The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1900-03-29

MIS-. AyreS nor want 10 be chairman.
We've been voting each for the other
right along, and we can keep it up a
spell longer, if need be. That shows
that you must have been voting for
yourself"
Eyes, madam!" exclaimed the now
furious Joshua. 81 have been voting
for myself, and I shall continue to do
so, because l believe that am the only
member of the board capable of per-
forming the duties of chairman as
they should be Informed"
That's all rig interrupted .Sa-
mantha. "We don't blame you a 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 a parliamentary manner,
wen 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 hearty laugh, and
finally broke into open applause as Sa-
mantha ceased speaking. For a 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.
II gladly PROMISE" he said, ito do
whatever is right. More than that [
would not promise for the highest Of
flee in the land. Let us close the dis
cussion and prepare our tenth ballot"
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
school board that winter were stormy
ones, and it was largely to the crowds
that gathered to witness the fravs
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.
Ridicule is a powerful factor in poll
tics, and Joshua viewed with alarm
his waning prestige. 1t was not until
spring, however, that he saw his
chance to strike decisive blow and
assert his mastership.
There had been constant difficulty
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 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, a 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 trial,
should another vacancy occur during
the year.
Now on the opening day of the
spring term, Joshua received word
[ Eat 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 hoGsas of his absent fellow-com-
mitteemen to call a 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 he 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
lectmen's room, at the specified hour,
but no Joshua appeared. Partly sur
missing the truth, and hugely enjoy
ing their advantage, they elected Miss
Clay permanent teacher, and fixed her
salary with due formality.
TnSbuo,o 1vbap ha 1rova