The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-12-07
LYDIA'S
QUORUM
BY BELLE MANIATES
Copyright, 1905, by Belle Maniates

kl Copyright, 1906, by Belle Maniates
"Well, Lyddy, I'll get you the job il
ran, but it's going to be mighty
hard thing to get 'corum,'" Deacon
Watrous was saying. you see, that
young Wight thinks we ought to have
a man. or course you'll have my vote,
but Bill Stiles is always straddlin' a
fence, and the last man he talks to gets
him This young feller's highfalutin
talk kind of caught Bills fancy, and he
was totterin', 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 1 get the place I'll do my best
to vindicate your choice"
"I'll do all I 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 a state Of gloom.
Crops had been poor, a 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 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 IL
her absence, might carry his point OF
hiring a 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-"Weathercock
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 pondering over
this same subject of quorum. When
he succeeded to his Inheritance he had
determined to become 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 farmer, but he
had shown them he could learn from
them and improve on their methods.
rrIo fn hav0 hin, Cy1na0nd
his uncle as 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 man more
fitted to wrestle with the difficulties of
a country school than a woman. He
had not seen this applicant, but he did
not approve of 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
it to admit winsome, willowy girl
with big, innocent eyes and an artless
manner.
care you Mr.. Wight? I 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
Ton cho,. at tho COrnorS
Il am, as you know" she said, g
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. l came to ask you not t.
induce Bill Stiles to vote against me-"
He was somewhat surprised at thi
frank appeal He liked directness.
1T means good deal to u.s." sh'
continued earnestly, land if I don't &c
the place it will go very hard with m.
father. Ny salary would help hin
more than you can know"
Hugh felt as if he had been stealth;
sheep. She did not want the money 70
fripperies, then, but to help her father
"What do you mean by my infiuenc
ing Bill?" he asked.
''It's like this" she explained. "Des
con Watrous is of course for me, an
Bill is, too, or would be, if you leav
him alone and say nothing about th
advantages of having man, but til
last person that approaches Bill ha
| hin, fbnu CO hovn n nOI,vtnf
ing tongue The deacon is going t
try and keep Bill away from you unit
the meeting is over, but / didn't car
to trust to that, so came to ask 30,
wouldn't presume to ask you to vot
for me, only to let Bill alone"
Up to this time the eyes. voice an
manner of the young man had not bee
: at all encouraging, but in the heart
! peal of infectious laughter that follow
ed her request Lydia caught note {
appreciation, and some way she deri7
! ed hope from his amusement.
!: Miss Gardner, it strikes me as rat
(: er odd that you should come and sho
/: me the way to gain my point and the
!: ask me not to take it,
"Maybe it is," she said wistfull
''but didn't know what else to do
He remained in deep study for m
ment. He did not like to be influence
by personalities.
'Well," he said abruptly, "Fll u
e speak to Bill or in his presence abo
it this matter, and I'll waive my obje
: tions for this year and vote for ~
is myself, though l still believe ms
: should have the place."
Two bright spots burned In Lydia
cheeks.
= "Thank you. l will now have a
- - other incentive to do my best. ! sh;
Y try to show you that ! can fill the l
sition as acceptably as man. Y