The Holbrook news., 1911-04-28

he hired me he knew I was quite capa- ble of managing it alone"
 Her sharpness and unconcern al ways delighted him.
 Still. it don't look right, You ought to bring him to time better. Miss Wood" he persisted.
 In his own heart Brant knew that the little teacher understood his timid ity and he blessed her for sparing him in the hundred ways she did. Be ing trustee really wasn't so bad after all!
 One Friday afternoon as Brant re turned from an early spring stroll of inspection across his farm he found Tom Daily awaiting him. l Been waiting for some time" he an nounced. Miss Wood wants to see you down to the school house tonight Henry, long after supper"
 Wants to see mel" repeated Henry. in dismay.
 ''Yes-guess 1t must be about this here trouble at the schoolhouse"
 What trouble?" demanded Henry sharply.
 Could 1t be she had been having diff faculties and hadn't let him know?
 Why, she trounced Bailey's boy and they don't seem to think much of it Indeed, there's been a lot of complaint, first and last Some thought they ought to ask you to get another teacher. And the story has got round that you are giving her ten dollars when the rest of the teachers are get ting eight"
 rrfr~ angrily. And if there is any objec- tion I'll pay the extra two myself! Tell her I'll be there" he added in voice that made Tom Daily turn home ward without delay.
 Didn't know I could Tile him like that!" he chuckled as he went
 When Henry Brant, leaving his horse before the door, walked into the old schoolhouse he found the little teacher sitting demurely in her big chair
 What is this I hear about your hay ing to whip young Bailey?" he asked brusquely.
 Why, it Is mere nothing" she an- swered quietly How did you come to hear of it 9"
 
 me. They said Bailey was mad and liable to make you trouble"
 He has said nothing to me-" said the little teacher, with a catch in her voice. What else did they tell you?"
 They said there were other dis satisfactions-thatt there had been talk of asking me to get some one else in your place. And-and they object to the wages!"
 He knew he was almost brutaIly abrupt, yet he did not know how to soften his recital. how to make 1t less unkind-
 T had no idea of this," murmured Miss Wood in consternation. "In never. never come back hereI My sis ter will finish the school for me. so 1t will make you no trouble, MT. Brant-"
 If anyone has made 1t unpleasant for you. why have you not told me sooner?" asked the young man, very gently. Didn't you know I would take care of them?"
 But I never knew of any dissatis- faction I could not imagine when you sent for me to come here"
 "I did not send for youi" exclaimed Brant- When Tom Daily gave me your message"
 Tom Daily" interrupted the girl. T fear he has played a joke on us. MT. Brant Isn't tomorrow April r"
 A quick flush mantled her face and in its illumination Henry suddenly un- derstood 1t all-how she had shielded him and borne the brunt of Toms merciless teasing upon her already overburdened shoulders
 And in that instant his bashfulness dropped from him like a cloak
 Let's take him at his word, Miss Lucyl Let's give him the biggest April fool he ever hadl Let me take you homo tonight and tomorrow we will make a new contract in which the Averly school district has no voicel
 Perhaps you think me pretty sud den, but I've seen nothing but your eyes, dear, since the morning you came for the school. Will you come?" He held out his arms to her.
 With a little sob the girl swayed to- ward him and was folded close In the shadow of the big desk he hsesd her. Tom Daily. delightedly reciting his exploit on the store steps. was inter rupted by the reception of a note.
 Friend Tom-I have followed your advise and removed Miss Wood from the school If you hear any more com plaints about the wages tell them I am willing to pay the extra two dol lars. as I expect to pay her entire sal ary from now onl
 And tell your wife that the new teacher will board at our, house, so as to be with her sister!
 Hoping this will be satisfactory to you and the district, I remain,
 HENRY BRANT, Trustee"
 Well" exclaimed Tom Daily, aI-