The Delta independent., 1907-06-21
TWO TEACHERS TALK.
By PHRONSIE.

books;
Or surely you'll grow double;
Up! up! my Friend, and clear your
books;
Why all this toll and trouble?' -
chanted Hortensia. coming gayly down
the aisle between rows of seats empty
of both books and scholars, toward the
teachers desk, where Sophronia sat
toiling over final reports. The term
was ended; and Hortensia, as happy as
any primary child, to be out of school
for the summer, had been making fare
we'll calls among her friends in the
town.
" Enough of Science and of Art;
Close up those barren leaves;
Come forth and bring with you heart
That watches and receives ~
responded Sophronia joyously. "You
look as fresh and sweet as June mead
ow, Hortensia, in that green and white!
All you lack is bunch of clover BIOS
SONS for nosegay. Wait until have
w AAHhSo
and we will go and find some."
"Of course chose the colors in hon
or of D. H. S, but believe it is rather
becoming" said Hortensia, finding a
seat and holding her pretty finery away
from the dust. ''Oh Sophronia dear,
can you realize that this is our last day
here together!'
Until next September-yes." said
Sophronia without looking up.
mo, but the very last, the last ever y
said Hortensia, the quick tears dimming
her dark eyes, as Sophronia, pausing in
the act of locking a drawer, turned
look of startled inquiry toward her
friend.
"Tell me quickly, Hortensia! Am l.?
Are YOU? What do you meant"
"Oh dear!' said Hortensia, II ought
not to have told you this way! It's only
that Jack won't wait another year
and-I always did say I'd have June
wedding!"
"Oh!" said Sophronia, relief and joy,
congratulation and regret struggling
for the mastery in her voice. II am
SO glad for you, dear; and you only half
know how sorry for myself, at having
to lose you!"
Hand clasped hand across the big
desk, and for an instant there was no
sound in the room but the ticking of
the clock on the wall and the swish of
the janitor's broom in distant hall
way.
Then Sophronia broke the tension
with laugh.
Forgive me-" she said, "I'm not
laughing at you, but at the beautiful
appropriateness of Maggie Bent's moth
er's title of skinny old maid for all
of US teachers, as applied to you!"
Hortensia dimpled with fun and then
laughed out right, too.
II can tell you something worse than
that" she said. 1T happened over
month ago and kept it to myself for
fear it might annoy you; but it's really
too good to keep. You remember the
day Albert Drew sprained his ankle
don't you, and that helped to bandage
it? OF course it hurt, but he hadn't an
atom of grit, and cried and swore the
whole time. l said, Hush Albert, you
must not say such things! Your father
would never allow you to say such
things Well, this is an expurgated
edition of the answer got, Sophronia:
Oh! -! That amt anything!
Dad says worse'n that. You needn't
talk sweet about him, anyhow! He
amt going to marry any old maid school
ma 'am, if they do make eyes at him" "
"Well l declare!'' said Sophronia,
II didn't know Mr.. Drew is a widower,
did you?"
No." said Hortensia with glee,"
"and what's more l don't even know
him by sight! Prof. Parsons came up
just then and I couldn't say anything;
and anyhow, what was there to say!
suppose must have spoken to the man
by mistake; there are so many that
must speak to, that am always afraid
| shall slight some one. But what do
you suppose Jack would do if were to
tell him any man had dared to speak so
Of me!'
"Take the next train and come out
here and thrash him" said Sophronia
"But isn't that exactly the
sort of thing that is sure to happen to
The school ma am, so long as she Is good
looking! And as soon as she begins to
ose her freshness and gain the ripe
judgment and experience which make a
teacher valuable, women like Mrs. Bent
begin to hint that she has outstayed her
usefulness.
Sometimes" said Hortensia, 81 get |
weary of this whole sub |