Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-03-23


about far enough. We may as well I'M
derstand each other right now. Neither
Mrs Ayres nor want to be chairman.
We've been voting each for the other
right along. and we can keep it sp
spell longer, if need be. That shows
that you must have been voting for
yourself"
Eyes, MADAME exclaimed the now
for myself, and shall continue to do
so. because l believe that am che only
member of the board capable of per
forming the duties of chairman as
they should be performed
That's all right interrupted Sa-
mantha. I'VE don't blame you q 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 to vote
motions you didn't like and bulldozed
generally the other members of the
committee. It's time to call halt. If
you will promise faithfully, in the
presence of these people. that you have
invited here, to deal with us fairly. and
to conduct the meetings of this COM
mittee in parliamentary manner,
web elect you. If you won't promise,
we can keep up the deadlock forever
What do you say?"
A 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 the
people and at the women before him.
like some enraged animal who would
toss them all on his horns. But seeing
that his Official companions held the
upper hand, and that the sympathy of
the people was clearly against him, he
restrained himself with an effort and
forced smile to his lips.
Il gladly promise" he said, ito do
whatever IS right. More than that l
would not promise for the highest of
fee in the land. Let US close the dis
cussion and prepare our tenth ballot y
Mr.. Baker was unanimously elected,
but the women had won a victory, and
Joshua was not only defeated, but
| Inundated openly before the people.
Inundated he certainly was, and
| sought savagely for an opportunity
| to take revenge. The meetings of the
"
ones. and it was largely to the crowds
| that gathered to witness the trays
| that Mrs. Abel and Miss Samantha
owed their escape from much the
same browbeating to which their
| predecessors had submitted. As the
| year rolled on and Joshua was
| thwarted at every point, the ridicule
| at his discontinue became more open.
l IL - FL
| tics, and Joshua viewed with alarm
| his waning prestige. 1t was not until
| spring, however, that he saw his
! chance TO strike a decisive blow and
| assert his mastership.
There had been constant diSiculty
! that year in keeping a teacher at the
| Center school. One had resigned to
| accept more lucrative position else
| where, another had been taken sud-
| denly i'll. while a third had proved in
| capable and been dismissed. AS each
| vacancy occurred, Mrs. Abel and Miss
| Samantha urged the election of a Miss
Clay. of Ridgeville, young woman
| admirably fitted for the position. but
whose election had been strenuously
| opposed by Joshua. The last time he
had won his point only by promising
| that Miss Clay should be 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 to appear. AS he
| walked up-street in a quandary how
to avoid keeping his former promise,
he saw Mrs. Abel and Samantha ride
| past in the stage, apparently bound
| to the city. a sudden light broke in
| upon him. He posted messengers to
| the houses of his absent fellow-com-
! nnitteemen to call special meeting OF
the board that noon, to elect a new
| teacher. Then. feeling sure there
could be no meeting that day and that
he was technically justified in acting
on his own account, he himself
FASTENED to the city, to secure a
young man be had long had in mind
for the position.
But Mrs. Abel and Miss Samantha
had not gone to the city. They had
each received a notice, like that sent
to Joshua. that the teacher they had
engaged had failed them. and having
in mind Joshua's promise, had decid-
ed to act on their own responsibility
without farther consultation. Ac-
cordingly they had merely gone down
the road a mile or two. by stage. to
the home of Miss Clay. where they of
fered her the position. In short, Miss
| Clay opened school that very morn
ing, less than two hours after the
regular opening hour.
| Finding Joshua's message, ON their
return home. the two women met
| again. shortly afterward, at the Sc
iectmen's room. at the specified hour
but no Joshua appeared. Partly sur