Smyrna times., 1905-08-30

Whins
BY A. M. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905, by 4. II. D. Ooden

- W." eSAHOOH Oh one OF the last
few hot days of summer. Through the
open windows came glimpses of green
tEood bespeaking delicious coolness
and the ripple of brooks, but in the
schoolroom the air was undeniably
close. The scratch of a pencil, the
shufiling of impatient little feet the
drone of lazy bee. all seemed to in
tensify the impression of heat, and the
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly.
IT had meant 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 beSore him.
encountered the glance of a girl seated
near the door. The girl. one of the old
er scholars, with a toss of her curls,
returned to her book, and the trouble
in the SchOolmasters 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 was 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 he
was too young.
From the very beginning of his work,
however, Raymond had recognized the
primitive instinct of hostility to the 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 his pointed ignor-
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 a try
ing recitation. Most of the girls STUN
bled. Miranda failed utterly, nor did
she care. To all 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
tightened the young mans mouth
You may return to your seats" he
said. Miss Miranda, l shall expect
you to remain after school until that
lesson is recited perfectly"
''Whatr' cried the girl. InvOlunta-
rily she fell back a step, hardly believ-
ing her own ears. That any one should
dare address her, Miranda Hemming,
in such fashion! Raymond's expression
did not change.
"YOu heard what said," he returned
quietly 1T should not take 10 4g."
For a moment Miranda, stupefied,
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 Mi
randa and the teacher, fairly shivered,
and Tom Carruthers, a big. loutish
chap Of nineteen, shot a sullen look at
Raymond. To scold Mirandal To the
quivering excitement of the school, the
time until o'clock appeared fairly to
fly. Would teacher really keep in Mi
randa?
sprang to her feet. Then something in
the teachers expression caused her to
sink back in her seat, tingling and
abashed. 1t took an unusually long
time for the pupils to disperse that
day, but at last they were all gone.
You need not think that 1 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 supper?'
incredulOusly.
mot until you learn that lesson"
But burst Sout Miranda furious
". 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 his eyes and
the printed pages persisted the vision
Of a willful little face set in its tangle
Of wavy hair. Yet he must not be
beaten now. His whole future hung
on this issue, he thought. The shad-
Ows heightened, 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
allurlng. But before he could speal
the door was flung open and Tom Car
ruthers appeared on the threshold.
Bent ye comm home to supper
Mirandyl" be demanded. yer ma sen
me fer ye." darting a suspicious lool
at her jailer. "Ain't ye comm? II
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