The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-01

sleeves OF his shirt wen - over an
see Brown am Cragin. They re TIE otheI
members of the board
So It happened that before evening ROD
ert Allen was hired % teach the schoOl
at Swansea's Crossing 'pr0vidin' aila!s
as the director assured ann oyer ana
over. that order is KEEP In the sc1ooL'
School was 10 begin the second Monday
in October. The new scnoO.mAsier started
early with his books under lis arm ana
a feeling IN his heart that Dee was an
explorer just on the bounl isias OF some
now land. Half way to me schoolLouse
a shlny-faced little girl in calico Il. ess
stood at the roadside lookins UP o. nm
shyly
Are YOU the new teacher" she asked,
timidly
Yes. and are you one OF my pupils2'
The little girl dug one Of her toes into
the sand and blushed.
Eyes, sin" she said, I'm Jenny Peter
SON"
Then as he walked on she tagged along
behin., her two little yellow Draids with
their hue-ribbOn knots bODbing amiably
up and down. At the bottom OF the hill
the Red Brick School stood at the center
OF a weedy lot. The playground sloped
down to a bright little stream that ran
away among the willows and skunk-cab-
bages to the mill pond mile below. Thls
morning the calm october sunshine bright
ened up the tiny bell I'm the roomy cupola
and shone like star from the tip OF the
lightning rod.
As Robert Allen threw back the wooden
shutters and let in the air Jenny peterson
showed him where the chalk was kept
pointed out the recitation seats and helped
TO explore the woOdshed. She also chose
her seat-a very little one on the girls
side near The front. AS the pupils came
lounging i'm one by one the schoOlmaster
nodded pleasantly TO them, and hen he
tapped on the desk at o'clock I'D look
ed over the assemblage he found it hard
TO believe that there could be any trou-
BILE The big bOys-and there were half
a dozen OF them, brown and muscular and
half a head taller than the master-sat
I'm the back seats, with the older girls OPP
posite
Allen had planned a course Of action
which should check violence with Nio-
.ence. Back Of his seat, on the edge OF the
blackboard. he had placed an old foot rest
from one Of the seats. IL was about four
feet long, OF oak, and Il would make q
dangerous weapon in case OF trouble. II
was with no little surprise, therefore, that
Robert Allen saw everything move for
ward smoothly with all the pupils SEEM
ingly deeply interested IN their tasks. AT
the close of the day he walked fomeward,
wearied with his work, but with an in
tense feeling OF relief and elation.
After school on Wednesday, as he was
about 10 start Tor home. he missed little
Jenny Peterson. ON the two previous
nights she had waited for him. sitting
patiently on the steps with her empty
dinner pail beside her until he was ready
10 20. And each morning she had come
/ with a. big red apple and left It shyly on
| his desk. blushing mp 10 her brown hair
! when he thanked her. But this evening
she was nowhere 10 be seen.
When the master reached the corner of
| the Peterson's field he saw Il white little
| face looking between two Of the rails. IL
was Jenny, and she was crying pitifully.
Teacher" she called.
Allen walked 10 the fence through 4
bank of fuffy goldenrod.
you didn't wait tonight 10 walk home
with me-" he said kindly.
NO. sir" she answered, the tears fill
| ing her blue eyes. Then She stammered
! Wont YOU 20 way I'm SO nald. The
| big boys are goin' t0-io
Make troublef
The blood surged hot into the school
masters face and then fed. leaving II
white.
How do you know? he asked. sternly.
81 heard 'em talking today In the wood
shed. It's Bert Rich'son an Bil Bunner
! an'-an'-all the rest ana Jennie broke
again into sobs.
"Tm not afraid, and l thank you very
much, indeed"
Then Allen STROBE on up the hill. At the
ton he looked back and there was Jennie's
fearful face still peering through the worm
fence OF the stubbleneld.
II had hurt the master to learn that
Bert Richardson was the leader OF the
conspiracv against him. Bert was biz.
souare-shouldercd blue-oyed and past Is
years Old. tie WIS easily the brightest
bow I'm school. as well as the natural lead
er in every game. Fisk, the director. had