White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1928-01-13
CHAPTER IV-Continued

we normal school graduates, do not
believe in co-uh-cion and fawce. In
my government of this school, for in
stance, I try to have all co-urr-sion
come from within, not from without. :"
"Fine; If you can work it; can you?
And this idea of yours-teaching chill
| dren what is for their immediate use
| (and pleasure believe you added?)
Is 1t for their physical or mental
| growth that you are striving?-for
what saw as came in here appeared
to be violent gymnastics or an execu-
tion of the charleston p
Il was acting out play for them
Barrie's "A Kiss for Cinderella 1 was
at the ball"
"Um-mm," he murmured. "Acting7"
"Trying to-
but you'll have these sectarian par
ents on your back The plain people,
you know, are Mortified at the word
acting"
but act everything teach-his-
tory, spelling, grammar-it's the only
way can teach"
"Now, do you know 1 would like to
see you act spelling!"
swell, you won't get a chance to!"
Look here! Don't you know what
county superintendent Isl"
"Oh, don't 1? ITO you your super
intendent should be as a god; one
to whom you are but as form in wax,
within his power to leave the figure
or dfsfigure it," she dramatically re-
cited passage from midsummer
Nights Dream" slightly adapted
every we'll, then, how da,:.c you
cheek me and say you won't when I
tell you to de Il ti1ng?'
Because I'd rather lose my Job
than have you sit there and laugh at
mev
Its not for mere superintendent"
he shook his head humby, ito laugh
at normal school graduate Though
I'm sure, Miss Schwenckton, that the
normal school course does not include
histrionics! I do know that much
about normal schools However, I
congratulate you"
"On my-intelligent ideas about
teaching?"
"On your excellent acting"
She stiffened with alarm. "But-
but you've not seen it !" she objected.
you're sure? By the way-what
role were you going to play when
passed you on the road the other day
dolled up like a comic valentine?'
She caught her breath "But-but
you never looked at mel Do you see
with your left ear?"
He laughed, rose abruptly, and held
out his hand "Good-by, Miss"-his
eyes bored into hers like gimlets-
"Schwenckton I won't torture you
any longer with my unwelcome pres
encer'
"Good-by," she sighed with deep re-
lief.
"But-a few questions before I 60,
If you don't mind" He took out a
pencil and notebook. "Your class at
Kutztown normal?"
She could not answer that question
offhand, apparently. "Wait minute"
She opened drawer of her desk, took
out her diploma and handed it to him.
She had been prudently keeping this
diploma at hand to be ready at need
when he should call.
"Um-mm," he said thoughtfully,
"two years ago. You didn't teach last
year?'
"No-no."
"Why not?"
"Well-I was going to be married.
but, strange as it may seem to you,
got Tilted"
He caught his lower lip between
his teeth and stared at her. Then,
with an abrupt nod, turned away and
left the schoolroom.
'My Cd" she thought, her hand
pressed to her heart, chow much does
he suspect?"
1t was, of course, her accent that
betrayed her. She could perfectly
disguise 1t when she adopted the ex-
IRENE Pennsylvania Dutch dialect,
but nothing short of that could hide
the foreign touch of her speech.
She could only hope that her pos
session Of this Kutztown normal
diploma would throw him off the scent.
|
All the Schwencktons, except the
ailing wife and baby, were very tired
of Aunt Rosy and longed for Susie's
recovery not only for her own sake,
but because 1t would rid them of the
older woman's unpleasant company.
Nicely and Mr.. Schwenckton both
loathed her uncleanlness; Nicely
! feared her spying upon her; Sammy
hated and resented her; Lizzie was
afraid Of her cold-blooded spite for
the humiliating defeat the child had
caused her; and Mr.. Schwenckton
was impatient to be rid of her so that
he could bring home his daughter
Ncttie.
And at last, in spite of unsanitary
conditions, and through the occasional
conniving of Nicely and the doctor to
outwit Aunt Rosy and Mr.. Schwenck-
ton and air the house, Susie began to
Al Ill Il.