St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-12-02

owing to the fact that you are both de
ficient and that we are expecting Wis
itlng teacher l regard this studionsnes
as most commendable." And so saying
she bestowed faint smile on JUL;
and Dolly and left them.
Miss Clark did not arrive the mex
day. much to the disappointment of tn,
school, which had carefully prepared it
self in its studies. The second day, how
ever, the lady arrived shortly after
morning prayers. The maid came il
and told Miss Tabitha. whereupon thai
excellent lady hurried down from the
rostrum and made for the parlor. She
was gone about three minutes, wher
she returned, ushering in a medium
sized woman, in a sober gown. and
whose eyes were rather weak, evident.
ly, as she wore blue goggles. Her hail
was neatly plastered down and parted
in the middle i'm the old fashioned way
and very plain bonnet adorned her
J head. Altogether she was an intensely
respectable and old style lady, of APP
parently middle age. She had wonder
fully clear and ruddy skin for her
years and not a wrinkle was to be
seen.
Miss Tabitha introduced her to her
sister, and then Miss Primrose came
forward to the edge of the rostrum, and
said, in impressive tones: young la
dies, 1 have the great pleasure and hon
or to Introduce to you my esteemed
fellow teacher, Miss Mary Clark, OF
Louisville, KY" A loud clapping OF
hands greeted Miss Clark as she stepped
forward, with a smile.
Girls" said the visitor, ''it is great
pleasure to be standing here addressing
you to-day. (How great a pleasure il
was none of her hearers knew then or
ever did know except Dolly and Julia J
| have heard a great deal about you and
this excellent establishment (Here
the speaker turned and smiled gra-
ciously ut the two principals. who
bobbed their heads and fairly beamed
with gratified pride) And 1 hope to.
day to learn with my own ears that the
| good reports of your high standard OF
studiousness had not been exagger.
ated."
AT that a perfect buzz went around
the room, and each girl wondered with
a good deal of trepidation if she would
be the one to be called upon.
Il should inform you," Miss Clark
went on, that English history and
geography are the branches which IL
am most interested in (Which was per.
fectly true at that particular time) land
/ trust the Misses Primrose will per.
init me to put a few questions to you
at random"
Here Miss Clark turned to the two
sisters. Immediately Miss Tabitha
jumped up and got couple of books.
which she placed in Miss Clark's hand.
You will find to-day's lesson marked
in each book" said Miss Tabitha.
"Oh! Thank YOU" said Miss Clark |
But with your permission l should
prefer to ask the girls some questions |
Of the work they have gone over in
stead of to-day's lesson. 1t is so much
better test of what they know"
There was a doleful silence at that. |
and the Misses Primrose looked glumly |
at one another, for none knew better |
than they how quickly their pupils for
got, and Miss Tabitha was afraid the |
result would not be fiattering to her |
pride. She could not very well refuse
Miss Clark's request, however, and SO.
rather ungraciously. she gave her con.
sent to her scholars being examined
on their back work.
Miss Clark asked couple Of ques-
tions, one of which was answered cor.
rectly. but the second fioored two or
three. Then Miss Clark looked at Dolly.
Can you give me the answer?'' she
asked.
OF course Dolly could, for it was one
of the questions which Edna had told
her to study. Miss Tabitha beamed
upon Dolly. 1t was very hard ques-
ton, and she had not expected such
clcverness from her. Miss Clark went
on picking out hard questions in both
history and geography, and somehow
it was Dolly or Julia who answered
most of them. At length Miss Clark
said she must take her departure, at
which the Misses Primrose expressed
their great regret. They went with her
to the front door to see her off. and on
the way Miss Clark inquired very par
ticularly about those two girls who
were so quick with the right answers
Dolly Rivers and Julia Norris are
the young ladies to whom you refer,n
replied Miss Primrose.
MY dear Miss Primrose replied
Miss Clark, impressively, Il must con-
gratulate you on having two such
clever, intelligent girls. Quite out of
the ordinary. my dear madam. quite
out of the ordinary. Now, good-by.
and LET me thank you for your hospi-
tality. have enjoyed myself immense
ly. In fact. don't know when have
enjoyed myself more!"
And then Miss Clark left with con-
haste. If the Misses Primrose
could have seen her after she turned
the corner they would have been as
tonished. For the stately Miss Clark
was leaning up against a fence in fit
If Mysteries. When she had recovered
to proceed she picked up
her skirts and ran-yes, actually ran!
till finally she came to a waiting car
rage. She climbed in and fell into the
lrms of bright, CHEEKY looking little
who was evidently expecting
Ter.
"Well." said this person, did it work I
II right?" q
''Oh, Cousin Moral" cried Miss Clark.
Not soul suspected. 1t worked like '
charm."
And then Edna, for of course ii was
he, went off into another spasm of .
aughter. 1t was fully half hour be-
ore her young married cousin who :.
ad helped her carry out her daring
rick could get six words from her as :
o how the thing went off. |,
The Misses Primrose were so de- !.
GIFTED with the credit which Dolly and !,
ulia had brought upon the school by
eason of their splendid showing before !;
Iiss Clark that they excused the girls
rom taking the extra examination.
Needless to say both Julia and Dolly :