Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-21

CnhBe DumDIehee III l 'Ukeu.
About fifty rods from Mr.. Randall's
stands One Of those old-fsshioned gable
rooted houses so common in some parts
Of New England. and here, at the time of
which | am speaking. lived Mrs Ross,
the mother of Isaac-or Ike, as he was
Familiarity called. had never met the
lady; but as | approached the house and
saw n tall, squareshouldered woman
leaning on the gate, | naturally thought
that il might be she: and on this point
| was not long left in doubt, for the mo
ment | came within speaking distance
she called out:
How dy' do, Miss Lee s'pose It's !?
| You pretty well? I'm Miss Ross, lsick's
mother. He tclled me that he had some
fuss about seat that he picked cut
more'n a month ago, and thinks he orto
have. | don't never calkerlate to take
sides with my children. cause I've kept
school myself, and know how bad tits;
but do hate to have lsick git milf Ogin
the scoholma'am on the first start, and
if Is you I'd let him have the seat in
stead of George Randall, for mebby
folks'll say you're partial to George, bein'
that his fathers committeeman"
AS well as | could, | explained the
do right, and meant to as far as ! knew
how.
II presume you do" said she, cor l
shouldn't n taken the liberty to speak
to you. | knew you's young, and | felt
afeared you didn't know what an UNI
dertakin' it was to teach the young idee
how to 'shute' The schoolma'a ans have
always thought a sight o. me, and gen
N he I
know jest how to take their part when
the rest of the folks are ag'in EN- Was
Susan Brown to school? But she wasn't,
though | know she wasn't"
| replied that there was a little girl
present of that name, and my companion
continued:
Now I'll give up, if Miss Brown has
come round enough to send when she
was so dreadfully opposed to your teach
in You've heerd about it, | s'poseT
| answered that Il didn't know that
any one had opposed me except Mr..
| Thompson"
"Oh, yes" said she, assuming an in
jured look and tone. Everybody knows
about that, and there's some sense in
their bein' mad, for twas paguey morti-
fyin' to Dell to offer to teach and be re-
iected by Mr.. Randall a man that none
o the Thompsons would wipe their old
shoes on, and then, 'tisn't every big bug
that will stoop to teach-for you know
faint considered fust cut"
mo, l didn't know it," and so | said;
but she assured me of the fact, quoting
as authority both Mrs. Thompson and
Dell who, | found, were her oracles in
everything. After a time | brought her
back to Mrs. Brown, whose hus band she
said. was gone to sea, and who had her
self applied for the school.
But between you and me-" she added,
speaking in whisper, cts n mighty
good thing that she didn't get it, for she
amt the likeliest person that ever was,
and nobody under the sun would have
sent to her. Isick shouldn't gone
single day But, land sakes how I'm
talkin'! You must not breathe a word |
say, for | make it a pint not to SANDER
my neighbors, and if everybody minded
their business as we'll as | do, there
wouldn't be so much back bitin' as there
| is, And that makes me think I've had
mind to caution you; but no, l guess
won't-mebby you'll tell ont"
OF course my curiosity was reused, and
of course | said | wouldn't tell; where
upon she proceeded to inform me that
| Mrs. Randall was a very talkin' woman,
and | must be pretty careful in her pres
ence. You can tell me anything you
wish to-" said she, for I'm a master
hand to keep secret; but Miss Randall
is forever in hot water. She an Miss
Brown are hand in glove, and both on em
turn up their noses at Miss Thompson
and Dell who never pretend to make
anything of 'em. I'm considerable init
mate at the captains, and | know all
about it. Dell is smart as a steel trap,
and it's pity she's took such dislike
to YOU"
IL don't think she ought to blame me-"
said l. for | didn't know as she wanted
the school"
"'Tain't that altogether" resumed
Mrs. Ross, again speaking in a whisper
"'Tain't that altogether and if you'll
never lisp word ont, I'll tell you the
hull story"
gave the required promise, and then
Mrs. Ross proceeded to inform me tina,
Dell was jealous of me.
Jealous" | exclaimed. How can
that beT'
you remember Doctor Clayton dom
your" said she. 'Dells kinder settin
her cap for him, and guess he's a snick
erin notion after her. Anyway, he comes
there pretty often. Well, he was Their,
the week after the examination, and tolc
EN- about you. He said you was brigh
as new guinea, and had better larnin
than half the teachers, and then you haC
, such sweet name-Rosa-he liked 1t
You orto have seen how mad Dell was a
7 you after he was gone
; Here Ike called out that "the Johnny
| cake was burned blscker than his hat.
, and forthwith Mrs. Ross started for TN
house, first bidding me keep dark" ant
A telling me she hoped II wouldn't be par
A tiRl to Mr.. Randall's children, for the
Q needed lickin' if ever young ones did
e they warn't brought up like Isick, VIII
was governed so we'll at home that h
o didn't need it Mt school,"
n l was learning to read the world
d great book fast, very fast; and with
: slightly heavy heart | turned away, paus
d ing once while Mrs. Ross, from the dooi
y step, called to me, saying that she guess
J. ed I'd better give Isick the seat to-moi
- II