Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-06-02
Miss Carmichael and
the JanitOr
By ADELE MARIE SHAW


N@opyAAsAl " ,. d A-Appiheott No.g
Miss Carmichael was pink, pretty
and young. The janitor did not ap
prove Of Miss Carmichael. She had
come to teach in the Washington
Grammar" after the death of Miss
Gadey, who had expired in the full
dignity Of her seyenty-third year with
out ever noticing anything offensive
in the condition Of her classroom. In
deed, Miss Gadey's eyes had never
been Of the best; her classroom
backed up conveniently familiar TO
/ the tenements behind. and the graf
ings that kept out tenement thieves
further subdued the light Of day.
Now Miss Gadey was gone, and this
young thing with a pink face was in
her place. And the young things
eyes were good. James Lyons. the
ianitor, who was first cousin once
removed to the wife of Assemblyman
Doheny, had a store of knowledge
quite irrelevant to the business of
tanitoring, but he could rot account
for Miss Carmichaels appointment.
Yet here she was, this pink and white
absurdity. brought into the city from
up state somewhere" and already
she was making trouble for James
Lyons. It was three O'Clock, and
she had left her "kept-ins" to the
care OF another teacher while she com
planned to the principal about the
janitor James Lyons eould see her
waiting her turn at the principals
desk. He armed himself with dust
er, and drew near with the priv
ileged.
My room is very dirty" said Miss
Carmichael TO the principal. She /
stood primly by that excellent mans /
desk and enunciated her words dis 4
unetly. Principal Heise scanned the
horizon to see If the janitor was N
the ofing, The janitor was. Mr..
Heise lowered his voice.
Vat iss?" he asked gently-yery
gently, lest Mr. Lyons hear
MY room, Mr.. Heise, No. IA. It's
iisgracefully dirty. The corners look
As II they hadn't been really scrubbed
'or years. The floor"
"Diss ISIS an oldt pudding, Miss Car
michael, and hardt to geep CLEAN"
put in Mr.. Heise, pleasantly, letting
ais answer reach the ears of Mr..
lyons now drawing nearer Mr..
4yons eousin's husband, even from
he long range of the capital, had
,een able to hit offenders in Barge
lily with miraculous accuracy.
All the more reason for the jani- J
ors being particular" began Mary I
gain. Look at my skirt" Miss
carmichael pointed to the bottom of !
er tailored skirt, See this" .
This was evidence no man Of sensi- |,
ility could behold unmoved. To add !
the trim spotlessness of Miss Car
gown such vile bordering
Fas truly wanton. Even Mr.. Heise
'as impressed. But he kept his i'm. =
ression to himself Miss Carmichael. =
ssured of victory, because her cause =
as just, retired. Y
Mr.. Heise prepared to depart swift =
?, lest she return. He locked his =
esk and emerged into the hall The =
lnitor's assistant, an ancient wom- =
in the garb of pictured furies. was =.
ielding a mammoth feather buster -
pom the floor of the opposite room in -
ie place OF an absent broom; through :,
Ie thick haze raised by her labors :.
re doomed dimly awful, a portentous q
cure.
Outside the schoolhouse door Mr.. .,
yons was consuming a fat cigar. He -
mselt was not accustomed to engage
the more arduous activities of
Gaming; his it was to watch over n
e safety of the building. Who D
lew how soon someone might want to
cal the Washington GRAMMAR u
G missed the 80 cents he had to paw .
e old woman. for his salary was
lly $4,000, and out of that he had
hire the care of the furnaces.
Il even with the help of his wife hu
led to his assistance in any emer- "a
ncy like graduation or Saturday ha
ackboard washing-he could not hu
spense with the assistant" ha
Pleasant day, Mr., Lyons" said the TO
ineipal, with non-committal quiet. 81
:. Heise would not needlessly stir mi
hornets, but he also would NOT ha
emily bend the knee to the school
rant a
HUH" replied Mr.. Lyons, and GU
uchsafed no more. Miss Carmichael