The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-06-21

FROM
P00RHouSE 70 PALACE P@
III N ==
S BY MARY J. HOLMES
CHAPTER XI.


five. coaxing some, urging others anu
teaching them all by her kind words and
winsome ways to love her as they hau
never before loved an instructor.
When first she was proposed as
teacher In Rice Corner, Widow Perkins
and A few others who had no children to
send, held up their hands In amazement.
wondering what the world was comm
10. and II the committeeman, Mr. Knight
s'posed they was goin' to be rid over
roughshod by a town pauper; but she
couldn't get a stiffcut, for the orthodox
minister wouldn't give her one; and II
he did, the Unitarian minister wouldn't
Accordingly. when it was known that
the ordeal had been passed and that
Mary had in her possession piece OF pa
per about three inches square, authoriz-
ing her to teach common district school,
this worthy cOnclave concluded that
"either everybody had lost their senses
or else Miss Mason, who was present at
the examination, had sat by and whis-
pered In her ear the answers to all hard
questions"
"In all my born days | never seen any
thing like IT," said the widow, as she
distributed her green tea, sweetened with
brown sugar, to a party OF ladies, which
she was entertaining. But you'll see,
she won't keep her time morn half out
Sally Ann, pass them nutcakes. No
body's goin' to send their children to a
pauper There's Miss Bradley says she'll
take her'n out the first time they get
licked. Have some more sass, Miss
Dodge. | want 1t eat up, for | believe
It's a-workin'-but | telled her that
warn't the trouble, Mary's too softly to
hurt a miskeeter. And so young, too.
It's government she'll lack in. IL any
body'll have a piece Of this dried apple
pie, I'll cut It,
Fortunately, Mary knew nothing Of
Mrs. Perkins displeasure, and never
dreamed that any feeling existed toward
her save that of perfect friendship. Since
we last saw her, she had grown into a
fine, healthy looking girl. Her face and
figure were round and full, and her COM
plexiOn, though still rather pale, was
clear as marble, contrasting well with
her dark-brow hair ard eyes, which no
longer seemed unnaturally large. Still,
she was not beautiful, it is true, and yet
Billy was not far from right when he
called her the finest looking girl In Chico
pee; and 1t was for this reason, perhaps.
that Mrs. Campbell watched with jeal-
ousy
Every possible pains had been taken
with Elias education. The best teach
ers had been hired to instruct her, and
she was now at a fashionable seminary
but still she did not possess one-half the
ease and gracefuness Of manner which
seemed natural to her sister. The two
girls had seen but little Of each other
and oftentimes when Ella met her sister
she merely acknowledged her presence
by nod or simple how dye do"
When she heard that Mary was to b,
a teacher she said "she was glad, for /
was more respectable than going into {
factory or working out" Mrs. Campbell
too, felt in duty bound to express hel
pleasure, adding that "she hoped Mar!
would give satisfaction, but twas ex
tremely doubtful, she was so young, anC
possessed of so little dignityP'
Unfortunately Widow Perkins red cot
tage stood directly opposite the schOO
house; and as the widow belonged to tina
stirVing few who always wash tn
breakfast dishes and make the beds be
fore anyone Is up in the house." she hat
ample leisure to watch and report ol
the proceedings Of the new teacher. Now
Mrs. Perkins clock was like its mis-
tress, always half an hour in advanc
of the true time, and Mary had scarcel
taught week ere Mr.. Knight, "the CON
mitteeman," was duly hailed in the stree
and told that the "schoolmarm wante
lookn' to, for she didn't begin no morn
in till half-past nine, nor no afternoo
till half-past one! Besides that" sh
added, 81 think she gives 'em too long
play spell. Anyways, seems ef some o
'em was out O. doors the hull time"
Mr.. knight had too much good sens
to heed the widows complaints, and h
merely replied: "Tm glad ont. Flv
hours Is enough to keep little shaver
cramped up in the house-glad ont"
The widow, thus foiled in her attempt
at making disturbance, finally gave u
the strife, contenting herself with quiz
zing the older girls, and asking them
Mary could do all the hard sums in aritl
metic, or whether she took them hon
for Mrs. Mason to solve!
In spite, however, Of these little al
noyances, Mary was contented and hal
py. She knew that her pupils loved he
and that the greater part Of the distri,
were satisfied, so she greeted the wido
with her pleasantest smile, and by a
ways being particularly polite, final
overcame her prejudice to a considerab
extent.
One afternoon about the middle
July, as Mrs. Perkins was seated by h
front window engaged in 'stitchin
Shoes" a very common employment
some parts of New England, her attel
tion was suddenly diverted by a tai
stylish looking young man, who, drivir
his handsome horse and buggy und,
the shadow of the apple trees. alighte
and entered into conversation with
group Of little girls who were taking the
usual recess. Mrs. Perkins curiosity w.
aroused, and Sally Ann was called
see who the stranger was. But for
wonder Sally Ann didn't know, thoul
sue ku6ostu the AooS Was ohe Vi VI
East Chieopee livery"
He's talkin' to Liddy Knight" sa
she, at the same time holding back Il
curtain and stepping aside so as not
be visible herself.
TRY If you can hear what he's sayin'
whispered Mrs. Perkins; but a class
boys in the school house just then stru,
into the multiplication table, thus effe
tually drowning anything which Sal
Ann might otherwise have heard
II know them children will split the
throats. Can't they hold up a minute
exclaimed Mrs. Perkins, greatly annoy,
at being thus prevented from overheard
a conversation the natuce of which s
could not even guess
The stranger was at that moment SIN
ingly saying; Tell me more about h,
Does she ever scold, or has she I
pretty mouth for thatT
mo, she never scolds," said Del
Frost, "and she's got the incest viii
teeth. and guess she knows it, too,
she shows them a great deal"
she's real white, toe" rejoined Lyd