The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-07-18

no direct charge against him save .
personal one. It 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-
tion and that she would never again
teach that school.
Tho 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 your"
II can't bear" he said. in a soft
tone, Ito see you 20 pale"
This brought back q little pink to
her face. but she did not answer.
II think" said the ensign, after
one of those silences in which con-
genial souls seem to come nearer than
through speech. II think you have
taught public schools long enough
long enough, and-well, how would
you like small private one, with just
q single pupil, a dull boy. but willing
to learn and, faith, he thinks he Is al
ready in love with his teacher? Did
you know 1t, Lucy?"
Lucy hung her head and turned her
face, now red as q rose, away from
the ensign.
II don't know" at length she mur-
INJURED; II have one such already"
"What!" exclaimed the ensign, and
Strengthening himself up as if about to
strike somebody.
What is 1t you say? I thought
the way was clear between us. Well,
good-by. Lucy. I dare say you have
found a better man; strange, though.
1 didn't know of 1t before. Good
luck to him and you. But I have
loved you we'll and truly, Lucy. and
it has done me . world Of good. 1t
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. II Is I that have made a
mistake. You know Sylvanus Wal
dron, my big, oldest scholar; he is in
love with me; follows me like .
shadow, and his attentions, to which
I have never given the slightest re.
sponse, almost kill me. Ny situation
is most perplexing. I en- helpless in
school hours, - must treat him %
do the others. Out Of school I have
been Is cold ~ I felt and you could
wish toward him. What esn I do
and not make . world Of trouble for
myself and the neighborhosd, for
should I speak Of It. complain Of It,
folks would only laugh or gossip and
put me - shame. No, I would rather
bear Il in silence. except with you"
Tho ensign sat down again with
Lucy by his side, and thought and
thought hsw he could punish his
Lucy's prosecutor. /
Il don't know much about teach.
Ing" he said at length. "but I believe
I could get through . day Of IT,"
"What do you mean?" inquired
Lucy.
"why, let me teach your school 70,
. day. md 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 owe,
Sunday how to behave themselves and
are more full OF mischief"
"How will you manage it," said
Lucy. in some doubt a. to the scheme
''Oh. I will give them some longe,
lessons and more useful instruction
than you ever did," answered the en-
sign, laughing. fer the idea ticklet
his fancy Immensely. e.-.. f
Accordingly plan was agreed upor
between them and some of the detaIli
- to the order OF recitations ex
planned BY Lucy.
Monday came: Lucy remained at he,
boarding place. unable to leave hel
room that whole day. and received ,
great deal Of attention and sympath!
from the family.
Punctualiy a. nine O'Clock tho en-
sign appeared At the school hous'
carrying . good. stout stick. oston
sibly a. . cane. To the Infinite "a
tonishuent Of the scholars he strod
upon the teaeher's little platform
where his head almost touched tn
ceiling. He called the school to or
der and informed the wonderinI
scholars that no was TO be thd
teacher for that day, as Miss Win
was not well and had requested hin
70 take her place, which he felt h
could not DO; yet It is not to be
holiday" he added significantly.
The younger children looked a
each other already awe-stricken; tn
older ones were puzzled. There wa
intense silence In the room; the pre-
verbal pin would have resounded lik
= solid shot. The scholars got ou
their books and pretended to study
but could not, they were 30 excited b.