Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-01-09
".

CHAPTER ".
WISE MEN IN COUNCIL.
"You are requested to be present at meet
ing of the board OF education to be held In the
First ward school this evening at seven
O'Clock. PErTIGREw WIxoN,
Moderator :"
A weak-eyed young woman, daugh-
ter of Wixons 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. In 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?"
'sNo. he didn't"
The schoolmaster did not condescend
to notice the insolence of the girls
tone, though the other pupils looked
at each other in mute surprise.
''Well," he said, you can tell him
at dinner time that will 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 dreary mornings work was
over, Grey sat brooding upon this I'M
accountable trouble, which, to man of
his sensitive nature, was more than a
mere passing annoyance.
Presently a hand touched him on the
shoulder and aroused HIM from his
.reverie.
''Elsie!" he cried, reprovingly. "Why,
my dear child, have you not gone home
with the other girls?'
Out of doors was sprinkling of rain,
and Elsie had donned a long cloak,
whose blue hood formed picturesque
frame for her exquisite features
Even Frank Grey was struck with
the loneliness and youthful freshness
of the fair face turned up to his so
pleadingly. .t
The round, pansy eyes were moist
with tears, the lips were trembling,
and she spoke hurriedly with much
emotion.
'sDear Mr.. Grey, do not be worried
about Susan. 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,
are very sorry for you, and"
NAY, Elsie" replied the teacher with
much tenderness, sit is not on Susan's
account only that I am troubled to-day.
Other things are weighing on my
,sSirits. Thank you very much for your
sympathy. Go home now. will fol-
low you presently"
''Then you have other troubles and
do not know Them" there was a world
of emotion in her tones. ''Why is there
so much 0ouble? We were so happy;
and now-oh, SIR" she broke out
passionately, will anything happen
that will cause you to leave Oretown?"
II hardly think so. / do not know"
he said, looking at the girl with a
strange newborn interest.
''Oh, dear Mr.. Grey, what should I
- do if you were to go away and leave
me, 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
few yards from him was the portly
figure of Capt. Wixon, and beside him
posed the man he had seen on the hill
by the lake.
No sound lad heralded their ap-
-proach. A deep blush of vexation
mounted to the check of the schoolmas-
ter, as he babe the girl leave him and
turned haughtily to receive his visitors.
With sinister grin on his coun-
tenance Wixon came forward and abb
ruptly introduced Rev. Archibald Dodd,
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 whiskers Illuminating
coarse face, he seemed but i'll suited to
adorn a pulpit.
Bowling 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.
It 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 init
macy existing between MIR. Grey and
Miss Elsie Whitford, a pupil. had been
matter IF comment among the citizens
for some months past. That he, Capt.
Wixon. disbelieving these reports and
actuated solely with view to clear