The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-05-31

THE SCHOOLMA'AM
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

or the little village school YigOr0usl
ringing the rusty old bell. Many school
ma'ams had stood on that same thtesh
old ringing that same rusty bell bu
somehow this one seemed dlfferen
from the rest. And Eomehow the clang
Ing OF the bell seemed clearer thar
ever.
: The ringing OF the bell ceased. tn,
long line Of children passed into the
building and the schooIhouse door was
closed. 1t was very evident that the
long days in the little school were mol
ones OF drudgery. The teacher, who
was little more than girl herself was
dearly loved by all the children.
i As she began the days work no one
would have surinised that in her heart
there was trouble.
/ ut really did seem strange about
Ed. II could not be true. Dick was
mistaken. He"
A suppressed gigglo Interrupted her
Wandering thoughts.
With great dignity she asked very
modest little girl, who proudly wore
two tight brsids down her back. the
cause of the disturbance.
Excuse me. please" the girl spoke
timidly, but we had this lesson two
days ago"
Excuse me, too" was all she said.
as she reassigned the lesson.
The clock carefully licked away the
minutes and the hands gradually crept
along their daily journey. Then
ruler fell ON the floor with a sounding
thud!
A little red-headed fellow in the
front seat was working very industri-
ously, with his desk covered with pa
pers and opened books, but the tell
tale ruler lay In the aisle beside him
JIMMY"
ar, yes'm. Miss Brooks; did you
mean me2" And he struggled desper-
ately to return her look with innO-
cency.
"Pick 1t upi" she said slowly, fore.
ing back smile.
With great surprise he leaned over
and picked up the offending article and
placed it thoughtfully in his desk.
All went well for a while after the |
'uler was safely deposited out of sight
Until Jimmy suddenly thought of the
ovely, big cud of gum he had stuck |
lnder his desk.
"HOw good 1t would taste |" he
bought but he knew how stern "she"
vas on chewing in school-he had
ried 1t before.
He studied the clock with sigh, for
here were 10 minutes more At last he
'Ould stand 1t no longer, and the gum
vas suddenly and slyly transferred
rom the desk to his mouth.
How good 1t WASP And he gave 1t
! few good chews.
Jimmy came In low tones from the
'ther side Of the room.
"Er yes'm." he replied, jumping to
liz feet. "Tll take"
"Put 1t in the basket and crawl In
Inder my desk. Stay there until the
ell rings"
At last the closing bell rang and the
hIldren filed out Of the building, but
iiss Brooks did not notice that Jimmy
Id not appear.
With sigh she sat down at her desk
md drew out part of newspaper clip
'ing which told Of the engagement Of
Lieut.. Edward Smith to g beautiful
society BELLE" All Of the article was
lot there, but Dick had assured her
hat 1t was true and that Ed had not
reated her fair
Just then Dick himself entered the
'Oom.
where shall we go this even.ngr'
he asked cheerfully.
"ArG you sure this is true about
5d?" she asked him again.
"How can you doubt It? Forget
about him and we will have a good
line together"
She shook her head.
II guess I will not go tonight. Some
low l do not believe that is true about
lip.". .'s.G2Sss e IL IL. sghe
/
Suddenly Jimmy opened his eyes.
Who said Ed? Why, Ed was his spe-
,ial friend and was coming home from
he army this very day!
He scrambled out from under the
iesk, rubbing his eyes.
"Why, I've been asleep and prom
sed to meet Ed right after school,"
'Edf" she asked in surprise, after
overcoming the shock Of the unex-
Dected third party.
The boys face fell.
ut was to be surprise to you" he
5tammered.
Just then Dick picked up his whip,
which he had laid on chair, and dis
appeared through the door, for he had
spied tall soldier fastening
up the road with one arm carried stir.
" In sling. ~s.a., 4.ss--w~.s
He had just barely left when the
soldier entered.
"Ruthw