The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1912-06-08
A Necessary
Love Affair

lege, QuarrelleQ Win MS wealthy
father because that self-willed old
gentleman insisted that position in
Reilly's Unrivaled Soap factory WAS
more to be desired than d literary
career, and how young Reilly sudden
Iy found himself without pocket
money and glad to accept the super
intendentship of country school, is
a long and painful story. But certain
1t is that he did not enter into his
new work in the beet of humors, and
as Maisie Ashford had red hair and a
rather positive way Of saying things.
he relieved the monotony Of his new
life by teasing her.
Maisie retailiated with spirit worthy
of her auburn locks; she rebelled
against the rules he made and stirred
up the other teachers to do likewise:
she studied the lives of the presidents
and demanded holiday on every pres
idential birthday, and she wrote her
reports in Latin, which Henry when at
college had considered a dead Ian
guage for dead people" and carefully
neglected
war between them, but the balance of
power was in Harry's favor. He soon
found that nothing annoyed Maisie
more than his constant supervision of
her work, so his polite knock sounded
at her door all through the day. and
he would sit in uncompromising ST.
lence while she heard her classes.
She therefore set to work with char
acteristic daring to stop his visits to
her room.
In furtherance OF her plan she ap-
peared at his desk one afternoon,
looking very innocent and guileless.
"Mr. Reilly" she ventured timidly,
when I was out with the botany
class yesterday I thought that I saw
a swamp lily, but it was too far out
in the swamp for me to get. Still
with help I might secure it for our
collection. They're very rare, you
know"
When school was dismissed that
afternoon the amazed teachers saw
the new superintendent, armed with
spade and bucket, accompanying
Maizie Ashford down the road toward
the woods.
They had reached the densest part
OF the swamp when Maize stopped
and pointed to a small island OF tnft
that rose from sea of bog. There
1t ISL she announced, but you'll
never be able to get 1T.
Harry selected plank from a near
by fence, laid it from one patch of
quivering sedge to another. and crept
cautiously out upon 1t. After close
, inspection OF the tiny green plant that
9 Maizie had pointed out he raised his
. head In disgust. This isn't swamp,
lily-it's common iris. You've
: plenty OF these already" Then he
: turned and saw that Maisfe had
quietly removed the plank.
He stared at her in blank amaze
ment and she returned the look de-
family. Before l put It back" she
explained, trembling at her own
: temerity, 81 want you to do me
favor"
J "a favor?' cried the indignant
l Harry. squirming uncomfortably on
/ his tiny island "We'n talk about
favors when you put back that plank"
But" she answered, sweetly. Il
shan't put it back until you do me the
!. favor. All l want is for you to write
me a letter asking me to marry you
ITO marry you? Are you sure
I that's all?" gasped Harry.
He looked about him desperately.
but the bog was over his depth on all
, sides, and. his only chance OF escape
r was the plank which a certain deter
! mined little red-headed woman was
/ holding. He saw that he was trapped,
: so he took off his hat and made her
permitted Madam" he said, 81 am
at your service" Then drawing out
his fountain pen, please what shall l
4, say in this tender epistle? You can't
expect me to feel inspired"
Maisie ignored that unkind thrust
and began to dictate. my darling
Maisie, for how can I call you Miss
: Ashford when every heart heat. grow
A ing tumultuous at the sound of your
S footsteps, proclaims you my own lit
= tie Maisie. know that you scorn me.
t but 1t is the strong mans pride to tell
his love. So now l repeat that love
t you, love you, love you"
q To her surprise, Harry Reilly
j. blushed. the mans dull-red blush,
Il which may mean either anger or en-
a barrassment II didn't know" he
: muttered, "that I was annoying you
= 80 by coming"
In silence she replaced the plank
and in silence they trudged back to
. the village.
The next day Mafsie was pressing
, flowers after school when the new
y superintendent entered.
e Miss Ashford" he said, I've come
e to say good-by.'
But why?" asked Maisie
S You see," he explained, Il lost my
l. temper yesterday and when l left
y you went down to the school board
l. rooms and told Mr. Henryson, the
l. president, that II you didn't resign
W would Now, OF course. you aren't
30 L.