The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-02-24

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Across the length Of a scrubhy held
! John Blake. tired school teacher aud
I confirmed bachelor. watched dirty
baseball 90 swinging on IT, way. from
the home plate Of the Sorry village
grounds, straight out over the Geld 10
the main street No he held his
breath IN CONSERVATION straight into
the cellar window OF the cottage he
longing TO the towns one constable.
Ii wasn't the beauty Of a perfect
Babe Ruth home runner the preten.
tious smashing OF the aforesaid win
dow, that called for the above ejacua.
ton by the usually grouchy teacher.
bur the fact that the young person at
the plate wore pink skirt and neat
MILDLY blouse and hud curly dark hair
blowing proyokingly from under tile
boys cap which she wore.
Under ordinary circumstances John
Blake would have called the guilty
person to task as the field was part
Of the school property. But this was a
different Casa girl and apparently
new conner 20 the village. He had never
seen girl handle bat in such
fearless. buslnesslike way, Wavering
as 10 the proper course for him TO
pursue, he watched her hurry across
the field. to his curiosity and the ire of
the eonstable's wife. She bravely
mounted the cottage steps and rang
the bell. The lady, who was subject TO
neuralgia and was having an OFF day,
glared In anger.
"Humph My man just fixed that
winder last week If you must play
ball near folks houses why can't you
60 easy The idea OF hittin' clear
across that field" The girl on the
steps below, smiled wlstfully, I'm
sorry, madam: you see II was home
rum" and added with a touch OF pride,
"and these don't happen very often"
The old lady's eyes flashed.
"Well, It's nothln' To me, home runs
er-er-" She foundered hopelessly
until the girl put In softly, "Or two
Dagger, perhaps"
The thin lips shut with a snap and
then-'It win cost you fifty cents any
way and ] ought TO charge you more
for my mans labor"
Suddenly a tall figure doomed up in
back Of the girl and a slim white hand |
thrust crisp dollar bin out at the old
lady believe me, madam" said the |
cool voice Of John Blake that hit |
was easily worth a dollar"
moment later the tomboy and John |
Blake. who had been eavesdroppIng I
for the first time IN his life. We're walk
ing down the street together
Guess our neuralgia friend doesn't
appreciate the intrlcacles Of our ma
tlonal game" he remarked kindly, and
was about to make himself more plain
when she answered easily, ooh. but
cellar windows do not grow on trees,
sir. ] thank you for helping me out
and IN return the money at school. to-
The young man had an uncomfort-
able feeling that the brown eyes under
the b0ysh cap we're laughing al him
ms the girl soberly babe him goodby,
and II there was anything that nettled
him II was ridcule What the Joke
was he tried hard TO fathom. He had [
merely tried 10 be kind TO a little j
'omboy in a rather tight financial
position. He tried TO salve over his
dignity, but next morning ,
'ound him gr0uchier than ever and !
much disposed to find the girl and !
live her belated reprimand. Casually [
ne glanced over the older classes, but !
here was no sign OF the brown-eyed r
omboy. c
In his abstraction he almost forgot
ne new teacher OF the fourth grade.
After the curtest OF greetings he
laid down the law until the
light died out OF the young teachers
yes and she looked scared and little
'ewildered.
After school closed that day, Miss :
'rane. fourth grade teacher. entered q
he principals Office and waited hum
ly until that official finished reading e
letter. Then she carefully drew s.
rIsp. new dollar bin from her pocket d
nd held II out.
I'll want to return the money, Mr..
lake. with thanks ! did not realize :
hat playing baseball was such a crime. y
$ ! have always played with my d
rothers, but I'm sorry. especially 81
bout the window. Also ! think. sir. d
hat I had better make another home q
ln-a final one My resignation" -
The sedate young principal removed
Is horn trimmed glasses and scanned n,
he face above him. bat there was no n
ace Of mischievousness In the brown "
res. only n duh hurt ai this sudden a.
Elimination OF her first attempt OF p
aching lie tried 10 vision the =
,urth grade room without his particu- 81
r. acquisition and be could not seem =
place another teacher there lie h
look his head COMPATIBILITY, "You h,
.nt rs thls was Mlss Crane Please NJ
consider e
Sic shook Der head Z must I never =.
MA uark under sarh au-autaEonls-
fras ST. Ea er