Crawford avalanche., 1900-03-29

should be performed"
that's all right" interrupted Sa
mantha. We don't blame you nAite
and as we don't want the Office, we arr
willing to elect you on the next ballot
only you must agre to some things
first. We know how you have carried
ON, how you have refused to put t.
vote motions you didn't like and bull
dozed generally the other members OF
the committee. It's time to call q
halt. II you will promise faithfully
In the presence of these people that
you have invited here, to deal with us
fairly, and to conduct the meeting OF
this committee in parliamentry man
ner, Wen elect you. If you won't
promise. we can keep up the deadlock
forever. What do you sayy
A litter had begun I'm the audience
which grew into hearty laugh, and
finally broke into open applause as
Samantha ceased speaking. For mo.
ment Joshua looked about him at the
people and at the women before him,
like some enraged animel 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
every point, the ridicule at his dis
cussion and prepare for our tenth bal
Iot.'
Mr.. Baker was unanimously elected,
but the women had won a victory, and
Joshua was not only defeated, but
humiliated openly before the people.
Humiliated 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 trays that
! Mrs. Abel and Miss Samantha owed
| their escape from much the same
browbeating to which their predeces-
| sors had submitted. AS the year roll
| ed on and Joshua was thwarted at
every point the ridicule at his dis
comfiture became more open. Ridicule
is powerful factor in politics, and
Joshua viewed with alarm his waning
prestige. 1t was not until spring, how
ever, that he saw his chance to strike
a decisive blow and assert his master
ship.
There had been constant difficulty
that year in keeping a teacher at the
Centre school. One had resigned to
accept n more lucrative position else
where another had been taken sudden
ly i'll, while third had proved incap-
able and been dismissed. AS each va
cancy 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 trial,
should annother vacancy occur during
the year.
Now on the opening day of the
spring term, Joshua received word that
the young man they had engaged was
unable to appear. AS he walked up
street in u quandary how to avoid
keeping his promise, he saw Mrs. Abel
and Samantha ride past in the stage,
apparently bound to the city, A sud
| II
messengers to the houses of his absent
fellow-committeemen to call a special
meeting of the board that noon. to
elect Il 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 him
self 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 n notice, like that sent
to Joshua, that the teacher they had
engaged had failed them, and having
in mind Joshua's promise, had decided
to act on their own responsibility, with.
out farther consultation. According
ly they had merely gone down the
raod mile or two by stage, to the
home Of Miss Clay, where they offered
her the position. In short Miss Clay
opened school that very morning, less
than two hours after the regular open.
ing hour.
Finding JOshua's message, on their
return home, the two women met
again, shortly afterward, mt the select.
mems room, at the specified hour. but
no Joshua appeared. Partly surmising
the truth, and hughly enjoying their
advantage, they elected Miss Clay per.
manent teacher, and fixed her salary
! with due formality.
Joshuas emotions. when he drove
into town that evening with his i'm.
ported teacher, defy expression. The
story was soon noised about, and his
new defeat redoubled the former ridi
cule. The upshot of the matter was
that he resigned from the board in
great indignation.
But that was not the end. At the
. next town meeting, although still 9
candidate for selectman, he was igno
, mini0usly defeated. Since that day ht
has run for several other offices, but hi,
downfall Is complete, and he has neve'
; been successful.
Miss Samantha, having enjoyed he
, victory to the full, declined a reelec