The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-08
THE ADVERTISERS
 DAILY SHORT STORY

half it's space. Onsthe floored half stood fine bed and washstand and all the accompaniments Between the other half and tho room below was only lath and plaster. It chanced that the iath and plaster part was immediately above the bed of Miss Sophronia Vincent. Upon the first night of his assignment to the new room the teacher, coal oil lamp in hand. went to bed at 10 o'clock. Miss Vincent going to her room few minutes iater There came a moment when. after turn ing down the cuTnbrous covering, she tsat for a Ame in the middle of her bed with the lamp still burning. correcting the odd comoositions of her pupils. At that ident- icai time-synchronous they call It. Chauncey R. Laniield had just undressed himself and stood meditatively wondering if he could obtain his hearts desire. He couldn't approach her; he felt that in hts heart. he was so bashful. Little did he uneasily. he ''backed." He went over the edge of that planking. Where is that lath and plaster now!
 Hans Breitmann g1f ein barty
 Wo ist das barty now"
 Crash!-tear "Trip .-chug! Fair and plump. into the feather bed hollow be- side Miss .Sophronia Vincent descended Chauncey R. Lanfeld.
 There is very fine passage in Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake, de- scriptive of what happened when the arCherS in advance or the lOWfanu IOrcSS under Mar and Moray entered a defile in which were ambushed the highlanders of Roderick Dhu:
 At once there rose so wild a yell Within that dark and narrow dell, As all the fiends from Heaven that fell Had pealed the battle cry of hell!'
 Sir Walter Scott was a past master in the art of conveying an idea of fearful sound. but he'd have been sick for day afterward at Abbotsford had it been his lot to attempt rising to the height or screech. The very clapboards on the house strained to their splitting. The shill-voiced owl fell off the barn roof and flew far away in frightened envy. The family came running into the bodroom' Miss Vincent had tainted Farmer Dom- mick after one upward glance took in the direful situation. Great man was he, swift of thought and quick to act. He rushed from the room, returned in a moment with quilt, enveloped the teach CT in it with a single twist, and bore him bodily and decently away. The women folk stad with the camphor bottle to revive Miss Vincent.
 The next morning Miss Sophronia Vim cent did not appear at the o'clock break fast. The teacher was in his place. but his face was red and he had nothing to say to anybody. The meal over, the grave Dominick started for the barn, asking the teacher If he wouldn't come along? Once upon the barn floor the farmer seated himself upon an upturned bushel basket and motioned the teacher to another near at hand: What are you going to do about it?' the farmer asked.
 About what?" faltered Chauncey R. Lanfield.
 About Miss Vincent, of course Why. , man." and the farmer warmed up, don t you see you've got to marry the wo- man.
 The school teacher moved uneasily on his seat. "I would if 1 could" he said, but she wouldn't have me now, anyway"
 Leave it to me" said the farmer. Lord knows, you've been introduced to her" he added.
 It is feared that farmer Dominick and his wife-hardencd old married people had put their heads together in the silent watches of the night and conspired deeply between their convulsions of laughter. Well they knew the real sent iment of Chauncey R. Lanfeld and Miss Sophronia Vincent toward each other, and now they were resolved to force the issue; We've got ,cm,' snickered Dom mick 'The hand of Providence is in it," giggled his wife.
 While the conference in the barn was going on, one somewhat similar was in progress in the room of Miss Sophronia Vincent. Mrs. Dominick was grave; the spinster was sobbng:
 "Oh. Mrs. Dominick, what shall do!'
 'I don't know, child. It's a sad. sad matter, Sdlu tne eiuer woman, with solemn face though her lips twitched. Would you marry him?'
 "Oh, oh.'
 ''I don't see anything else to do. He likes you. know. Now, tell me, couldn't you marry hm?'
 Miss Sophronia Vincent ceased her sob ping and thought blushingly, Fl do-dont know she said finally.
 That evening. after few solemn words from farmer Dominick to the effect that there was something serious they should talk over. the two were left embarrassed and alone in the sitting room. An hour, later the farmer and his wife came in Chauhcey F. LanfieId and Miss Sophronia Vincent didn't look like the same persons Their faces ware shining.
 "Hooray," shouted the farmer Its just it ought to be. Ought to've been so long ago But thunder you got to he married from this house. and you'll git some presents too"
 I'm going to give you q silk dress. Sophronia," said Ms. Domlnick.
 Bully" assented the farmer. What shall l give you. old man?' and he slaped the teacher on the back
 Give me that bed" said Chauncey R. Lanfield.