The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1908-10-22

get the place she COulu save All ueI
salary, Tor the schoohouse was so
near that she could board at home as
/ her mother had said She must get
it, that was all. And she felt that she
must so alone. MI Kenyon made no
objection this time, and Mrs. Kenyon
/ consented on the condition that Hilda
would allow herself 10 be- well bundled
up for the long, cold ride.
/ HildG readily consented TO this, but
she almost rued her bargain in the
morning when her mother insisted on
putting a large coat OF her own over
Hilda's and in tying a scarf over the
warm hood, and when the girl had
| climbed on the horse she had wrap
/ ped a warm shawl about her.
How in the world am l to get on
and off again with all this stuff
mama?' she asked. Il feel as wrap
, ped up as a mummy, l know I'll
/ frighten all the horses / meet
/ 1t was well, perhaps, that she could
not see herself, tor she certainly cut
| rather a ridiculous figure. Added to all
/ The rest, she was riding her fathers
/ saddle. The right stirrup had been
/ thrown over, and in this her foot rest
| cd, while the left sirrup dangled be.
| low. She had never been fortunate
enough to possess a side saddle, and
/ had often ridden in this way about
/ the farm. But she could not help feel.
| ing little sensitive about her ap-
/ pearance on this occasion, which
meant so much to her and she wished
her mother would not be so fussy.
AS she drew near Mr.. Johnstons
| house, she considered
1t would take her some time to dis.
entangle herself from her many wrap
! pings, and to any one watching from
the house she would present rather
a ridiculous appearance in her neces-
sarily clumsy efforts to dismount. So
she halted old Selim some distance
from the front gate, and here, hidden
by the trees, she Invested herself Of
her extra garments.
/ Her heart was pounding away Wig.
/ orously as she Knocked and inquired
if Mr. Johnston was in She had
known him ever since she could re.
member, but he seemed suddenly to
/ have become almost a stranger. Out.
wardly, however it was a very dig
nifed young lady who presented her
case before him.
Il seemed to her that he looked at
her for fully five minutes without
! speaking. so you want to teach?"
he asked at last Pretty young,
! aren't you? How old are you? Seven.
teen?
Yes, sir" answered Hilda. q sup
pose that isn't very old, but have a
good certificate and | am pretty sure
/ that / can teach a good school. At
least, I'd try my best if you would
| give me a chance"
That's what they all say remark
ed Mr.. Johnston.
Il know. But that is all l can say
till somebody gives me a chance to
show what | can do
You have had no experience, OF
| course"
mo. But if am ever to make a
teacher I'll have 10 teach my first
school sometime and somewhere"
Il guess that's so. Got some pretty
good grades here He had been ey.
aiming the certificate she had hand.
ed him.
yes, sir answered Hlda, modest.
ly.
Again he was silent. Then he handed
her back her certificate. We'll. III
tell you, Hilda. So far as l am con.
cerned, | am willing to give you a
chance. I've know you ever since YOU
were a baby, and l know you are a
wide-awaEe, energetic little girl. But
I'm only one Of three, and am afraid
you won't stand the best of chances
with the other two You don't know
chance. I've known you ever since YOU
thought not. Andrews wants the
place for a cousin of his, and Smith
VIII think you are too young. But 90
and see both Of them. Don't tell them
what I've said. Simply say that Won
spoke to me about il. Smith is presj-
dent Of the board"
Hilda thanked him and went her
way, much encouraged in spite Of what
he had said about her possible recen.
ton by the other two members.
She experienced some difficulty in
mounting and dismounting each time
encountered as she was, but that did
not trouble her much now, although
she was careful at SUJn places to stop