The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-05-18

offered and Joined her on her way to
the schoolhouse in the morning. She
was afraid to have an open quarrel
with him or to demand his dismissal
from school, for the trouble it would
bring upon herself and the gossip of
the neighborhood. She could bring
no direct charge against him save a
personal one. 1t was true that he
seldom had his lessons and took
cowardly advantage of his belief that
she would not dare to reprove or pun
ish him. Lucy comforted herself in
the thought that she had only lit
tie while longer to endure her situa-
ton and that she would never again
teach that school.
The ensign noticed the change in
Lucy toward the end of the term.
"What has become of your color?"
he inquired one evening. "Are you
i'll? Does. anything worry you?"
81 can't bear" he said, in soft
tone, "to see you so pale"
This brought back little pink to
her face, but she did not answer.
ri Think" said the ensign after
one of those silences in which con-
genial souls seem TO come nearer than
through speech, 81 think you have
taught public schools long enough
long enough, and-well, how would
you like small private one, with just
a single pupil, dull boy, but willing
TO learn and, faith, he thinks he is al
ready in love with his teacher? Did
you know it, Lucy?"
Lucy hung her head and turned her
face, now red as rose, away from
the ensign.
Il don't know at length she muir
INJURED; 81 have one such already"
What" exclaimed the ensign, and
Strengthening himself up as if about to
strike somebody.
what is it you say? I thought
the way was clear between us. Well,
good-by, Lucy. L dare say you have
| found q better man; strange, though,
didn't know of it before. Good
luck to him and you. But / have
loved you well and truly, Lucy, and
| it has done me world of good. IL
has made "a man of me, and taller by
an inch, so my friends say. Now
shall feel small enough. Good-by."
| He stepped quickly toward the
door. but Lucy interrupted him, took
his hands and hid her face on his
shoulder.
| "There is none better than you, nor
any so dear" she whispered. "You
mistake-no, it is that have made q
mistake. You know Sylvanus Wal
dron, my big, oldest scholar; he is in
love with me; follows me like a
shadow, and his attentions, to which
L have never given the slightest re-
Spouse, almost kill me. My situation
is most perplexing. am helpless in
school hours, as / must treat him rs
| do the others. Out of school L have
been as cold as I felt and you could
wish toward him. What can I do
and not make a world of trouble for
myself and the neighborhood, for
should I speak of it, complain of it,
folks would only laugh or gossip and
put me to shame. No, would rather
bear it in silence, except with YOU"
The ensign sat down again with
Lucy by his side, and thought and
thought how he could punish his
Lucy's prosecutor.
81 don't know much about teach
ing" he said at length, "but L believe
could get through day of it,"
"What do you mean?" inquired
Lucy.
"Why, let me teach your school for
a day, and you shall stay at home
at home, sick you know. / will take
my day tomorrow, Monday, which
they say is the hardest of the week
for teachers; children forget over
Sunday how to behave themselves and
are more full of mischief"
"How will you manage it?" said
Lucy, in some doubt as to the scheme.
"Oh, will give them some longer
lessons and more useful instruction
than you ever did," answered the en-
sign, laughing, for the idea tickled
his fancy immensely.
Accordingly plan was agreed upon
between them and some of the details
as to the order Of recitations ex-
planned by Lucy.
Monday came; Lucy remained at her
boarding place, unable to leave her
| room tnaC Wnole uay, anu received u
great deal of attention and sympathy
from the family.
Punctually at nine o'clock the en-
sign appeared at the school house
carrying a good, stout stick, osten-
sibly as n cane. To the infinite as
constituent of the scholars he strobe
upon the teachers little platform.
where his head almost touched the
ceiling. He called the school to or
der and informed the wondering
scholars that he was to be their
teacher for that day, as Miss Winn
was not well and had requested him
to take her place, which he felt he
could not do; "yet 1t is not to be a
holiday" he added significantly.
The younger children looked at
each other already awe-stricken; the
older ones were puzzled. There was
intense silence in the room; the pro-
verbal pin would have resounded like
a solid shot. The scholars got out
their books and pretended to study,
but could not, they were SO excited by
the situation.
~ WI l..