The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-05-08
a GIRLS FREAK.

Berta Richards entered the morning.
room with an open letter in her hand
and a shine Of triumph on her piquant
lace.
I've got it, Aunt Marie-the school
in Squcedunk hollow"
Aunt Marie sighed in a martyr-like
way she had. that always amused her
niece immensely. She had long siucc
ceased to be greatly astonished at
Bert's odd ways. She simply resigned
herself meekly, with now and then a
feeble cXpostulation. Now she said, in
rather u 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 amour you see,
but 81 is something, and l do want to
earn some real money of my ownl'
"But, child. your property
sob, yes, l know, Aunt Marie; of
course, I'm what folks call rich; but
every single CEN of all my fortune was
left me by poor papa. l never really
earned a dollar in my life, and now Pm
going to; so don't waste time in OBJ
jecting.n
Berta was decidedly independent.
Every n knew that, none better than
the gentle maiden aunt who made her
home with her orphan niece; and tried
to take are 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 brncing 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 boardinn-place a
few days before the opening of school.
The residents Of the hollow viewed
her with unfeigned curiosity-"so
pretty, SO pretty, so stylish, SO socia-
ble," they said to one 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 dav 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 blossoming house-plants she beg.
ged or borrowed of the willing-hcarted
women, with the colored chalk SIZE
bought for them, with the story-books
she lent them.
Tryphene and Tryphosa Spencer, the
two old maids, who lived next door to
the schoolhouse, complained of too
much "singin' an marchin' an sech,'
and were scandalized by hearing oc-
casional peals of unrestrained laughter,
the schoolma'am's clear voice anon
the others.
"Twa'n't SO in u days, T~ryphena,
was itP' Tryphosa would say, solemnlv,
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' amt
the same nowadays"
In spite Of Tryphena and Tryphosa,
the school in Squeedunk hollow sue
ceeded g%loriously. The school was
large that winter, and Berta had
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 the
school, but she was strangely puzzled
sometimes at his questions, and only
her quick wit saved her from disastrous
failure, as, with the eyes of the school
upon her, Horace Gray would come to
her innocently with some difficult
problem or puzzling catch-question.
Many a night she sat up late, in her
room working for hours at some elu-
sive problem, until she solved it;
triumphant next morning when she
saw the mischievous, brown eyes sober
lh'o Aooh ~ IulSb ouipIi5o us ue
looked at the plucky little teacher.
The days went on happily. There
were sociables, and donations, and
surprise parties i~nnumerable. Squee-
dunk hollow had never before seen 50
lively a winter. Berta was responsible
for all the merry-makings and good
times. She ornanized a singing
school, and secured the services Of a
teacher from the city, who came up
and held his class in the bright little
school-house. Tryphena and Tryphosa
joined the class, aid sent their quayer-
ing voices along the notes persever-
iEgly, if not very tunefully. Horace
Gray's fine tenor attracted the notice
of tile professor, who praised it highly,
and took special pains with its c%ultiva-
ton.
Horace and 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 ac-
companied him.
The winter term drew toward a close,
and regretful words were heard on
every side. Every one was sorry to
lose the little schoolma'am. She her