Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-03-14
THE SCHOOLMA'AMI
Observation-Disclosures
BY ETHEL N. FARMER.


Miss Brooks stood on the threshold
OF the little village school vigorously
ringing the rusty old bell. Many school
ma'ams had stood on that same thresh-
old ringing that same rusty bell but
somehow this one seemed different
from the rest. And somehow the clang-
ing of the bell seemed clearer than
ever.
The ringing Of the bell ceased, the
long line of children passed into the
building and the schoolhouse door was
closed. 1t was very evident that the
long days in the little school were not
ones Of drudgery. The teacher, who
was little more than n girl herself, was
dearly loved by all the children.
As she began the days work no one
would have surmlsed that In her heart
there was trouble.
ut really, did seem strange about
Ed. 1t could not be true. Dick was
mistaken. He"
A suppressed glggle interrupted her
wandering thoughts.
With great dignity she asked very
modest little girl, who proudly wore
two tight bralds down her back, the
cause OF the disturbance
Excuse me, please" the girl spoke
tlmidly, "but we had this lesson two
days ago."
Excuse me, too" was oil she said,
as she reassigned the lesson.
The clock carefully tloked away the
minutes and the hands Gradually crept
along their daily Journey. Then
ruler fell on the floor With sounding
thudl
little red-headed fellow In the
frobt seat was working very industrl-
6lSly, with his desk Covered with pa
pers and opened books, but the tell
tale ruler lay III the aisle beside him.
"JImmyl'
"Er, yss'm, Miss Brooks; did you
mean mef" And he struggled desper-
ately to return her look with inno-
cSncy,
"Pick 1t up" she said slowly, fore
ing back q smile.
With great surprise he leaned over
and picked up the offending article and
placed It thopghtfully in his desk.
All went we'll for a while after the
ruler was safely deposited out of sight
until Jimmy suddenly Thought of the
lovely. big cud OF gum hs had stuck
under his desk.
"How good II would taste I" he
thought, but he knew how stern "she"
was on chewing in sehool-he had
tried It before.
He studied the clock with a sigh, for
there were 15 minutes more At last he
could stand 1t no longer, and the gum
was suddenly and slyly transferred
from the desk to his mouth.
How good It was" And he gave It
few good chews.
"Jlmmyr came In low tones from the
other side Of the room.
"Er, yes'n," he replied, jumping to
his feet, an take"
put It lip the basket and crawl In
under my desk. Stay there until the
boil rings"
At last the closing bell rang and the
children filed out OF the building, but
Miss BROOKS did not notice that Jimmy
did not appear
With n sigh she sat down at her desk
and drew out part of newspaper clip
ping which told Of the engagement Of
Lieut.. Edwafd Smith to q beautiful
society belle" All Of the article was
not there, but Dick had assured her
that It was true and that I'd had not
treated her fair.
Just then Dick himself entered the
room.
where shall we go this eveningr
he asked cheerfully.
"Are you sure this Is true about
EdT" she asked him ngain.
How can you doubt IT. Forget
about him and we will have q good
time together"
She shook her head.
81 guess | will got 20 tonight. Some
how do not believe that " true about
him"
Suddenly Jimmy opened his eyes.
Who said Edf Why, Ed was his spe-
clal friend and was coming home from
the army this very day
lie scrambled out from under the
desk, rubbing his eyes.
"Why, I've boon asleep and prom
Used to meet Ed right after school,"
"Ed" she asked In surprise, after
overcoming the shock OF the unef-
pected thlrd party.
The boys face fell.
ut was TO be surprise to you" he
stammered.
Just then Dick picked up his whip,
which he had laid on chalr, 6pd dis
appeared through the door, for he had
suddenly spled tall soldier fastening
up the road with one arm carried stlff.
ly In n sling.
He had Just barely left when the
soldier entered.
Ruth -
She looked with surprise and Joy at
the newcomer.
A few minutes later she passed her
worn clipping to Ed slowly.
Ills face clouded rs he read. but II
Immediately cleared. when he realized
rs Significance, and tho cause Of the
strange disappearance OF his old rival
whom he had Just caught a glimpse Of
down the road.
"Thl5 Is another Ed Smith, who lives
In town." he assured her. II know him.
Don't worry about me-"
No more explanations were neces.
gnry and Miss BrOOks' "probIefn" was
settled worry satisfactorily.
At signal from ED. Jimmy scam
pered from the building, but he saw
what happened later when he CLEO
fully climbed ny on the roof Ind
peeked In at the cracked widow.
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper syhdlcate)
Phone main 1894.