The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-05-08
"A GIRLS FREAK.

and a shine Of triumph on her piquant
face.
I've got it, Aunt Marie-the school
in Squeedunk hollow
Aunt Marie sighed in a m~artyr-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 a
feeble exp~ostulation. 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:
low! Pm engaged as schoolma'am for
the coming term, which begins next
Monday, at a salary of 81 a week. It's
not an embarrassing amount you see,
but 81 is something, and I do want to
earn some real money Of my own!'
"But. child. your property"
"Oh. yes, I know, Aunt Marie; Of
course. I'm what folks call rich; but
every single cent of all my fortune was
left nue. by poor papa. I never really
earned a dollar in my life, and now I'm
going to; SO don't waste time in OBJ
%eeting g."
Berfa 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 a Spiel
ness about her that was bracing and
refreshing as a sea breeze, and a magic
something about her unexpected say
ings and doings that made her popular.
So Berta started for Squeedunk hol-
low, and found herself snugly estab-
lished in her new boardinL.place a
few days before the opening Of school.
The residents of the hollow viewed
her with unfeigned cnriosity-''so
pretty, SO pretty, so stylish, so socia-
ble," they said to n 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 the 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, whitewashed walls, with
the poisoning house-plants she beg.
ged or borrowed of the willing-hearted
women, with the colored chalk sic
bought for them, with the story-books
she lent them.
Tryphene and Tryphosa Spencer, the
two old maids, who lived next door te
the schoolhouse. complained Of toe
much 'singin' an marchin' an sech,'
and were scandalized by hearing oc.
c%asional peals of unrsstrained laughter,
the schoolma'am's clear voice among
the others.
"Twa'n't 80 in our days, Tryphena
was itp" Tryphosa would say, solemnly
with a doleful look at her twin-sister
over her s%pectacles, as they sat to.
gether at their patchwork, and Try.
phena would respond with a melan.
choly shake of her head: mo, 'twa'n't,
Tryphosa; but to be sure, nothin' ain't
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 hac
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 thu
school, but she was strangely puzzled
sometimes, at his questions, and only
her quick wit saved her from disastrou!
failure, as, with the eyes Of the schoo.
upon her, Horace Gray would come te
her in~nocently with some difficult
problem or puzzling catch-question.
Many a night she sat up late, in he1
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 a look of quiet surprise as ht
looked at the plucky little teacher.
The days went on happily. Their.
were sociablse. and donations, anG
surprise parties innumerable. Squee,
dunk hollow had mover before seen ..
lively a winter. Berta was responsible
for all the merry-makings and gooe
times. She ornanizsd a singing
school, and secured the services of
teacher from the city, who came w
and held his class in the bright little
sc~hool-house. Tryphena and Tryphoss
joined the class, AID sent their quaver.
ing voices along the notes persever.
irggly, if not very tunefully. Horace
Gray's fine tenor attracted the notice
Of the professor, who praised it highly,
aad took special pains with its cultiva.
ton.
Horace ana Berta were thrown much
together by means of their voices,
which blended finely. Often he would
remain after school and sing while
Berta sat at the little organ and &C.
companied him.
The winter term drew toward a close,
and regretful words were heard on