Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1899-09-07

dared not whisper to herself what it
was that had caused the change.
She was only school teacher strug-
Cling for a living, working hard, not for
Injuries, but for the bare necessities of
life. Mr.. Gordon was very polite and
kind to her, it was true, but probably
not more so than he would have been to
any woman situated as she was.
Sometimes she had thought there was
something deeper than mere friendship
in his looks and tones, but no doubt this
was only her fancy.
Nevertheless, the mere fact that he
had come into her life as friend and
counselor brought brighter smile to
her lips and a sense of contentment to
her bosom. II things could only run on
so forever she would be perfectly con-
tent and happy. But she dreaded the
awakening day when perhaps she
should be weighed in the balance as a
teacher and found wanting, separated
perchance from the mpanionship she
had learned to treasure, and the work
that she still loved in spite of it's draw
backs, and with shattered hopes turned
adrift in the world to sink or swim, as
fate might will.
The school term was fast drawing to
a close, and as yet no word had come
to Miss Ellis regarding an engagement
for the term to follow. For some time
she had been in daily expectation of
hearing from the school commit tee, but
las day after day passed and no mes
sage came to her she began to fear the
worst.
None knew better than she. her short
comings as a teacher, and how utterly
she had failed in checking the turbu-
lent element in the school until it had
been awed into reluctant submission by
the frown of the new superintendent.
Since his advent she had succeeded in
keeping better order, but there were
times even yet-too many of them, she
sadly realized -when the school &c. be-
yond her control and gave her many
uneasy moments. s
Though she had done her best, she
felt that her teaching that first year
had been far from success; but she
hoped, oh, how eagerly she hoped, that
they would give her another trial!
But if they did not, she felt that she
could not blame them. It would be
only what she deserved She was too
weak, too soft-hearted, to teach school.
School had been dismissed for the day,
the scholars had all gone home, and
as Miss. Ellis was following out this.
train of thought and clearing up her
desk preparatory to taking her depar-
ture she suddenly exclaimed: t5
ssOh,S dear! I'd give anyt thing if / were
only man"
Just then quick step crossed the,
threshold and a CHEEKY voice sung out:
'sFie, fe, Miss Ellis, what a wish that
is! But, of course, you don't mean it,
''Of course I do, though didn' It in
tend you to hear me, Mr.. Gordon, 2 re-
sponded Miss Ellis, blushing viyid]yas
she turned toward the speaker, s III
sick and tired of being only woman.
.'Why, I wouldn't have you any thing
else for the world!'' exclaimed Gerald
Gordon, moving a step nearer and ear
nestly gazing down at the troubled face
before him. "Only woman, you say,
but to me you are the dearest, sweetest
and best little woman in the whole
world, and /. need you just as you are..''
a few moments later, as they were
walking slowly homeward side2by side,
she glanced shyly up It the. stalwart
lover upon whose arm she was leaning.
and said:
"A dreadful suspicion has Just come
into my mind, Gerald. I believe YOU
proposed to me out of pity, because
because I'm a failure as school teach
er, and, if SO, I#wish to reviseSmy an 3
swer. It is love I want, not pity. . = &.
j sssNVhy, dearest, didn't i tell you that
the. committee reelected you Tor anoth-
er term at their meeting last mght??',''.
exclaimed. Cord on, smiling ely. 81 meant
to, but more pressing news got ahead
of it. You received a unanimous re-
election, but I took the liberty of de-
Ginning for on the ground that you
were about to accept a private school,
with a more tractable pupil. 2
why Gerald IS How dare you tell
them that, when you hadn't eyensasked
me yet I'm almost tempted to punish
you for your temerity 81 I.
What dearest % BIS
Making you wait whole month
longer before ! marry you.''- Boston
Globe.