Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-02-14
Sunny Bank Farm
FLOYD LIVINGSTON

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felt spirit of rivalry toward Dell
Thompson. Still I did not wish her to
know Of Doctor Clayton's call. and SO l
said to Mrs. Ross. who replied:
You needn't he an atom afeard o
my talkin'. l know too well what tits
to he schoolnnrm and have the hull
decstrict pcekin' Mt you. SO II you've
anything you want kept. I'm the one;
for can be still as the grave. hid the
doctor say anything about Dell! But
he didn't. know. and faint likely he
said anything about anybody"
I replied that he talked with me about
my school, and then ns I heard the clock
strike six, ! walked along. Looking back.
as I entered Mr.. Rnndalls gate, I saw
Mrs. Ross old plaid shawl and brown
bonnet disappearing over the hill rs fast
ms her feet could take them. but had no
suspicion that her destination was Cap.
tain ThompsOn's. did not know the
world then as well as do now. ard when
the next morning I met Dell Thompson.
who stared at me insolently. while a
naughty sheer curlcd her lip. ! Ind no
Idea that she was jealous OF me. little
Rosa Lee. whose heart was lighter. ind
whose task seemed far easier on account
Of Doctor Clayton's past and promised
visit.
Saturday night came ut last. and very
joyfully ! started home on foot. feeling
not ut all burdened with the compliments
of my patrons or the esteem of my pu-
pills. Oh. what shout was raised at the
shortness Of my three weeks as l entered
our sitting room. All laughed ut me ex-
ccpt my mother. She was not disappoint-
ed. and when drew Cnrrie's little rock.
Ing chair to her side. and told her how
hard my head was aching, she laid her
soft hand cnressingly upon my brow. and
gently smoothing my short curls. bathcd
my forehead In camphOr until the pain
was gone. Had there been no one pres.
eiit but our own family. I should proba.
bly, have cried; but owing to some I'M.
toward circumstance. Aunt Sally Wright
was there visiting that afternoon. and Is
a teacher I felt obliged to maintain my
dignity before her prying eyes. ALMOST
her first salutatiOn to the was:
"Waal. Rosa. 80 you've grown old since
you left homer
II don't understand whnt you nean."
I answered.
"why. I menn." said she. that son,c-
body told me that Mrs. Green told them.
that Major Ponds wife told her. that
Mary Downcs said TINT Nancy Rice
heard Miss Cap'n Thompson say that you
told Doctor Clayton you was sixteen"
knew that tho subject of my age had
not come up between me and the doctor.
but II was useless to deny a story 80 well
authenticated. 70 I snid nothing. and
Aunt Sally continued: "'Thcy do say you
ttrnsh sa,s np,t,,1 aha,,k ets,l,t ...htt..
mOther asked "whO Doctor Clayton was"
"why. he's a young pill pcddler. who's
taken a shine to ROSA. and stayed with
her alone In the school house until pitch
dark" said Aunt Sally. her little green
eyes twinklng with the immense salts.
faction she felt.
By this ! know that she had Pine
Hill as well as Sunny Bank upon her
hands. and. indeed. twas strange how
much Aunt Sally did manage TO attend
to ut once: for, besides keeping her sons
wife continually frctted. and her daugh.
ter constantly Quarreling with her hus.
band. by her foolish interference. there
was scarcely thing trnnspired In the
neighborhOOd In which she did not have
part
The next day WINS the Sabbath. and "
Mt church did now and then cast fur.
tive glance ut the congregation, to zee II
they were looking ut me bacuse I was
''schoolina'am." It was a childish vanity
which ! have long since forgiven. Among
the audience was our minister's young
bride. and when. after church. he intro.
duced her to me, saying. This II Rosa.
who. I told you. was only thirteen ard
teaching school," ! felt quite reconciled
to my lot. and thought that after ull II
was an honor to be a teacher.