The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1912-06-14

given little entertainments ac
earned money for q new s,ov. aug
new globes and window boxes w
little fresh muslin curtains a, .aa
windows. At the school e,a,,,
tons they had led the other ,own.h,i
schools. and before her days p,a
Bend district had been n problem
education.
yes" said Russell. with almos,
sigh. Il came to say good-by."
She waited minute. cLin r,,..,
eyes questioning.
Where did you tell me your HON.
was. Miss Phillips!" he asked lev
ing over the top OF the tall desk ~.
lingering pink rose that was nearas,
TO him.
Vermont, It's only little hi, NJ.
place where the trains stop n ,bsr
are tagged. We call II PhuIn'
Crossing"
Il suppose you'll be glad to 90,
home"
Not SO very" She spoke reh.
family. with little uplift Of no.
shoulders. You see. have scr.
father. and ] am the only child from
the first marriage. and there are seven
little ones now besides. They dom,
miss me a bit, unless it's rood
miss
why did you come way down here
In the country"
Because | was in hurry Ia 10 10
work. The city schools won't take
you unless you've been through Nor.
NAL you know. l like II out ho~e
The work was hard. but the victory
was so much greater. and do think
the children love me-"
Russell caught the little wist;ul
touch in her voice.
The old folks are peculiar. aren't
they? Hard TO get along with"
I'm afraid they don't like me very
well--do they?"
They say you're a good teacher.
but"
Rose waited and looked up al him
quickly. Her brown hair was very
near, with It's soft satiny braids Re
fore he really meant to. he had tucked
the pink rose among them.
1T looks much better there" he
added. and wondered why his own
pulses were racing suddenly. like
brooks In April.
But what? Please-please tell
me?" she pleaded. drawing back, but
not removing the rose. What DO
they say"
They say you're q heart hunter"
She leaned back her head and
sighed. her hands clasped back Of he
rose. her eyes looking past him out
Of the first open window.
They mean the boys. suppose.
Nate and the rest. Could ] help IL
Now, truly. could I. Mr.. Russell?
You know just what boys are. They'd
come here every day. and brine all
sorts OF things TO me that didn't
want. Why. Lonnie even used 10
bring me fox pelts for a cloak. OF all
things. Boys are always boys. and
they get over II so quickly. vas
just as nice to them as could be
II am not blaming you-nor them"
sadi Russell a bit unsteadily. "Only
! agree with the deacon's wife that
you are very dangerous and dis.
turbing influence to have around
these peaceful parts"
The tears glistened in her eyes.
"Oh. you don't really mean that"
she said pleadingly. Are you Try.
ing TO tell me | cannot teach here
again."
Russell stared awkwardly down at
her head. as she leaned II on folded
arms. and her shoulders shook with
sobs.
I've tried so hard. and the children
all love me-" she said brokenly. Il
didn't want TO go back home at all.
| was going TO board here all sum
mer. and rest"
Then suddenly II dawned on N"i!
Russell why he had driven ten miles
that afternoon to make all 1T and
due explanations to the teacher IN
stead Of writing. He knew just Why
he had thought OF nothing but her
tender lips and dark eyes and low
contralto voice for weeks past. Ne
knew why he had saved every scrap
OF writing she had ever sent him.
and why he carried In an inner pock'
ct n little tan suede glove he had
found beside her chair after a board
meeting one day. Oh. yes. he knew
now. and he imprisoned both her
hands in his and raised them TO bis
lips.
Rose" he said. stop crying.
I've brought you another heart.
dear"
She stopped sobbing, but did not
raise her head.
Il haven't any one In the world
myself ! came up here from New
YORK and got along well. There's
enough saved In the bank to buy US
a good home In the fall. think
could make you happy, Rose, II I may
wear you. dear"
What would you tell the deacon's
wife and-and-all the rest?" she
asked family.