The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-05-08
A GIRLS FREAK.

Berta Richards entered the morning.
| room with an open letter in her hand
and a shine Of triumph on her piquant
! face
i've got it, Aunt Marie-the school
in Squecdunk hollow"
Aunt Marie sighed in martyr-like
way she had that always amused her
niece immensely. She had long since
ceased to be greatly astonished at
Bert's odd ways. She simply resigned
herself meekly, with now and then q
feeble expostulation. Now she said, in
rather a startled tone:
Child! who do you mean! Explain
yourself, YOU incomprehensible girl!'
Berta laughed. and said slowly, with
great emphasis:
Observation-Disclosures hol-
/ low! I'm engaged as schoolma' am for
the coming term, which begins next
| Monday, at salary of 81 week It's
not an embarrassing amount YOU see,
but 81 is something, and do want to
earn some real money of my own!'
| ''But, child, your property
| ooh. yes, | know, Aunt Marie; of
course, I'm what folks call rich; but
every single cent of all my fortune was
left me by poor papa. l never really
earned Il dollar in my life, and now Pm
going TO; SO don't waste time in OBJ
| jecting.h
Berta was decidedly independent.
! Every one knew that, none better than
the gentle maiden aunt who made her
home with her orphan niece; and tried
to take care Of her. Every one knew
the girls odd ways, and liked her none
the less for them. There was Il spiel
ness about her that was bracing and
refreshing rs sea breeze, and amagic
something about her unexpected say
lngs and doings that made her popular.
| SO Berta started for Squeedunk hol-
low, and found herself snugly estab-
lished in her new boardinr-plac u
few days before the opening OF school,
| The residents Of the hollow viewed
her with unfeigned curiosity-''s
pretty, so pretty, so stylish so socia-
BILE they said to one another The
country girls were awed by the beauty
and style of her gowns. and the pretty
twist she gave her bright, brown hair
Berta made friends with every one,
from the trustees to the smallest tow
headed urchin in the primer class.
People were astonished at the innova-
tons she introduced into the little
country school. at the elegant little
organ that arrived one day from the
city, and which she played every morn
ing, at the opening of school. and
every night. at tho close. The boys
surprised themselves, and each other,
| by the readiness with which they
learned to march to Berta's music.
The children were delighted with the
bright pictures she bought and hung
on the bare, whitewashcd walls, with
the blossoming plants she beg
| ged or borrowed Of the willin@-hearted
| women, with the colorcd chalk SIC
! bought for them, with the story-books
she lent them.
Tryphene and Tryphosa Spencer, the
two old maids who lived next door tc
the schoolhousc, complained of toe
much 'singin' an nlarchin' an scch,
and were scandalized by hearing oc
casional peals Of unrestrained laughter
the schoolna am's clear voice among
| the others.
'Twa'n't so in our days, Tryphena
was it?n Tryphosa would say, solemrly,
with Il doeful look at her twin-sister
over her spectacles, as they sat to-
J gether at their patchwork, and Try
! Dhena would respond with a melan-
choly shake of her head: mo, 'twa'n't t,
Tryphosa; but to be sure, nothin' amt
the same nowadays"
In spite of Tryphena and Tryphosa
| the school in Squeedunk hollow sue
| ceeded gloriously. The school was
large that winter, and Berta had
! several pupils older and taller than her
| self
Among them was one who troubled
| her sorely sometimes. not by misbe.
havior. for he was a model for the
| school, but she was strangely puzzled
sometimes at his questions, and only
| her quick wit saved her from disastrous
failure, as, with the eyes of the school
upon her, Horace Gray would come to
her innocently with some difficult
problem or puzzling catch-question.
Many night she sat up late, in hel
room working for hours at some elu-
| sive problem, until she solved it;
triumphant next morning when she
saw the mischievous, brown eyes sober
into look Of quiet surprise as he
| looked at the plucky little teacher.
| The days went on happily. There
! were sociables, and donations, and
surprise parties innumerable. Squee.
| dunk hollow had never before seen Sc
| lively winter. Berta was responsible
| for all che merry-makings and good
times. She ornanized a singing
school, and secured the services of 8
teacher from the city, who came uE
and held his class in the bright little
school-house. Tryphena and Tryphosa
| joined the class, aid sent their quaver.
ing voices along the notes persever
irgly, if not very tunefully. Horace
Gray's fine tenor attracted the notice
of the professor, who praised it highly,
and took special pains with its cultiva.
ton.
Horace and Berta were thrown much
! together by means of their voices,
which blended finely. Often he would
| remain after school and sing while
Berta sat ct the little organ and ac'
companied him.
| The winter term drew toward a close,
| and regretful words were heard or
| every side. Every one was sorry tc
lose the little schoolma'am.S She her.
/ self strangely dreaded to CO. The