The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1922-08-25
HER YEAR OFF
BY n. LOUIS RAY6oLD


college, she received an appointment
to teach in the high school at Mont
rose Highlands. Not only would her
work be under the most delightful
conditions of splendid equipment and
inspiring surroundings, and draw,
even at the start, very fair salary.
but she would in time be eligible for
Curtis Hunts Sabbatical Year.
Curtis Hunt was the comparatively
new superintendent of schools OF
Montrose Highlands. He had insti-
tuted many reforms, none of them,
however. more popular than his Sab
batical Year. High school teachers.
as well as college professors" he
stoutly maintained, should be allowed
a year Off. every seventh year, for re-
cuperatiOn and study. In time we
hope to grant this years vacation with
full pay; at present. all We can do 10
to allow a small bonus and hold the
position open"
Emma, strange to say. was not
vitality interested In this feature OF her
Job. Seven years! Why. by that time
she hoped to be married and have
three children at least.
Yet one year passed, then several.
And still Emma reported faithfully at
a quarter of nine In Room 206 on the
third floor.
And so her Sabbatical Year came
to Emma. And at Its close, back In
school, she appeared mt the hrst
teachers meeting of the season. where
she knew from experience she would
be called upon for a report Of what
she had done during her absence.
When her opportunity came Emma
arose and, grasping the chair-back In
front Of her, swept her audience with
q brave glance. "Some Of my Sabbath
cal year." she told them. "was spent
mt the university; some Of II was
spent taking a course in Phoenician
archaeology, the rest OF II i put In
making myself ready for-for mar
rtage-studying how To be COM
panion. a thrifty helpmate and home
maker" She sat down amid silence
that was audible.
Then smoothly, tactfully, under
John wentworth's hand. the meeting
flowed on In the usual channels.
Emma had unconsciously accom-
plished a strange thing. She had
focused upon herself the attention II
every fellow teacher. man and woman
And that attention. once captured. ~
manned riveted. For II was impossible
not TO observe that Emma wore dif-
ferent clothes and wore them In new
way, and that her personal appearance
had grown more youthful, yes, more
beautiful. The women would have
understood had they known that a
course In dressmaklng and weekly
visits 10 a reliable beauty specialist
had been n part of Emma's past year.
The men accepted the change at face
value, but were none the less inter-
ested.
John Wentworth, walking home with |
Emma, discovered that she was
womanly, alluring. provocative. He |
began 10 regret his many years OF
bachelorhood and Ia wonder how soon
he could bring them 10 an end. Here
was woman. drawing n good salary. |
who had come out bravely and de-
clared she wished TO marry. What a
treasure and marvel such a woman
was. these modern days!
II Emma cared for Wentworth she
--.... .. =. ..,,.... el.,., - o That xxiptar
but pursued her pedagogical way
serenely, accepting equally the atten-
tons OF the principal, the head OF the
science department. the history
teacher and the young instructor In
English. A trIfe bitterly the other
women teachers compared notes and
laid little bets among themselves as
10 the final outcome. And every one
privately resolved ut n try for one OF
he unsuccessful competitors. Emma
lad blazed trail they condemned In
public but secretly longed 60 pursue.
Then came the spring vacation,
rom which Emma returned with n
adiantly happy look in her eyes and
ring that sparkled triuTnphanily on
Is appropriate finger.
Was Il John Wentworth or the his
DRY man orr
But after school In the teachers ,
estroom Emma satisfied their curl
sity. "Irs Curtis Hunt. girls. I'm
ure you're not surprised" ,
But. as n matter 81 fact. they were. !
nd crowded about her witt eJacu- :
atoms and congratulations. :
"Come, Emma. loosen up begged q
label Southwick My year on II Z
ne. Tell us what you did that got .
n the men Interested"
well" said Emm= twisting her a
ng with a whimsical glance Il >
.udied up clothes and ] studied up 9
le gentle art Of cnverSatIon.
ade the most 81 my looks and 1.
ok a correspondence course in house n
I'D economics. interior decorating
I'd cooking But. well. 60 BE- frank r
out u. Ill have 70 confess that !,
hoenician archaeology did as much r
r me as anything!- 3
"Pheenician archaeology The two n
ords were uttered in chorus
"Exactly.- said Emma. You see. I :,
lew Curtis Hunt was going to take q
ai course. t0o!- %