Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-05-09
A Necessary
Love Affair

Reilly's Unrivaled Soap factory was
more to be desired than a literary
career. and how young Reilly sudden
ly found himself without pocket
money and glad to accept the super
intendentship of a country school, is
long and painful story. But certain
it is that he did not enter into his
new work in the best of humors, and
as Maisie Ashford had red hair and
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.
Before many weeks there was open
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 81
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 l 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 l 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 small island of tuft
that rose from sea of bog. There
1t u.s." she announced, 'but you'll
never be able to get it."
Harry selected plank from a near
by fence, laid it from one patch of
quivering sedge to another, and crept
cautiously out upon it. After close
inspection of the tiny green plant that
Maize had pointed out he raised his
head in disgust. This isn't a swamp
lily-it's a common iris. You've
plenty of these already" Then he
turned and saw that Maisie had
quietly removed the plank
He stared at her in blank amaze
ment and she returned the look de-
family. Before I put it back" she
temerity, 81 want you to do me a
| favor"
"a favor?" cried the indignant
Harry, squirming uncomfortably on
his tiny island. We'll talk about
favors when you put back that plank"
But" she answered, sweetly, 81
| shan't put it back until you do me the
favor. All want is for you to write
me letter asking me to marry you"
ITO marry you? Are you sure
that's ALP" gasped Harry.
| He looked about him desperately,
but the bog was over his depth on all
sides, and his only chance of escape
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
as graceful bow as the limited space
permitted. Madam" he said, 81 am
at your service" Then drawing out
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
ing tumultuous at the sound of your
footsteps, proclaims you my own lit
tie Maisie. l know that you scorn me,
but 1t is the strong mans pride to tell
his love. So now I repeat that 1 love
you, love you, love you"
To her surprise, Harry Reilly
blushed, the mans dull-red blush,
which may mean either anger or en-
barrassment. Il didn't know" he
muttered, that l was annoying you
SO by coming"
In silence she replaced the plank
and in silence they trudged back to
the village.
The next day Maisie was pressing
flowers after school when the new
superintendent entered.
Miss Ashford" he said, 'T've come
to say good-by.'
But why?" asked Maisie.
you see" he explained, 'T lost my
temper yesterday, and when I left
you | went down to the school board
rooms and told Mr.. Henryson, the
president, that if you didn't resign l
would. Now, of course. you aren't
going to resign, so my resignation is
the one that is due. But I'm sorry
not to have finished the year out"
Anyway" she asked, ut wasn't the
letter."
THE letter." Harry gave a queer
laugh. why Miss Ashford, you can |
show that letter to every man woman
and child in this town II you want to,
for IFS nvarV word TRUE