Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-05-28

How you talk! Isck never said a
word about it," was Mrs. Ross cxclama-
ton, the blank expression of her face
growing still more blank when | told her
that he did not come until the scholars
were gone.
You two been there all sole alone
since four o'clock? I'll give up now! l
hope Dell Thompson won't find it out,
for she's awful slanderous but she
added, coming to the gate and speaking
in whisper, I'm blsd ont, and mebby
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, 1t
gratifed me; and from that moment |
felt a spirit of rivalry toward Dell
Thompson Still did not wish her to
know of Doctor Clayton's call, and so |
said to Mrs. Ross, who replied:
you needn't be an atom afeard o.
my talkin'. | know too well what tits
to be schoolmarm and have the hull
deestrict peekin' at you. So If you've
anything you want kept, I'm the one;
for | can be still as the grave. Did the
doctor say anything about Dell? But
he didn't, know, and faint likely he
said anything about anybody"
replied that he talked with me about
my school, and then as | heard the clock
strike six, / walked along. Looking back,
as entered Mr.. Randalls gate, l saw
Mrs. Ross old plaid shawl and brown
bonnet disappearing over the hill as fast
as her feet could take them. but had no
suspicion that her destination was Cap
tain Thompson's. l did not know the
world then as we'll as do now, and when
! the next morning met Dell Thompson,
who stared at me insolently, while a
naughty sheer curled her lip, | had no
idea that she was jealous of me, little
Rosa Lee, whose heart was lighter, and
whose task seemed far easier on account
of Doctor Clayton's past and promised
visit.
| Saturday night came at last and very
joyfully | started home on foot, feeling
not at all burdened with the compliments
of my patrons or the esteem of my pu-
pills. Oh, what q shout was raised at the
shortness of my three weeks as l entered
our sitting room! All laughed at me ex-
cept my mother She was not disappoint-
ed, and when l drew Carries little rock
ing chair to her side, and told her how
hard my head was aching, she laid her
soft hand caressingly upon my brow, and
gently smoothing my short curls, bathed
my forehead in camphor until the pain
was gone. Had there been no one pres
ent but our owD family, / should prOba-
bly, have cried; but owing to some I'M
toward circumstance, Aunt Sally Wright
was there visiting that afternoon, and sc
q teacher l felt obliged to maintain my
dignity before her pfying eyes. Almost
her first salutation to me was:
WAL, Rosa, so you've grown old since
you left homer"
II don't understand what you mean,
l answered.
why, l mean," said she, that some
body told me that Mrs. Green told them
that Major Ponds wife told her, that
Mary Downes said that Nancy Rice
heard Miss Cap'n Thompson say that you
told Doctor Clayton you was sixteen.
knew that the subject of my age had
not come up between me and the doctor
but it was useless to deny story so vel
authenticated, so | said nothing, and
Aunt Sally continues "They do say you
thrash 'em round about right" while
| hhVtheI ushcu WIN bOClOT SldylOU was
why, he's n young pill peddler, who's
taken a shine to Rosa and stayed with
her alone in the school house until pitch
dark" said Aunt Sally, her little greer
eyes twinkling with the immense salts
faction she felt.
BY this l knew that she had Pin,
Hill as we'll as Sunny Bank upon hel
hands, and indeed, twas strange how
much Aunt Sally did manage to atten,
to at once; for, besides keeping her SON,
wife continually fretted, and her daugh
ter constantly quarreling with her hus
band, by her foolish interference, Their,
was scarcely n thing transpired in thu
neighborhood in which she did not hav,
a part.
The next day was the Sabbath, and /
at church l did now and then cast a fur
tive glance at the congregation, to see |
they were looking at me bacuse was
"schoolma' am" it was childish vanit,
which have long since forgiven Anon,
the audience was our minister's youni
bride, and when, after church, he intro
duced her to me, saying, This is Rosa
who, / told you, was only thirteen ar,
teaching school," l felt quite reconcile
p to my lot and thought that after all
was an honor to be teacher.