Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-02-24
CHAPTER v.--(Continued.,

OStOksuSu uull, TdlUy Jay. luVOluH~
tarily, l thought of the old garnet at
home, where, on such occasions, we al
ways resorted, raising Cain generally"
as Sally said; and when, with umbrella
blanket shawl, and overshoes, | started
for school, l looked and felt forlorn in
deed. Raining as it was, it did not pre-
vent Mrs. Ross from coming out with
the tablespread over her head to tell me
that though she never warn't an atom
particular, end never meant to interfere
with teachers, as she knew just what it
was, she did hope I'd give Isick the seat,
and not be partial to George Randall"
When l reached the school house
found George transferring his books to
another part of the room, at the same
time telling Isaac ''he could have the
disputed seat if he wanted it," With the
right kind of training and influence Isaac
would have been a fine boy, for there
were in his disposition many noble traits
OF character, and when he saw how read
lily George gave up the seat he refused
to take it. saying The didn't care where
he sat-one place was as good as an
other"
That day was long and dreary enough.
Not more than half the children were
there, and l found it exceedingly tire
some and monotonous sitting in that
hard, splint-bottomed chair, aud telling
Emma Fitch and Sophia Brown, for the
hundredth time, that the round letter was
u" and the crooked one IS" The schol-
mrs, too, began to grow noisy, and to ask
me scores of useless questions. Their
lessons were half learned; and if made
suggestion, l was quickly informed
that their former teacher didn't do so.
Before night inconsistencies began TO
creep over me, and had it not been for
the mud | should probably have footed it
to Sunny Bank. Just before school was
out, little boy cried to go home, and
this was the one straw too many. Hast
lily dismissing the scholars, | turned to-
ward the window. and my tears fell rs
fast IS aid the rain in the early morning.
THE schoolma'a ANS cryin', she is.
saw her." circulated rapidly among the
children, who all rushed back to ascer-
tain the truth for themselves.
Il should think she would cry" said
one of the girls to her brother. You've
acted ugly enough to make anybody cry;
and if you don't behave better to-nor-
row, Jim Maxwell, I'll tell MOTHER
After the delivery of this speech, the
entire group moved away, leaving me
alone; and sure am | there was never
more homesick child than was the one
who, with her head lying upon the desk,
sat there weeping in that low, dirty
school room, on that dark, rainy after.
noon. Where now was all the happiness
/ had promised myself in teaching? Alas!
it was rapidly disappearing and [ was
just making up my mind to brave the rid
icule of Sunny Bank and give up my
school at once, when a hand was laid
very gently on my shoulder, and a voice
partially familiar said:
Whats the matter, Rosa?"
So absorbed was | in my grief that
/ had not heard the sound of footsteps,
and with a start Of surprise | looked up
and met the serene, handsome eyes of
Doctor Clayton. He had been to visit a
patient, and was on his way home when,
seeing the door ajar, he had come in,
hoping to find me there; but | did not
expect this he continued, pointing to
the tears ON my cheek What is the
matter? Don't the scholars behave well,
or are you homesick:"
At this question l began to cry so clio
lently that the doctor, after exhausting
all his powers of persuasion, Gnally laid
his hand soothingly on my rough, tangled
curls ere | could be induced to stop.
Then, when ] told him how disappointed
l was, how | wished / had never tried
to teach, and how l meant to give it up,
he talked to me so kindly, so brother
like, still keeping his hand on my shout
der, where it had fallen when / lifted up
my head that | grew very calm. think
ing l could stay in that gloomy room for
ever if he were only therei He was, MS
l have said before, very handsome. and
his manner Was so very fascinating and
his treatment of me so much like what /
fancied Charles would be. were lie n
grown-up man and | q little girl, that |
began to like him very, very much, think
ing then that my feeling for him was
such as a child would entertain for a
father for l had heard that he was TWEEN
ty-seYen, and between that and thirteen
there was, in my estimation, an impassa-
bic gulf.
II wish had my buggy here" he said
at last, "for then l could carry you
home. You'll wet your feet, and you
ought not to walk. Suppose you ride in
my lap; but no." he added. quickly,
you'd better not. for Mrs Thompson
and Mother Ross would make il a neigh
49,
borhood talk"
There was a wicked look in his eve
as ne said this, and | secretly wondered
IF he entertained the same opinion of
Dell that he evidently did of her sis
ter At length, shaking my hand. he bid
me goodbye. telling me that the examin-
ing committee had placed me and my
school in his charge, and that he should
probably visit me officially on Thursday
of the following week. Like a very fool
ish child l watched him until turn in
the road hid him from view, and then,
with feeling | could not analyze,
started for my boarding place. thinking
that if gave up my school should wait
urtil after Thursday.
In the doorway, with her sleeves rolled
up above her elbows, and her hair. as
she herself said, lat skies and sevens, >
was Mrs. Ross. who, after informing ne
that lit had been desput rainy day."
asked IF knew whether Doctor Clayton
had been to Captain Thompson's"
There was no reason why | should
blush at this question, but / did. though
my sunbonnet fortunately concealed the
fact from my interrogation, who, without
waiting for an answer, continued:
HE drove past here about fifteen min
utes ago, and | guess he's been spark'n
Dell"
1t must have been an evil spirit sure
ly which prompted my reply that he had
been at the school house with me-"
How you talk, Isick never said a
word about it," was Mrs. Ross exclama-
i ton, the blank expression of her face
growing still more blank when l told her
that he did not come until the scholars
were gone.
you two been there all sole alone
since four O'Clock? III give up now! l
hope Dell Thompson won't find il out,
for she's awful slanderous; but. she
added. coming to the gate and speaking
In a whisper. I'm blad ont. and nlebhy
she'll draw in her horns if she finds that
some of the under crust, as she calls
'em. can be noticed by Doctor Clayton
as well as herself"
Equivocal as this compliment was. il
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