Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1905-12-01
Miranda's
Whins
By A. M. DAVIES OGDEN

schoolroom the air was undeniably
close. The scratch of a pencil, the
shuflling Of impatient little feet, the
drone Of lazy bee, all seemed to in
tensify the impression of heat, and the
young schoolmaster stirred restlessly
1t had meant n 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
OF scholars. with 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 1t 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 ho
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 ignol-
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
frightened 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 reclted perfectly"
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 I said;" he returned
quietly "It should not take long"
For u moment Miranda, stupefed,
tn1 n n f.
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 n sullen look at
Raymond To scold Miranda! To the
quiverlng excitement of the school, the
time until o'clock appeared fairly to
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 disperse 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.
"As you please" he answered. "Only
here we both stay until you do"
"And I'Hi not to have any supper?"
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
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 apJ
the printed pages persisted the vision
Of willful little face set In Its tang,e
of wavy hair. Yet he must not be
beaten now. His who.e future hung
on this is 5ue, he thought. The shad-
ows leng hened, the sun dropped be-
hind the hills. Miranda. who for some
time had been stealing furtlve glances
at the quiet figure behind the big desk
smiled prettily.
"Tm-Im hungry" ahe wheedlcd
For an instant Raymond wavered
This new sweetness WAS strange and
allurlng Bat before he could speak
the door was flung open and Tom Car
ruthers appeared OH the threshold
BENT ye comm home to supper,
Mirandy:" he demanded. "Yor ma sent
70. II nr+i +ir fnp
at her jai!e... "All't We comm? I'll
look out fer ye."
why" began Miranda feebly. Ray
mond, a sudden, unaccountable resent
ment surglng into his heart, frowned.
Miss Miranda Is In no need Of
champion" he declared stiff1y. "She
can leave when she chooses. You may
60" And Tom, after an instant's
scowllng hesitation, went out, banging
the door. Miranda bit her lip.
Il will never learn that lesson" she
repeated stubbornly.
There was another long silence while
the shadow ! darkened. At last the
young man rose and lit the lamp.
"It Is nearly 8 O'clock" he said brief
ly. Miranda, now close upon tears,
looked back still defiant.
And If I say it you'll let me go?"
Certainly"
With rapid, cboked utterances she
nung the text at him, not pausing foT
question OF comment. And then
Il hate you," she cried vehement
ly; "hate you, hate you! And I'll nev-
er, never come into this horrid school
room again. The bright drops shone
In her eyes like dew on forgetmenots,
her cheeks were flushed TO wild rose
pink the girl was shaken, puzzled,
hurt The village boys she had teased
and ruled at WILL. For the first time