Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-09-07


Cling for a living, working hard, not for
llxuries, 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. If things could only run on
so forever she would be perfectly con-
tent and happy. But she dreaded the
awakening-thes day when perhaps she
should be. weighed in the balance sss a
teacher and found wanting, separated
perchance from the companionship she
had learned to treasure, and the work
that she still loved in spite of its 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 committee, but
as 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 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 thesschool gq:5c>
yond her control and gave her many
uneasy moments. p"
: 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 ont this
train of thought and clearingxnp her
desk preparatory to taking hesnepar-
ture she suddenly exclaimed:
"Oh, dear! I'd give anything. II were
only mani" -.
Just then a quick step crossed the
threshold and a CHEEKY voice sung out:
''Fie, fe, Miss Ellis, what a wish that
is! But, of course, you don't mean it. !"
"Of course do, though I didn't in
tend you to hear me, Mr.. Gordon" re-
sponded Miss Ellis, blushing wildly as
she turned toward the speaker. "{',s.
sick and tired of being only a woman"
''Why, wouldn't have you anything
else for the world!" exclaimed Gerald
Gordon, moving 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 Idneed you just as you are.' .
A few moments later, as they were
walking slowly homeward side by side,
she glanced shyly up 1t the stalwart
lover upon whose arm she wasAeaninp
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 failure as school-teach-
er; and, if SO, I wish to revise my an
swer. It is love want, not pity"
''Why, dearest, didn't 1 tell you that
the committee reelected you for anoth-
er term at their meeting last night? p"
exclaimed Gordon, smilingly. 81 meant
to, but more pressing news got ahead
of it. You received a unanimous re-
election, but took the liberty of de-
Ginning for you on the ground that you
were about 10 accept private school,
with more tractable pupil"
"Why, Gerald! How dare you tell
them that, when you hadn't even asked
me yet? I'm almost tempted to punish
you for your temerity by-by-''
"lNhat, dearest?''
Making you wait whole. month
longer before ! marry ."-Boston
Globe.