Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-07-13
Miranda's
Whins
By A. M. DAVIES OGDEN
Copyright, 1905, bu A. NJ. d. ogden

topen NlnuoWS came SllmpSeS OF green
wood bespeaking delicious GOODNESS
and the ripple Of brooks, but in the
Pschoolroom the air was undeniably
close. The scratch Of pencil, the
shuffllng of impatient little feet, the
drone of lazy bee, all seemed to in
tenslfy the impression of heat, and the
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly.
1t 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 before him,
encountered the glance of girl seated
near the door. The girl, one of the old
er scholars, with toss of her curls,
returned to her book, and the trouble
in the schoolmaster's 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 no
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
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.
"Eirst class in grammar" he said.
Miranda, with several other girls, rang
ing from sixteen to eighteen, came
slowly forward. 1t was rather q 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
!, tfest. A sudden line of resolution
frightened the young mans mouth.
'.You may return to your Seats" he
said. Miss Miranda, I shall expect
you to remain after school until that
lesson is recited perfectly"
"What!" cried the girl. Involunta-
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. ut should not take long"
For moment Miranda, stupefed,
hssitated. 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 q sullen look at
Raymond. To scold Miranda! To the
time until o'clock appeared fairly to
dy 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 were all gone.
you need not think that l shall
study that lesson" she declared with
sharp emphasis. Raymond nodded.
! CAS- 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 out Miranda furious
ly 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 enthralllng. 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-
time had been stealing furtive glances
at the quiet figure behind the big desk
smiled prettily.
"I'm-Pm hungry" she wheedled.
For an instant Raymond wavered.
This new sweetness was strange and
alluring. But before he could speak
the door was flung open and Tom Car
Iruthers appeared on the threshold.
Bent We comm home to supper,
IMirandyY' he demanded. yer ma sent
me fer ye," darting suspicious look
at her jailer. eAln't ye comm? 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
champion" he declared stlff1y 'She
can leave when she chooses. You may
CO." And Tom. after an instants
lscowling hesitation, went out, banging
the door Miranda bit her lip.
II will never learn that lesson" she
repeated StubbOrnly.