The Monte Vista journal., 1900-05-19

taking this responsibility upon herself
There WAS cne vote for eacf of the
three members. Joshua's fnce was
study. He had never seriously doubted
that he would Ike elected ut onc. as he
had been for SO many years. The two
women exchanged significant ylanccs
The result was not changed by the
second ballot. nor by the third. Final
ly, when, nfter the ninth ballot. Miss
Samantha announced that still there
was no election. she held up her hand
to stay Joshua. who was already pre-
pairing his next vote.
"One moment, Mr.. Baker, she
said, grimly. IL guess this has gone
aboat far enough. We may rs well un-
derstnnd each other right now. Neither
Mrs. Ayres nor want to lie chairman.
We've been voting each for the other
right along. and we can keep il up a
spell longer. II need he. That shows
that you must have been voting for
yourself"
yes madam" exclaimed the now
furious Joshua. II have been voting
for myself, and shall continue 20 do
| 80, because | believe that am the only
member OF the board capable Of per-
forming the duties of chairman us
they should be performed"
That's all right" interrupted Sa-
mantha. I'VE don't blame YOU mite:
| and as we don't want the office we are
willing to elect you ON the next bal
| lot, only you must agree to some things
| first. We know how you have carried
on, how you have refused to put tuyotc
motions you didn't like aud bulldoled
| generally the other members OF the
comIpittee. Its time To call halt. II
You will promise faithfully. in III.
presence of these people. that you have
| invited here. TO deal with us fairly. and
To conduct the meetings OF this com.
miitcc in Il parliamentary manner
we'll elect you. II you won't promise
We can keep up the deadlock forever
| What do you say?"
litter had begun in the audience
which grew into a hearty laugh, and
| finally broke into open applause as Sa.
mantha ceased speaking. For mo.
ment Joshua looked about him at tn.
| people and at the women before him.
| IKE some enraged animal who would
toss them all on his horns. I,ut seeing
that his official companions held The
upper hand. and that the :, ,mpa,hv of
the people was clearly against him. he
restrained himself with an effort and
| forced n smile to his lips.
Il gladly promise" he said. ''to do
whatever is right. More than that |
/ would g..
nee in the land. Let us close TN, dis
cussion and prepare our tenth ballot"
| Mr. Baker was unanimously elected.
| but th. women had won victory and
Joshua was not only defeated. bu,
| huinilid'ed openly before tn. people.
Inundated he certainly was. and
| sought savngcly for an opportunity
to tax" revenge. The meetings of IN.
school board that winter were stormy
ones and II was largely to the crowd,
| that gathered to witness the fravs
That Mrs. .Nhci and Miss Samantha
owed their escape from much the
same browhcating To which their
predecessors had submitted Is th.
year rolled on and .Ioshun wn.
'hwart,d AT every point, the ridicu-
at his discontinue became more omen
kidicule Is powerful fnctor in poll.
ties. and Joshua viewed with alarm
his waning. prestige. II was not until
spring. however. that he saw his
| chance To strike n, decisive blow and
assert his mas'crship.
There had been constnn, difficulty
that year In keeping a tencher n, tn,
| 'enter school One had resigned fo
accept more lucrative position else
where. another had been taken ,ud.
| denly Ill, Will. a third had proved in.
| capable and been dismissed As each
vacancy occurred. Mrs. Abel and Miss
Samantha urged tn. election Of a Miss
Clay, of Ridg-sille, n young woman
admirably lifted for the position. but
whose election Rad been .,r.nuunsly
| opposed by Joshua. She last time M.
had won his point only by promising
that Miss Clay should bc given "A trial.
should another vacancy occur during
the year
Now on the opening day of the
spring term, Joshua received word
that The young man they had en-.
gagged was unable 10 appear. As he
walked up-sirc"t sin qunndary how
to avoid keeping his former promise.
he saw Mrs Abel and Samantha rid.
past In the stage, apparently bound
To III" city. \ sudden light hrok. Ia
upon him lie posted messengers to
III" houses Of his absent fellow com
mii'.cmen to call special meeting of
I'll" board that noon. to elect a new
teacher, Then. feeling sure there
could Ice no meeting iha, day and that
h, Nnn icch uiraIlN iu.iinnu Ii, nril inn