Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-07-11
Above PROBLEM
BY MONA ooRR.

"louhu the quiet little station. Its
cleanliness had impressed her when
entering the town.
Having come all the way from the
city of jamestown to teach ut the dis
trict school, the rural scenery gave her
q feeling of contentment.
CHANGING out through the window in
the tiny waiting room she saw small
runabout stop and a tall man spring
out.
lie came into the station, and step
ping up to her, hat in hand. asked:
is this Miss Thornton?"
As the girl nodded. he continued:
Tn Douglas Ramsey, superintend.
ent of schools Mrs Gray asked me to
meet YOU, You know the roads are so
muddy" He threw her a reassuring
smile rs he picked up her bags and led
the way to the car.
On the ride to Mrs. Gray's she
learned that her companion was Mrs.
GrayS near neighbor, living with his
parents.
nv btdhNil ul NNtuNiy anu lpNNtf
fields impressed Lillian, who had been
used to city lfe aud the ride had not
seemed a two-mile run when the car
drew up before low, od-fashioned
cottage. Though it was the month of
September, the grass was still n lovely
| green, and the dahlias, gladioH and
other late foliage, in their mingled
| glory of yellow, pink and red, seemed
! to nod a bright welcome to the girl.
AS they started up the graveled path
the front door was opened and a
| plump, pleasant-faced woman smiled
welcome to Lillian.
We'll not require an introduction"
said Mrs Gray as she pressed the
| girls hand.
After few words. Superintendent
Ramsey departed with the promise to
| call for Lillian the next day to intro
duce her to the new duties at Kelsey
school
Mrs. Gray's family consisted of her
| husband. a genial. Woodworking farm
err, and her six-year-old son Richard,
who would start into school with the
| new teacher
Lillian retired happy that night with
| the assurance of a pleasant home, one
| good scholar and the anticipation of
| several others.
Tuesday morning found Lillian and
small Richard starting out for the
school, which stood down the road a
| short distance On the way Douglas
! Joined them, and as they reached the
schoolhouse they saw a group of eager
little figures patiently waiting.
Hello. Johnny Well how goes 1t.
Ted? and so on as the man greeted
each smiling face.
When they had all assembled in the
| schooroCm the superintendent arose
and said: Boys and girls, this is our
new teacher, Miss Thornton. How
| many are going 10 do their very best
to make this a model school this year, "
! Twenty-Five ready hands shot into
the air IN acquiescence, and Lillian
Thornton knew her first battle was
| won.
Days flew by into weeks and, with
the teachers city training, the little
school was fast becoming model
! classroom.
| In the meantime the superintendent
had become a frequent caller at the
Gray homestead, and Lillian looked
forward with pleasure to his evening
calls.
One afternoon In midwinter knock
was heard, and one of the scholars ad-
mitted Superintendent Ramsey. Need
less TO say, books were laid aside and
attention was claimed.
Now" said the teacher smilingly,
I'VE will have recitation" And there
followed quick sums in arithmetic
which were readily answered by the
older pupils.
Finally the work was switched to
the younger children.
"Richard"-this to the little Gray
youngSter-"teil us the answer to one
plus one
The boy thought Tor moment, then
replied zone"
The teacher, looked askance. why,
Richard, one plus OneF
"One," he returned again Then with
quivering lips and fearful eyes, II
know, teacher, you said twas two; but
| my mother said Tiff SMILEY
mean Mr. Ramsey, kept comm to see
you, you two'd be one, so | thought
that was an example. You always say
to give an example"
There was a strained silence for
one minute. when u litter. then a
burst of laughter was heard from a
roomful of lusty young throats; and,
worst of all, came the low chuckle of
a man.
Lilllan's head came up from the
desk in double-quick time, and her
flushed face and angry eyes met the
laughing gaze of Smiley Ramsey, as
he was lovingly named by his many
little friends.
MY dear little girl he laughlngly
whispered, why should you be so
angryY"