The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-06-06

streets; and Taxpayer, who had just
come in, was backed up to the stove.
The editor sat at his table with his
chair tilted back and his legs
doubled and twisted under him. 1t
was a posture of great mental en-
1eavor with him. There had been
4 spelling bee at the schoolhouse for
she benefit of the Methodist church,
and the editor wanted to make a
feature of it.
''Gittin' ready to jump on the adj
ninistration or sumpthin' like that?''
inquired the taxpayer, observing the
EDITORS couchant attitude.
'No," smiled the editor. ''I'm try
ing to do something extra nice for
the Methodist spelling match the
Dther evening""
81 hear they tuck in $7.15," said the
taxpayer.
''Seven dollars and II cents" cor
rectcd Old Subscriber. Somebody
dropped in a postage stamp that
stuck to the side of the box and
wasn't counted till after the report
was made"
"Speakin' of spellin' bees" said the
taxpayer, addressing the editor, 'do
you recollect that time you got
ioored?"
Everybody became attentive, for
the editor had a countrywide reputa-
lion as speller.
'Dos.'t ?" laughed the editor. 81
guess I'd be a bachelor if it hadn't
been for that"
1--WE clean forgot" reflected the
Did subscriber. "How was it, any
1ow?"
The editor undoubled and swung
half around in his chair to face his
auditors.
"Um-um,' he said, getting his start
slowly, sit was thirty-odd years ago
and | was scant "a. | was a young
printer and it was my business to
know how to spell. / hsd the knack
besides, and nobody 81 the whole
community could stand up with me
except long-legged chap who had
been in the town year or so. He
was book agent, and a nice enough
fellow, only he was stuck on himself
and thought all the girls were, too
AS for me, | couldn't do ANYTHING
much but stick type and spell, and
was so laundering bashful that the
girls had no use for me except to
have fun with me, and make me wish
they had all been born boys or birds
or anything but girls. All but one
that was Alice Smith, who was SC
good. and so nice to everybody that
she couldn't have been otherwise
to me if she had wanted to be. And
/ returned her kindness by thinking
of her all day and dreaming of her
at night, and blushing clear back to
my collar button every time ! saw
her. Of course everybody knew
about it, and everybody, except
Alice, teased me about it,
The old subscriber grinned in re.
membrance.
81 went to Sunday school in those
days" continued the editor, where
Alice taught, and she often cornered
me and talked to me in spite of my.
self, just because she was sorry fol-
me. Sometimes she would make me
walk home with her from the church
and although / stumbled along like
blind mule and got as red as a
beet whenever we met anybody,
would rather have been with he1
than anywhere on earth All could
say to her was yes and mo- but
she laughed and chatted with me as
if l wer: really worth her while and
she intended to make man of me
or die in the attempt. But I was
mighty near hopeless. and after
left her at the gate I slipped bacl
into town down an alley, for fea o
meeting people. But I appreciated
what she was doing, as poorly as
was showing it, and though witf
small opportunities I was foo 81,
think, with great ones, I could have
been a hero for her sake. Att the
same time, long-legged Nat Landers
with his smooth tongue and his q our
age, had me nearly crazy, because he
had taken fancy to Alice and was
hanging around her whenever he, got
the chance, which was a good many
times. for Alice liked him and was
quite proud that he paid more atten
ton to her than he did to any of the
other girls"
eff you got any of that excelsior tc
spare I'd like bite" said the tax
payer to the old subscriber who haC
opened package of fine-cut chewing
tobacco.
81 should think it was like dessert
to you after eatin' that long green
grunted the old subscriber, kindly
handing the package over to him.
''Well," resumed the editor, ''things
stood that way when the great spell.
ing bee came off and everybody in
the town was there. Of course,
couldn't escape, and j guess | didn't
want to, because as bashful as | was
] was proud to be pointed out as the
best speller in the county, Nat Ian.
ders to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. The bee consisted of various
tests, individual. and choosing sides
and that sort, but the feature of the
occasion was prize oil painting in
n gilt frame that was to go to the
best speller in the final contest
when every person IN the house, ex.