Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-01-03

BEEN HIRED TO TEACH THE SCHOOL.
ulate herself that the boy against
whom everybody had warned her was
not so bad after all
In vain his fellows looked for some
outbreak, and finally Tommy English
twitted him Oh his susceptibility.
He wants to marry her when he
grows up he jeered. Hell be bring
ing her apples an candy next. The
amt afraid; hes Just soft, that's all"
The Gibe struck home, for Tim had
big apple III his desk that he was
thinking of giving Miss Murtha if he
did not feel tempted to eat 1t himself
during the noon hour
Il amt a-skeered of her." lie said
contemptuOusly. Il was just waitin'
till could think somethin' up"
YAH jeered Tommy. "I'didn't say
You was a-skeered | said you was
stuck Oh the teacher
The iron entered Tins soul and,
with dark You wait and see" he
raced off to the well.
He came stamping in when the bell
rang and went to his desk with a swag
ger that was quite like his old time
bearing. The desk next him was emp
ty, and with infinite care he twisted
two bits of slate pencil into q rubber
band and dropped them into the other
desk. The unwindng band ratified the
pencils around in the empty box with
a crash that stopped the Fourth Reader
rl ha nP
whole school on him Tim tried to look
unconcerned, but he could not refrain
from casting glance of triumph at
Tommy English. and therein lay his
undoing. for the teachers eyes were
quick and her intuition keen.
Tim" she said sharply. You will
stay in after school tonight"
II amt done nothin'." he declared
stoutly.
Il did not say that you had" she said
quietly. Il said that | wished you to
remain after school this evening"
"Aw," cried Tim. that amt fair
She said nothing. but went on quietly
with the class work. Tim had expected
her to answer, that he might talk back
quiet ignoring Of the matter and sat
silent and uncertain.
During the noon hour Tommy Eng
lish sought 10 persuade him into defy
ing the teacher but when o'clock
came and he made as though to go out
with the others Il firm hand was laid
upon his shoulder. and Miss Murtha's
tAt lid I, l.
10 stay in.
To stay after school meant to spend
certain time in study. Tim scuffled
back 10 his desk and sat there swing
in@ his feet idly. He was determined
tlltt he would not study and wondered
vaguely if the teacher would try to
thrash him for his disobedience.
Presently the others were gone, and
Miss Murtha went back TO her desk.
Another scholar had been kept in to re.
write the spelling lesson. and Miss
Murtha waited quietly until the task
was done. At last they two were alone,
and she called to him. Not once had
She noticed him before, and Tim went
forward wOnderingly
They told me that you were II bad
hnv > sha ..,fl ,iolt ,liI ,ot +I,;..I-
that you would act 50 toward a WON.
an
What's the dilfcrence:' hc demand.
ed. You gct paid to teach MS. don't
you, just like a man.
Gently She explained that she had
been hired 10 teach the school. but that
she could not remain if she could not
handle the pupils. Ii he and some Of
the other boys persisted in being dis
ODedient she would have to give up
the school ana they would have de-
priyed her OF chance TO earn living
When she had finished. Tim looked up
Say, he said penitently, III let
you lick me if you want to. | won't
fight back"