The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-07-13
LYDIA'S
QUORUM
BY BELLE hAMATES
By BELLE hAMATES
Copyright, b05, By Belle Maniates

| Copyright, Bo5, By Belle Maniatos
well, Lyddy, I'll get you the job If
I can, but It's going to be a mighty
hard thing to get 'corum,'" Deacon
Watrous was saying. You see, that
young Wight thinks we ought to have
a man. OF course you'll have my vote,
but Bill Stiles is always straddlin' a
fence, and the last man be talks to gets
him. This young feller's highfalutin
talk kind Of caught Bilrs fancy, and he
was totterin', but I took him in hand,
and now he's leanin' our way again.
III stick to him tighter than brother
and keep him away from Wight till the
meetin Is over. It's tomorrow night"
"You are so good, Deacon Watsous," "
replied Lydia, raising grateful eyes,
land If 1 get the place I'll do my best
to vindicate your choice
'I'll do all 1 con, Lyddy,' said the
deacon.
Lydia Gardner had spent the past
summer away from home, and when
she returned to the farm she had
found the family in a state Of gloom.
Crops had been poor, number Of cat
tie had died, and the inevitable mort
gage had to be met. Lydia proposed to
meet It by teaching In the district
school. She had been reasonably GER
tain Of securing the position, counting
on the deacon and Bill for q quorum.
but now this young man, who had fall
en- hetr to the farm Of his uncle, John
Wight, and had come to the Corners In
her absence, might carry hts point Of
hiring man to teach.
She simply had to have the position,
and she determined to help Deacon
Watrous In hts efforts. to secure Bills
needed vote. It would be useless for
her to appeal to BilH"Weathercock
BILL as be was called. She resolved
to make bold move and encounter the
enemy whom she had never seen.
Hugh Wight was In the sitting room
Of the old homestead pondering over
this same subject Of quorum. When
be succeeded to bis Inheritance be had
determined to become practical farm
er and win the esteemed position his
uncle bad ever maintained in the
hearts Of the simple country folk. They
had laughed at the young man for
thinking be could be farmer, but be
had shown Il EN- he could. learn from
them and improve on their methods
They were glad to have him succeed
his uncle as q member Of the school
committee. That seemed to be more in
his line.
Ee had as firm convictions on the ed
ucatonal question as be had on most
subjects, and be thought a man more
fitted to wrestle with the difficulties Of
country school than a woman. he
had not seen this applicant, but he did
not approve Of a young girl who had
no preparation or experience In teach
ing.
In the midst Of bis cogitatons there
was q rap at the outer door. he opened
It to admit a winsome, willowy girl
with big, innocent eyes and an artless
manner.
"Are you Mr.. Wight? I am Lydia
Gardner
he acknowledged the introduction
graveiy and asked her to be seated.
| Hugh Wight was not susceptible
man, and Lydia's beauty only strength
ened him tn his belief that she was not
competent for the position Of school
teacher at the Corners.
II am, as you know" she said, "a
candidate for the position Of teacher.
I hear that you are In favor Of hiring
man for the place, and don't suppose
anything that could say would change
your opinion. came to ask you not to
induce Bill Stiles to vote against me-"
He was somewhat surprised at this
frank appeal. he liked directness.
1T means. a good deal to u.s." she
continued earnestly, 'and If I don't get
the place It will go very hard with my
father. Ny salary would help him
more than you can know"
Hugh felt az II he had been stealing
sheep. She did not want the money for
frpperies, then, but to help her father.
What do you mean by my infuenc-
ing Bili7" he asked.
"It's like this" she explained. "Dea-
con Watrous is Of course for me, and
Bin is, too, or would be, If you leave
him alone and say nothing about the
advantages Of having man, but the
last person that approaches Bill has
him, and they say you have convinc-
ing tongue. The deacon Is going to
try and keep Bill away from you until
the meeting IS over, but didn't care
to trust to that 30 came to ask you.
! wouldn't presume to ask you to vote
for me, only to let Bill alone"
Up to this time the eyes, voice and
manner Of the young man had not been
at all encouraging, but In the hearty
nool of infoctto,1a lauofrtar that fnllov.