister had not an imposing
presence. Short, squat in figure, ILL
dressed in a suit of rusty black, with
fringe of red whisl1ers Illuminating
coarse face, he seemed but i'll suited to
adorn pulpit.
Rowing coldly to the two men. and
without giving them time for further
address, Grey left the building.
That night the board of education
met. and after the dispatch of some mi
nor preliminaries, the worthy president
announced the principal business OF
the evenings session.
1t was his painful duty. he said, to
call the attention of the board to the
fact that the principal of their schools
was a man of evil repute and unfit to
hold SO responsible an Office. This
statement he substantiated by the fol-
lowing charges: First. That the int
macy existing between Mr.. Grey and
Miss Elsie Whitford, pupil, had been
matter Of comment among the citizens
for some months past. That he, Capt.
'Wixon, disbelieving these reports and
zctuated solely with a view to clear
Mr. Grey's reputation, had engaged q