Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1928-02-16

good English; st. CrOix had of course
never heard her talk anything but the
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect!
"Nettie," she murmured.. you tel
mimi"
Nettie, shy, but all too willing t.
hold the young gods attention upor
herself, eagerly assumed the task O.
explaining her poor fathers unfortu
nate mistake-and before she was hal
through her narrative, they were al
laughing except Susie; and even she
was feebly smiling.
"What gets me pupplexed," said Mr.
Schwenckton amazedly. "is that me
and you, Mr.. Creighton, neighbOrs
since you was born Already, though
Eve miles apart and not seeing each
on you since you was a college boy
except to pass each other in our cars)
but that US we could ride together
near eight miles yet and not rekOnize
each other"
I'D have known you In your farm
clothes, ] suppose, but"
He did not explain how unnatural
and unlike himself the farmer looked
to him in his "store suit" with a col.
lar and necktie on.
"It's good thing we're neighbors
that know each other or this here
thing mightn't look so funny, but very
seriOus!" Mr.. Schwenckton gravely
opined.
81 didn't know" St. Croix said sud.
denly, when Mr.. Schwenckton's abject
apologies had been accepted. that
you had three daughters. Mr..
Schwenckton; I thought you had only
two"
"You thought right got only two. "
"Oh," St. Croix nodded. then this
young lady isn't your daughter" His
nod indicated Nettie, but as she and
Nicely were standing together. MIR.
Schwenckton misunderstood him.
"No, she's only distant cousin.
come to school to teach here"
"Teach? Why, she looks too young !
You can't tell, these days. can you.
how old girls are?"
Nicely realized that his look OF
amazement. almost of CONSERVATION,
was not at all for Nettie's youth as
a teacher. but for the awful English
with which the children of the dis.
trict must be instructed!
Nettie was delighted that no one
but herself. as she supposed. per.
ceived his mistake. for it was won.
derful to have Mr.. st. Croix Creigh.
ton think her old enough and "smart"
enough to be school teacher! Thank
full. she was indeed that Nicely didn't
speak in and claim the honor.
1t was obvious to Nicely that St.
Croix was even more concerned than
she was that neither he nor she
should by look or wcrd reveal to this
family the relation In which they
stood.
Mr.. Schwenckton offered, now. to
get out his car again and take Mr..
Creighton home. but the young man
protested that If they would allow him
to telephone home. one of the Beech.
lands chauffeurs would be here in q
short time with runabout.
While he was telephoning. Mr..
Schwenckton ordered Nettie to make
some strong hot coffee and get out
some doughnuts and pie
But what. Nicely wondered. would
st. Croix think of the teachers being
asked to do this instead Of the daugh.
ter of the house? She considered
swiftly what would be her best course
to avert suspicion on both sides. To
get across the kitchen to the stairway
and run up to her room? Mr..
Schwencken would be bound to stop
her. and insist that she stay and have
coffee and doughnuts with them and
II he spoke to her at all, st. Croix
would notice how differently he ad.
dressed her and Nettie. To remain
here, however, was more certain to in.
vite exposure And yet. she was
afraid to go away for fear of what
might come out in her absence.
Nettie, as she hustled about making
coffee and setting out cups and sau.
GERS, saw, with keen chagrin. how Mr..
Creighton's eyes kept turning toward
Nicely and never in her direction. And
the expression on his face-furtive,
hungry, infatuated! Was this. Nettie
wondered. case Of love on sight?
She was greatly puzzled for in her
opinion Nicely "looked mess" in that
sloppy kimono and with "plait"
down her back.
AS Mr. Creighton hung up the re-
ceiver, there was quick movement
In the room-Meely making for the
stairs.
ZACH. Nicely" began Mr.. Schwenck.
ton.
"Good night" she interrupted, rush.
ing up the steps before he could stop
her-but not before she caught in St
CrOiX' eyes the evidence Of the con.
flict in his mind-a passionate protest
against her going, mingled with fear
Of her presence.
Upstairs In her own room, while she
prepared for he'd, she had the exciting
suspense Of wondering whether they
were talking about her; whether St
Croix had noticed the kimono she had
on. a japanese embroidered silk thing