The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-08-20
A Necessary
Love Affair

more to be desired than 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
a long and painful story. But certain
II Is that he did not enter into his
new work In the best 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.
Maisle retailiated with spirit worthy
Of her auburn locks; she rebelled
against the rules ne 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 ST.
lence while she heard her asses.
She therefore set to work with char
acteristic daring to stop his visits to
her room.
In furtherance of her plan she APP
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 / thought that I saw
swamp lily, but 1t 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 a small island Of tuft
that rose from sea of bog. There
1t Is" she announced, "but you'll
never be able to get it.
Harry selected a plank from a near
by fence, laid 1t from one patch Of
quivering sedge to another, and crept
cautiously out upon It, After a 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 common iris. You've
plenty of these already" Then he
turned and saw that Maisie bat
quietly removed the plank.
He stared at her in blank amaze
ment and she returned the look de
family. Before / put It back" she
explained, trembling at her owr
temerity, 81 want you to do me 6
favor"
"a favor?" cried the Indignant
Harry, squirming uncomfortably on
his tiny island. "We'll talk abou
favors when you put back that plank.
But" she answered, sweetly, "l
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 all?" gasped Harry.
He looked about him desperately
but the bog was over his depth on al
sides, and his only chance Of escap'
was the plank which certain deter
mined little red-headed woman wa
holding. He saw that he was trapped
so he took off his hat and made he
permitted Madam" he said, 81 an
at your service" Then drawing on
his fountain pen, please what shall
say in this tender epistle? You can
expect me to feel inspired"
Maisie ignored that unkind thrus
and began to dictate. my DARLING
Maisie, for how can I call you Mis-
Ashford when every heart heat, grow
ing tumultuous at the sound OF you
footsteps, proclaims you my own III
tie Maisie. know that you scorn me
but It is the strong mans pride to tel
his love So now repeat that low
you, love you, love you"
To her surprise, Harry Refill
blushed, the mans dull-red blush
which may mean either anger or en-
barrassment. II didn't know" h
l. muttered, that was annoying yo
so by coming"
In silence she replaced the plan
and in silence they trudged back t
the village.
Q The next day Maisie was pressin
i flowers after school when the ne'
superintendent entered.
}. "Miss Ashford" he said, 1--WE com
y to say good-by.
s "But why?" asked Maisie,
y "You see" he explained 81 lost m
g temper yesterday, and when lei
s you went down to the school boar
y rooms and told Mr.. Hehryson, tn
(. president, that II you didn't resign
o would. Now, Of course, you 'aren