The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-09-08

deepest dimples.
she don't seem to have much sta
bility," said Miss Gibbons gently, aft
er she had boarded Polly a week.
She just seems to brighten up the
whole place. I'm even thinking some
of having little party for her Wash
ington's birthday. I'll set out all my
colonial things, ask each one who
comes to bring along something
they've got tucked away, too. You
can come, can't you, Gabe?"
Gabe was sure he could. In fact,
he'd make a point of 1t, But when he
paid his usual call Sunday, Polly
seemed out ofNumor.
"Oh, it isn't anything, Gabe," she
said shortly. IT'S just everything all
at once. think I'll give up the
Mrs. Dwiggins say Friday they would
ask for my resignation if l didn't.
First, they say the supervisor
drives over and stays too long in my
district. Well, he does, too. He's an
old goose. Then they say waved
my hand to the mail carrier" She
smiled deliciously.
The twilight had fallen. Miss Glib
bons was busy getting tea out in the
kitchen, and Gabe some way managed
to unburden his mind to a large eX-
tent in those few minutes. But the
next day, even Eusebia sensed some
thing wrong in the atmosphere at her
Washington tea.
All about the parlor and sitting
room were Eusebia's colonial treas
ures, her mOss-rose tea set and the
silver glaze teapot. There we're the
Capitol steps silk quilt made by Great
srand-aunt Lucinda Allen, and the old
fibt10ck musAet that had gone through
the Pequot Indian wars, with RevO-
lutionary powder horn next II, and q
homespun woolen blanket that old
Capt. Ethan Gibbons had wrapped
around his weary limbs at Valley
Forge There was a slender silver
cup the great general himself was
said to have drunk from and the very
split bottom chair he had sat in the
night of his sojourn at the Gibbons
home.
Polly had draped an old worn flag
over the picture of Washington be-
hind the tea table where Eusebia sat,
flushed and happy, and the rooms
really looked festive. But there was
something wrong Polly knew it right
away, when Mrs. Deacon Ricketts,
gave her hand that was like a dead
founder. Then, when she passed tea,
several of the ladies said very primly,
Much obliged, Miss Hall, I'm sure"
Expect to go home before Easter,
do you, Miss Hall?" inquired old Miss
Chatterton, who was deaf as a post.
The question seemed to reverberate
through the low-ceiled rooms, and
Polly was pink to her ear tips. But
Eusebia heard It and answered for
her placidly:
"Well, faint at all likely. Well
need her here to sing in church. and
it would hardly pay to go way up to
Vermont and back again"
Mrs. Ricketts, coughed slightly,
stirred her tea and fired the next
shot.
Inc OedCOu WAS bhyihb bASAS "NN
some talk on the school board OF get
ting a man teacher to look after those
big boys. / should think they'd be
real burden to you. Miss Hall"
81 like them" said Polly earnestly.
"They all help me with the smaller
ones, and are good as can be-"
II don't believe that supervisor will
! get elected this year again" spoke up
Miss Chatterton, with startling clear
ness. and there came a dead silence.
It really was the psychological mo-
/ ment in Eusebias tea. Even the IA
nous mistress of the first administra"
ton herself would have needed all
her tact and diplomacy in handling
the issue of the moment. Polly flashed
an imploring glance at her, and
Eusebia poured another cup OF tea
with steady fingers.
DO try another one, Miss Rick
etts,' she said. "It'n quiet your
nerves Well, don't wonder they
talk of removing him. Silly old thing.
gallivanting around Std of attending
to his duties. Polly, isn't that Gabe
at the door?"
Polly stepped out into the front hall
and Eusebia smiled confdentially at
her company and sprang her final
shot of victory.
You know they're engaged to be
married as soon as the school term
ends. I'm real thankful, too. GRbe's
p got a treasure"
Copyright, 1916 by the Mcclure Newspa'