Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-07-09
Miranda's
Whims
By A. N. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright. isos. bvA. NJ d. oOisn

Il
open windows came glImpses Of green
wood bespeaking a delicious coolnesi
and the ripple OF brooks. but In the
schoolroom the air was undeniablJ
close. The scratch Of a pencil. th'
shutting OF impatient little feet, The
drone OF a lazy bee. all seemed 10 In
tensify the impression Of heat. and The
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly.
IL had meant a great deal 10 Peter
Raymond, securing the village schoo
az wlmberly. but he had not found bis
task IN easy one. His eyes. wandering
over the rows Of bent heads before hiin
encountered the glance OF n girl seated
near the door. The girl. one Of the old
er scholars. with toss of her curls
returned 10 her book. and the trouble
In the schoolmast.r's face decpened.
Here was the crux Of the situation. II
he could win Miranda Hemming 20 his
side the remainder Of the pupils would
follow easily enough. But IL was Nj
randa herself. with her great blue eyes,
fetching dimples and coqUettish ways,
. who openly led the revolt against him.
The teacher sighed again. Perhaps be
was too young
From the very beginning OF his work.
however. Raymond had recognized the
primitive instinct Of hostility to the I'M
known In the questioning eyes uplifted
10 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. lie touched the bell.
"E'irst class In grammar" be said.
Miranda. with several other girls. rang
ing from sixteen 10 eighteen. came
slowly forward Il was rather a try
ing recitation. Most OF the girls stun
bled. Miranda failed utterly. nor did
she care. To all bis questions she an
swercd with provoking honchaiance.
evidently Indifferent as 90 whether be
were pleased or not Her rebellion had
never before been quite 80 openly man
lfest A sudden line OF resolution
frightened the young mans mouth.
"YOu may return 10 your seats" hs
said. "Miss Miranda. ! shall expect
you 20 remain after school until that
lesson Is rccited perfectly"
"What.~ cried the girl lnyolunta-
rily she fell back a step. hardly believ-
ing her own ears. That aHy 1nc should
dare address bar. Miranda Hemming.
IN such fashion! Raymonds expression
did not change
"You heard what said" be returned
quietly. 1T should not take long"
For a moment Miranda. stupehed.
hcsitutod then she founced indignant
iy back 90 her seat The whole school.
which had dropped all work 10 listen
TO the passage at arms between Nj
randa and the teacher fairly shivered.
ami Tom Clrruihcrs. big. loutish
chap Of nineteen. shot a sullen look at
Raymond. To scold Miranda! To the
qulvcrlng excitement of the school. the
time until 4 o'clock appeared fairly 20
hy. Would teacher really keep In Mi
randat
When the others arose. Miranda also
sprang 20 her feet. Then something In
the teachers expression caused her 90
sink back IN her seat tingling and
abashed IL took an unusually long
time for the pupils TO disperse that
day. but at last they were all gone.
"You need not think that | shall
study that lesson" she declared with
sharp emphasis. Raymond nodded.
"As you please" be answered. Only
here we both stay until you do"
"And I'm not 90 have any supper
incredulOusly.
"Not until you learn that lesson"
But burst out Miranda furious
Is. Then she closed her lips with n
snap and leaned back. her hands tenn
pestuously 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 enthralllng. Between his eyes and
the printed pages persisted the vision
OF a willful little face set In It's tangle
OF wavy hair Yet he must not b.
beaten now. His whole future hung
on this issue, be 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 prettlly.
"rm-im hungry" she wheedled.
For an instant Raymond wavered.
This new sweetness was strange aud
alluring. But before he could speak
the door was fiung open aud Tom Car.
ruthers appeared on the threshold.
Bent ye comm home 20 supper,
he demanded. Yer ma sent
me fer ye." darting a suspicious look
az her TALLER. Amt ye comin'l I'll
look out fer ye"
why" began Miranda feebly. Ray
mond, sudden. unaccountable resent
ment surgIng into his heart. frowned.
Miss Miranda Is In no need OF a
he declared stlaiy. "She
can leave when she chooses. You may