Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-07-27
Miranda's
Whims
By A. N. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright. 1906. bg 4. ". ID. Ogden

1
wood bespeaking a delicious GOODNESS
and the ripple of brooks, but in the
schoolroom the air was undeniably
close The scratch of pencil, the
shutting of impatient little feet, the
dronc of lazy bee, I'LL seemed to III
tensfy the impression of heat. and the
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly.
1t had meant great deal to Peter
Raymond. securing the village school
at Wlmberly, but he had not found his
task IN easy one. His eyes, wandering
over the rows of bent heads before him,
encountered. the glance Of a girl seated
near the door. The girl, one of the old
er scholars, with Il toss Of her curls,
returned to her book, and the trouble
IN the schoJlnaster' face deepened.
Here was the crux of the situation. Ii
he could win Miranda llemming to his
side the remainder OF The pupils would
follow easily enough. But 1t was Mi
randa herself, with her great blue eyes,
fetching dimpies and coquettish ways,
who onealy led the revolt against him.
The teacher sighed again, Perhaps he
was too young.
From the very beginning of bis work,
however. Raymond had recognized the
primitive instinct Of hostility 10 the I'M
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 po,ated ignor-
ing of her nut!ny. lie touched ihe bell.
First class In G'&..I.nar," he said.
Miranda, with several othc. girls, rang
ing from siNtlua to e,G..tc2n, came
slowly forward 1t WAS rather try
ing recitation. Most of the girls STUN
bed. 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. 4 sudden line of resolution
frightened the young mans mouth
You may return to your seats he
said Miss Miranda, shall expect
you to remain after school until that
lesson is recited perfectly
What" cried the girl Involuntn-
rily she fell back 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 long,
For moment Miranda stupefied,
hesitated, then she tiounced 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 shfvered,
and Tom Carruthers, big, loutish
chap of nineteen, shot sullen look at
Raymond TO scold Miranda! To the
quivering excitement of the school, the
time until o'clock appeared fairly to
Z fly. Would teacher really keep In Mi
randa?
When the others arose Miranda also
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 dispense that
/ day. but at last they We're all gone.
"You need not think that / 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 SUPERB
| incredulously.
Not 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
pestuodsly folded before her. Ray
| mond picked up a book.
Take your own time" he said pleas
antly
But somehow the book did not prove
very enthrulling. Between his eyes and
the printed pages persisted the vision
of willful little face set In its tangle
of wayy hair Yet he must not be
beaten now. His whole future hung
vi thiS iSHdSr ht llipuSul. lIt Sllttu-
ows heightened. the sun dropped be-
hind the hills. Miranda who for some
time had been stealing furtlve chances
at the quiet figure behind the big desk
smiled prettily.
"Im-I'm hungry" she wheedled.
For an instant Raymond wayered.
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 We comm home to supper,
Mirandyf" be demanded. Eyer ma sent
me fer We darling n suspicious Look
At her iaiier "Aint We comm? I'll
look out fer We"
Why" began Miranda feebly. RAY
mond, sudden, unacceptable resent
ment surging into his hcart, frowned,
Miss Miranda Is in no need of q
champion" he declared stlhiy "She
cau leave when she chooses You NAV
go And Tom, after an instant's
scowling hesitation. went out. banging
the door Miranda bit her lip.
Il VIII never learn that lesson" sic
repeated stubbornly
There was another long silence while
the shadows darkened At last the
young man rose and 1T the lamp.