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

"
window, and on pushing aside the cur
tain l saw that the dark, heavy clouds
betokened dull, rainy day. lnvolun-
tarily, thought of the old garrett vt
home, where, on such occasions, we al
ways resorted, raising Cain generally, "
as Sally said; aud when, with umbrella.
blanket shawl, and overshoes, started
for school, looked and felt forlorn III
deed. Raining as it was, 1t did not pre-
vent Mrs. Ross from coming out with
the tablespread over her head to tell me
that though she never warnt an atom
particular, and never meant to interfere
with teachers, as she knew just what 1t
was, she did hope I'd give lsick the seat,
and not be partial to George Randall.
When | reached the school house
found George transferring his books to
another part of the room, at the same
time telling Isaac "he could have the
disputed seat if he wanted it." With the
right kind Of training and influence Isaac
would have been fine boy, for there
were in his disposition many noble traits
Of character, and when he saw how read
lily George gave up the seat, he refused
to take 1t, saying "he didn't care where
other"
That day was long and dreary enough.
Not more than half the children were
there, and l found it exceedingly tire
some and monotonous sitting in that
hard, splint-bottomed chair, and telling
Emma Fitch and Sophia Brown, for the
hundredth time, that the round letter was
20" and the crooked one s." The schol-
ars, too, began to grow noisy and to ask
me scores of useless questions. Their
lessons were half learned; and If | made
q suggestion, l was quickly informed
that their former teacher didn't do So
Before night Inconsistencies began TO
creep over me, and had it not been for
the mud | should probably have footed it
to Sunny Bank. Just before school was
out, little boy cried to go home, and
this was the one straw too many. Hast
lily dismissing the scholars, l turned to-
ward the window, and my tears fell IS
fast as did the rain in the early morning.
THE schoolma' ans cryin, she Is.
saw her." circulated rapidly among the
children, who all rushed back to ascer-
tain the truth for themselves.
II should think she would cry" said
Oho VI Ills kHis " ucT DTouieT. LOU We
acted ugly enough to make anybody cry;
and IL you don't behave better to-mor-
row, Jim Maxwell, I'll tell mother
After the delivery of this speech, the
entire group moved away, leaving me
alone; and sure am l there was never u
more hemssA< child than was the one
who, with her head lying upon the desk.
sat there weeping In that low, dirty
school room, on that dark, rainy after.
noon. Where now was all the happiness
/ had promised myself in teaching2 Alas
1t was rapidly disappearing, and was
Just making up my mind to brave the rid
icule Of Sunny Bank and give up my
school at once, when a hand was laid
very gently on my shoulder, and a voice
partially familiar said:
Whats the matter, RosaT
SO absorbed was l in my grief that
/ had not heard the sound of footsteps,
and with start of surprise looked up
and met the serene, handsome eyes of
Doctor Clayton. He had been to visit a
patient. and was on his way home when,
seeing the door ajar, he had come In.
hoping to find me there; "but | did not
expect this" he continued, pointing to
the tears on my cheek. What is the
matterl Don't the scholars behave WELL
DR. are you homesick?"
,>At this question l began to cry so cio-
tently that the doctor, after exhausting
all his powers Of persuasion, finally laid
his hand soothingly on my rough, tangled
rurls ere ! could be induced to stop
Then, when l told him how disappointed
/ was, how l wished | had never tried
to teach, and how l meant to give it up
he talked to me so kindly, so brother
like, still keeping his hand on my shout
der, where 1t had fallen when l lifted ur
my bead, that ! grew very calm. think
Ing | could stay in that gloomy room for
ever if he were only there! He Was, 4.
l have said before, very handsome, anc
his manner was 80 very fascinating ant
his treatment of me 80 much like what
fancied Charles would be, were lie 1
grown-up man and | little girl, that
began to like him very, very much, think
ing then that my feeling for him wa,
such as a child would entertain for
father, for had heard that he was TWEEN
ty-seven, and between that and thrice,
there was, in my estimation, an impassa
ole gulf.
WISH luu my DuSSy mere, ne SAT-
at last, "for then could carry yo,
home. You'll wet your feet, and yo,
ought not to walk. Suppose you ride il
my lap; but no." he added, quickly
you'd better not, for Mrs. Thompso
and Mother Ross would make 1t a neigh
borhood talk"
There was wicked look in his ey
as he said this, and | secretly wondere
II he entertained the same opinion G
Dell that he evidently did of her si
ter. At length, shaking my hand, he bi
me goodbye, telling me that the examil
ing committee had placed me and IN
school in his charge, and that he Shout
probably visit me officially on Thursda
of the following week. Like very foo
ish child, | watched him until a turn
the road hid him from view, and thel
with feeling | could not anaIyze,
started for my boarding place, thinkiu
that if gave up my school should wa
until after Thursday.
In the doorway, with her sleeves role
up above her elbows, and her hair,
she herself said, lat skies and sevens
was Mrs. Ross, who, after informing II
that lit had been a desput rainy day
asked IF knew whether Doctor ClaytC
had been to Captain ThompsonsY'
There was no reason why / shou
blush at this question, but | did, thouC