The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-13

such young and tender teachers as
Miss Lucy. And IT was often found
that after visit from this critic
teacher these same young and tender
teachers must perforce HE themselves
back to the school. there to study a
year longer.
He sits In your Poom." a teacher
friend had shudderingly told Miss
Lucy. "and you don't know what you
are saying and everything you take
hold of drops. and ali the time he Just
sits there and writes down all your
mistakes and you stay at home for a
week after because you are sick"
How silly" exclaimed the superior
Miss Lucy. Il never get nervous. II
he comes in my room ! shall merely
greet him with my ordinary manner
and 60 on with my usual work"
From this calm announcement we
can easily imagine Miss Lucy advanc.
ing to meet the critic teacher with an
inefable condescension. Instead Of
which she stood still and opened her
mouth several times vainly. Then she
gurgled. The critic teacher, who in
reality was only painfully shy. won.
an-fearing young man. also gurgled.
He then extended cold and clammy
hand. which was met by one equally
cold and clammy. At this point loud
whisper was heard from Sophie Bauer
schmidt. who suspected Miss Lucy Of
matrimonial designs upon every man
from the janitor down. .It's Miss
Luzy's beau" she explained loudly.
Miss Lucy glared wildly at her and
the critic teacher. sinking weakly into
chair, opened his notebook Miss
Lucy turned to her class and for
moment smiled vaguely and appeal
fngly ut them with dreadful shadow
OF her entertainment" smile. Then,
suppressing a tendency to swallow all
the time, she began to direct the read
ing lesson In voice that reminded
her or Frederick william reciting
memory gem. As for the critic teach
er. still appalled, by the announcement
that he was Miss Lucy's beau. he sat
wretchedly on the ridge OF Miss Luz
cy's chair and wrote swiftly and con.
stantly I'm his book.
At last Frederick Williams turn
came to read. See kitty chump." said
he. II was the first sentence In the
primer and the only one he had ever
mastered. He rendered II upon all
occasions and II was always accepted
by Miss Lucy with an indugent smile.
However, this time she shook her
head. mo. dear" she said sweetly;
try again"
See kitty chump." said Frederick
complacently
Then Miss Lucy came toward him
and bending over him pointed to the
first word.
II was at this moment that the still
ness of the room was suddenly dis
PEELED by loud smack. This smack
sudden. loud and sharp-was followed
by n breathless gasp from the class.
Then sound OF lamentation fell upon
the air.
Anna said Miss Lucy, instinc.
lively, come here. And you, Sophie,
also"
Anna came sullenly. Sophie tear
fully nursing a very red cheek. Miss
Lucy. standing between them. glanced
at the critic teacher. He had stopped
writing and. pen held In band, was
evidently critically waiting the out.
come OF this breach OF discipline"
ANNA" began Miss Lucy. why
did you strike Sophieg"
Il never done i'd" declared Anna.
Sophie" said Miss Lucy. why did
Anna strike your"
Sophie. who was rather enjoying
herself. shifted violently. .she took
my cent" she said. "and got II back
and then she hit me In the jaw and,
Miss Lucy, ! got the toothache." I'm i
ished this victim OF Annals rapacity.
You're a liar" said Anna angrily.
land you waid dill ged you oudside
und Ill knock your block on" Then. |
with a sulen sob. I'D was my cend |
anyhow. Id wasn'd even spid."
At this point Sophie. who loved an |
audience. broke In. And she said |
you put your hair up In curl-papers
at night and she said your petticoat |
wasn't even silk and she said you
didn't have no holes In your stock. |
ings."
At these revelations Miss Lucy |
easped and. sitting down HISTORICALLY
upon a desk. looked at the critic
teacher. Outraged and horrified by |
the idea that he. young man Of ex,
emplary habits. should be thus drawn
into discussion concerning feminine |
the critic teacher had risen.
pale and with a wild look In his eyes.
For moment he and Miss Lucy. both
stricken gurgleless. looked At each |
other. Then seizing his hat. he turned |
aad FASTENED withou. pe portals OF |
the deprayed and immoral Class A.
As the door shut upon his scandalixed |
back. Miss Lucy. glancing toward her
desk. caught sight Of q red copybook |
lying there open. All the beautiful |
moral precepts that were the delight |
Of Glass A quite forgot. she clutched
the copybook and feverishly turned |