Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1905-09-07
Miranda'S
WhinS
BY A. M. DAVIES OGDEN
COPYRIGHT, 1905, hr A. NJ u. ogden

Noou DeSpeuhlnR "a delClpOS CQOlneSS
and the ripple Of brooks, but in the
schoolroOm the air was undeniably
close. The scratch of a pencil, the
shufFling of impatient little feet, the
drone of lazy bee. all seemed TO In
tensify the impression of heat, and the
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly.
1t had meant a great deal to Peter
Raymond. securing the village school
at Wimberly, but he had not found his
task an easy one His eyes, wandering
over the rows of bent heads before him,
encountered the glance of u girl seated
near the door. The girl, one of the old
er scholars, with q toss of her curls,
returned to her book, and the trouble
In the schoolmaster's face deepened.
Here was the cruX Of the situation, If
he could win Miranda Hemming to his
side the remainder of the pupils would
follow easily enough But It WINS MI
randa herself, with her great blue eyes,
fetching dimples and coQuettish ways.
who openly led the revolt against him,
The teacher sighed again. Perhaps no
was too young.
From the very beginning of his work,
however Raymond had recognized the
primitive instinct Of hostility TO tho un-
known IN the questioning eyes uplifted
to his own. Now. after five weeks, he
seemed no nearer the solution of his
problem; indeed, matters under Miriam
da's spirited guidance were becoming
even worse, despite hts pointed ign0l-
ing Of her mutiny. He touched the bell.
"FIrst class In grammar" he said.
| Miranda, with several other girls, rang
| ing from sixteen TO eighteen, came
slowly forward. 1t was rather try
| ing recitation. Most of the girls STUN
bled Miranda failed utterly, nor did
she care. To oil his questions she an
swered with provoking nonchalance,
| evidently Indifferent as to whether he
were pleased or not Her rebellion had
never before been quite so openly man
| ifest A sudden line of resolution
| frightened the young mans mouth.
You may return TO your seats" he
satd. Miss Mirahda, | shall expect
you TO remain after school until that
lesson is recited perfectly"
"What!' cried the girl. Involunta-
rlly she fell back step, hardly believ-
ing her own ears That any one should
dare address her, Miranda Hemming,
in such fashion! Raymonds expression
did not change.
You heard what said" he returned
quietly 1T should not take long"
For a moment Miranda, stupefled,
( hesitated, then she founced indignant
ly back to her seat The whole school,
which had dropped all work to listen
to the passage at arms between Nj
randa and the teacher fairly shivered,
and Tom Carruthers, q big loutish
chap of nineteen, shot a sullen look at
Raymond. To scold Miranda! To the
Qulvering excitement of the school. the
time until 4 o'clock appeared fairly TO
1y. Would teacher really keep In Mi |
randa7
When the others arose, Miranda also |
sprnnR to her feet. Then something in |
the teachers expression caused her TO 1
sink back In her seat tingling and |
abashed. 1t took an unusually long I
time for the pupils TO disperse that
day, but at last they were oil gone.
You need not think that I shall .
study that lesson" she declared with /
sharp emphasis. Raymond nodded.
"As you please" he answered. only
here we both stay until you do"
And I'm not to have any support"
inreduiouSly.
mot until you learn that lesson"
But burst out Miranda furious
ly, Then she closed her lips with a
snap and leaned back, her hands tenn
pestuously folded before her. Ray
mond picked up book.
Take your own time" he said pleas
antly.
But somehow the book did not prove
very enthralling. Between bis eyes ard
the printed pages persisted tho vision
of willful little face set In Its tangle
of wavy hair Yet ne must not be
beaten now His whole future hung
on this issue, he thought. The shad-
ows lengthened, the sun dropped be-
hind the hills Miranda, who for some
time had been stealing furtive glances
at the quiet figure behind the big desk
smiled prettily.
'Tm-Tm hungry" she wheedled
For an instant Raymond wavered.
This new sweetness was strange and
alluring, But before he could speak
the door was flung open and Tom Car
ruthers appeared on the threshold
Bent ye comm home to supper,
MIrandyT he demanded yer ma sent
me fer ye." darting a suspicious look
at her Jailer. Amt ye comln'f III
look out fer ye."
Why" began Miranda feebly. Ray
mond. a sudden, unaccountable resent
ment surging into his heart, frowned.
Miss Miranda is In no need Of a
champion" he declared stifhy. "She
can leave when she chooses. You may
60" And Tom. after an instant's
scowling hesitation, went out, banging
the door. Miranda BIT her lip.
Il will never learn that lesson" she
repeated stubbornly.
There was another long silence while
the shadow darkened. At last the
young man rose and lit the lamp.
''It Is nearly 0 o'clock" he said brief
ly. Miranda, now close upon tears,
looked back still defiant
And IL say 1t you'll let me go1"
Certainly"
With rapid. choked utterances she
nung the text at him, not pausing for
question or comment And then
II hate you" she cricd vehement
ly; hate you, hate you! And I'll new
er. never come into this horrid school
room again.' The bright drops shone
In her eyes like dew on forgetmenots,
hcr checks were flushed to a Wild rose
pink; the girl was shaken, puzzled,
hurt. The village boys she had teased
and ruled at viii For the first time
she had found n man impervlous alike