Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-08-04
LYDIA'S
QUORUM
BY BELLE MANIATES
Copyright, 1906, by Belle Maniates

man. Of course you II nave my vote,
but Bill Stiles is always straddlin q
|, fence, and the last man he talks to gets
him. This young feller's highfalutin
talk kind Of caught Biirs fancy, and he
was tot,erln', but took him in hand.
and now he's leanin' our way again.
I'll 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 Watrous,"
replied Lydia. raising grateful eyes,
'and If get the place I'll do my best
to vlndicate your choice"
I'll do all l can, 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 u 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 1t by teaching In the district
school, She had been. reasonably Ger
tain of securing the position, counting
on the deacon and Bill for Il quorum.
but now this young man, who had fall
en- heir to the farm of his uncle, John
Wight, and had come to the Corners In
her absence. might. carry his point Of
hiring n man to teach.
She simply had to have the position,
and she determined to help Deacon
Watrous In his efforts to secure Bilps
needed vote 1t would be useless for
her to appeal to Bill-"Weathcrcock
BILL" as he 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 ponderlng over
this same subject of quorum. When
he succeeded to his Inheritance he had
determined to become Il practical farm
er and win the esteemed position his
uncle had ever maintained in the
hearts of the simple country folk. They
had laughed at the young man for
thinking he could be a farmer, but he
had shown them he could learn from
them and improve on their methods.
They We're glad to have him succeed
his uncle as a member of the school
committee. That seemed to be more In
his line.
He had as firm convictions on the ed
ucational question as he had on most
subjects, and he thought n man mere
fitted to wrestle with the difficulties Of
q country school than woman. He
had not seen this applicant, but he did
not approve of u young girl who had
no preparation or experience In teach
Ing.
In the midst Of his cogitations there
was rap at the outer door. He opened
1t to admit wlnsome, willowy girl
with big, innocent eyes and an artless
manner.
Are you Mr.. wlght2 am Lydia
Gardner"
He acknowledged the introduction
gravely and asked her to be seated.
Hugh Wight was not susceptible
man. and Lydia's beauty only strength
ened him In 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.
hear that you are in favor Of hiring a
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.
ut means a good deal to u.s." she
continued earnestly, land II don't get
, the place 1t will 60 very hard with my
father. My salary would help him
more than you can know"
Hugh felt as IL he had been stealing
sheep. She did not want the money for
fripperies, then, but to help her father.
"Whau do you mean by my infiuenc-
ing Bill:" he asked
"It'a like this" she explained "Dea-
con Watrous Is of course for me, and
Bill is, too, or would be, II yau leave
him alone and say nothing about the
advantages Of having a man, but the
last person that approaches Bill has
him, and they say you have q oopvinos
| ing tongue. 1'he deacon Is going to
| try and keep Bill away from you until
the meeting Is over, but ! didn't care
70 'Fust u 'ia' 50 came 10 ask you
! "ouiuht presume 10 ask you 10 vote
1or me- ohiy 10 iet Din aione'
| W W WIS ti'hp tie eyes, voice ana
! manner of tho young man had not been
ot oIl oncourog,pa hr+ In Tho hoo ,tw
nooI ~ infectinns iouahtor thot to,,on
sd hor nannest Irdia cangbt a nota -,
onnro.,ot, t,nn ond soma w,ou sh. .,ar,v w
~ W no," &c., ,,,s ,',S. 80 49,
.lIiss coranor :. st,.,,,o, 49, .,
mr. odd t,,ot ro,, shor,d oon,a onI -.
mo tho wr.y 70 o,in NV na,,,. ana 80
n.,. ,o 49, g.. .a, a.,
",Invha =, - 49, ..,, s..,uu
.bnt tI' dIdn,t v know what o,s. to DO"