Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-23
THE scHooLMA'AM.
BY EyHKL N. FARMER.

5KnIiiIiiiiniiIIiiiiiiiiIiIiiIiiiiiIiiiiinill
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. It was very evident that the
long days in the little school were not
ones OF drudgery. The teacher. who
was little more than q girl herself. was
dearly loved by all the children.
As she began the days work no one
would have surmised 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 giggle interrupted her
wandering thoughts.
With great dignity she asked q very
modest little girl. who proudly wore
two tight braids 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 reassgned the lesson.
The clock carefully licked away the
minutes and the hands gradually crept
along their daily journey. Then q
ruler fell on the floor with . sounding
thudl
A little rsd-headsd 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
"Er. yss'm, Miss Brooks; did you
mean met" And he struggled desper-
atsly to return her look with limo
cency.
"Pick II upp she said slowly, fore
ing back a smile.
With great surprise he leaned over
and picked up the offending article and
placed It thoughtfully 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 he had stuck
under his desk.
'How good II would taster he
thought, but he knew how stern "she"
was on chewing In school-he had
tried It before.
He studied the clock with sigh, for
there were 10 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 II wasr" And he gave II
q few good chaws.
Jimmy came In low tones from the
other side Of the room.
"Er, yes'm." he replied, jumping tc
his feet, am take"
Put It In the basket and crawl In
under my desk. Stay there until the
bell 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 a sigh she sat down at her desl
and drew out part Of newspaper clip
ping which told Of the engagement Of
Lieut.. Edward Smith to q beautiful
society BELLE" All Of the article wal
not there, but Dick had assured hel
that II was true and that Ed had no
treated her fair.
Just then Dick himself entered thu
room.
"whsrs shall we 70 this evening" 2
he asked chserfuliy.
"Ars you sure this is true abou
Edr she asked him again.
"How can you doubt It'll Forge
about him and we win have goot
time together"
She shook her head.
II guess l will not 60 tonight Some
how do not believe that IL true abou
him"
Suddenly Jimmy opened his eyes.
Who said Ed7 Why, I'd was his spe
cial friend and was coming homo from
the army this very day.
He scrambled out from under tn
desk, rubbing his eyes.
"why. I've been asleep and prom
ised TO meet nd tight after school"
"Edf" she asked In surprise, afte
overcoming the shock Of the une1
pectsd third party.
The boys face fell.
at was to be q surprise to you" h
stammered.
Just then Dick picked up his WHIP
which he had laid on q chair, and dis
appeared through the door. for he hal
suddenly spled tall soldier hasteninI
ND the road with one arm carried stifi
ly in q sling.
He had Just barely left when IN
soldier entered.
Ruth"
She looked with surprise and Joy a
the newcomer.