Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-02-15

groundbird's nest
10 small and coy was it. They had
agreed that it was just the right size,
which was sensible way of looking
ut the matter as they could not AFFORD
larger one. When Clarissa's father died
the little money that was left after his
affairs were settled had, been invested
in this place. Their many friends were
horror struck, at first, to think that
they would be willing to adopt such a
simple style of living after the luxuri-
Gus one to which they had been accus-
Aomed; but Clarissa and Mrs. Roberts
decided that it would not be honest to
assume to be what they were not, so the
debts were paid instead.
But they succeeded in making the
little cottage such a home-ike place
afat. even the old friends looked with
.envious eyes at the pretty dove-cote,
md more than one said: ''It is an
ideal home, and not so bad, after ALL"
The veTanda was a bower of beauty in
the summer time, for it was covered
with woodbine and Virginia creeper;
and in the winter the 'Ampelopsis-
witchi," so common in the south, kept
rich and greenwich the exception of
Saint tintS of crimson that came with
the frosts. The windows were bright
and CHEEKY with gardens of geraniums,
Geiiotrope and marguerites and from
the street presented pretty appear
2Rce. There was nothing elaborate in
: xhe interior; most of the heavy furni-
sure had been sold, for both Mrs. Rob-
er:s and Clarissa had a sense of the
eternal fitness of things, and knew it
Nould be out of place here.
To be sure, the parlor was also the
sitting-room and library, but Clarfssa' S
def fingers had. transformed it into a
veritable shrine. The pretty ingram
carpet made one think of a bed of moss.
and the white net curtains were shirred
on small brass rods, draped back arts
ideally at the sides, and tied with long
Hoops of white ribbon. A handsome
yellow jardiniere with tall palm
stood in one window and a hanging
basket in the other window compile ted
khe picture. There were pictures and
books galore, and in one corner a
guitar spoke eloquently of the taste of
the owners.
When it had been announced that
C,arissa was going to teach in the high
school, the numerous friends were in
G1ignant. 'Of all persons Clarissa Rob
erts was the last one of whom would
have thought it," was the protest But
CIarissa remained serene and went
a,ong the even tenor of her way, pay
1ng no attention to Madam Grundy.
The eighth grade was noted for its
Esfractory pupils, but when the new
teacher came to rule there was a de-
<:ide1 change. Everything went of
beautifully the first day or two, and
many comments were passed on hes
availability. One of the girls said to Tin
Sage: My, isn't she pretty?" where
upon he assented with a nod and said
.as he looked at her black eyes and rec
hair: 81 bet she gets mad awful easy
and won't it be a picnic 2" Tim smackel
his lips as if he anticipated feast.
But they soon learned that Mis-.
Roberts ruled by love instead of fea,
and therefore the majority disliket
20 displease her. though sometime,
Ahey carried their mischieyousnes.
600 far. But it was evident that Mis-.
Roberts methods were not to be tam
pered with. for woe was it to tn,
1oungster who disobeyed the rules
She was patient, no one could den,