The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-06-20

s!gh. I cagsa - SAP sood-oy.
she wn..za a rns--ta. cain raised.
eyes rceas.nEsng-
-vk.Ee did yoa tell re your BON"
was. Hiss PnEnips-- be asked. lean
ing over he top o: the tan desk. and
lingering . pink rose that vas nearest
TO him
Vermont It's only q little 81: Of
rlaoe where the trains stop II they
are Jagged We call IL Phillips
Crossing"
= purpose yoaTl be glad 10 &c;
home"
NO, so very" She spoke re'ac-
family, with q little upi!ft Of her
shoulders You see. hare a step
father, and I am the only child from
the first marriage. and there are seven
little ones now besides. They don't
miss me q bit. unless It's I'D
miss"
why did you come way down here
In the country"
Because I was in hurry to go to
work. The city schools won't take
you unless you've been through Nor
NAL. you know. like 1t out here.
The work was hard. but the victory
was so much greater. and / do think
the children love me-"
Russell caught the little wistful
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 at him
quickly Her brown hair was very
near, with its soft satiny braids- Be-
fore he really meant to, he had tucked
the pink rose among them.
'Tt 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 a heart hunter"
She leaned back her head and
sighed, her hands clasped back of the
rose, her eyes looking past him out
Of the first open window.
"They mean the boys, I suppose,
Nate and the rest. Could I help it?
Now, truly, could L. Mr.. Russell?
You know just what boys are. They'd
come here every day, and bring all
sorts of things to me that / didn't
want. Why, Lonnie even used to
bring me fox pelts for cloak, of all
things. Boys are always boys, and
| they get over it so quickly. | was
| just as nice to them as l could be-"
Il am not blaming you-nor them"
sadi Russell a bit unsteadily. "Only
| | agree with the deacon's wife that
you are a very dangerous and dis
! turbing influence to have around
| these peaceful parts
The tears glistened in her eyes.
ooh, 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 it 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 ali.
mer, and rest"
Then suddenly it dawned On Neil
Russell why he had driven ten miles
that afternoon to make all fit and
| cue explanations to the teacher in
stead of writing. He knew just why
he had thought of nothing but her
tender lirs and dark eyes and low
knew why he had saved every scrap
| of writing she had ever sent him,
and why he carried in an inner peck
| ct little tan suede glove he had
| found beside her chair after a board
.heeting one day. Oh, yes. he knew
now, and he imprisoned both her
hands in his fand raised them to his
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 l 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. I think I
could make you happy, Rose, If may
wear you, dear"
What would you tell the deacon's
wife and-and-all the rest?" she
asked family.
THAT I had to dismiss you because
I couldn't let my wife work" he
whispered. Wont that do for a
good excuse?"
Youthful Bigotry.
There is thoughtful boy In an An