The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1913-10-31
CHAPTER XIV.
In Sure-Enoueh Country.

| In Sure-Enough Country.
One morning, more than a month
| after the closing days of school, Alb
| bott Ashton CHANGED to look from his
bedroom window as Hamilton Greg
ory's buggy, with Fran in it, passed.
Long fishing-poles projected from the
back of the buggy. g..
By Frans side, Abbott discovered a
man. True it was only" Simon JEFF
ferson; still, for all his fifty years
| and his weak heart, it was not as if
it were some pleasant, respectable
| woman-say Simon's mother. How
ever, old ladies do not sit upon creek
banks.
The thought of sitting upon the bank
of stream suggested to Abbott that
it would be agreeable to pursue his
studies in the open air. He snatched
up some books and went below.
On the green veranda he paused to
inhale the fragrance of the roses. I'm
glad you've left your room," said Miss
Sapphire, all innocence, all kindness.
You'll study yourself to death. 1t
won't make any more of life to take it
hard-there's just so much for every
man.
Huge and serious, Miss Sapphire sat
in the shadow of the bay-window.
Against the wall were arranged
sturdy ound-backed wooden chairs,
each of which could have received the
landlady's person without culver of
spindle. Everything about Abbott
seemed too carefully ordered-he
pinned for the wholesome messy
bank sloping to purling stream.
Suddenly Miss SapphiEa srew pom
derous's Eiszkasah,. Her massive head
tSpmtned from a weight of meaning
not to be lifted lightly in mere words,
her double chins- consolidated, and her
mouth became as the granite door of
cave sealed against the too-curious.
Abbott paused uneasily before his
meditated flight-"Have you heard any
news?"
She answered almost tragically,
Board meeting, tonight
Ordinarily, teachers for the next
year were selected before the close Of
the spring term; only those ION the
inside" knew that the fateful board
meeting had been delayed week after
week because of disagreement over
the superintendency. There was 80
much dissatisfaction over Abbott Ash
ton-because of 80 much talk"-that
even Robert Clinton had thought it
best to wait, that the young man
might virtually be put upon good be-
havior.
Tonight" the young man repeated
with thrill. He realized how impor-
tant this meeting would prove in shap-
ing his future.
Yes she said warningly. And
Bob is determined to do his duty. He
never went very far in his own educa-
ton because he didn't expect to be
school-teacher-but ever since he's
been chairman of the school-board,
he's aimed to have the best teachers,
so the children can be taught right;
most of em are poor and may want
to teach, too when they're grown. l
: think all the board'll be for you to-
night, Abbott, and I've been glad to
notice that for the last month, there's
been less talk. And by the way" she
added, that Fran-girl went by with
Simon Jefferson just now, the two of
them in Brother Gregory's buggy.
They're going to Blubb's Riff1e-he
with his weak heart, and her with that
sly smile of hers, and it's full three
| mile!"
Abbott did not volunteer that he had
seen them pass. but his face showed
| the ostensible integrity of a jam-thief,
| who for once finds himself innocent
| when missing jam is mentioned.
She was not convinced by his look
of guilelessness. You seem to be
carrying away your books
81 want to breathe in this June
morning without taking it strained