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

warily watched the faces around the
table for signs of newly awakened
suspicious of herself But she found
nothing unusual In the demeanor OF
the family.
Nettie chartered excitedly about the
elegance and sweetness" of Mr.
CreightOn's stylish clothes, his won.
derful white hands, the way he said
his words-"He says 'hoff' for half
1t sounds awful pretty and genteel
that way! And, ach, the manners he's
got! The way he held my chair for
me to sell Say!"-it beggared words
"But ! always say" her father
spoke in. 'that I don't think so much
of manners-morals is so much more
important"
"Gimme manners |" Nettie detiantly
affirmed her choice
"Morals and manners" said Nicely,
"can 60 hand In hand-they're not
mutually exclusive"
Nicely had often noticed that her
use Of word of more than two syl.
tables invariably awed the family into
q prolonged silence.
She broke the present Iull by breach.
ing a subject to Mr.. Schwenckton that
was weighing on her mind. How
often do county superintendent visit
q school, Mr.. Schwenckton"
Zach, about once in so often"
"Yes, but how often?"
"Not so very often. Now and then"
"But l mean," Nicely patiently ex-
planned, show far apart are now and
then.'?"
swell, pretty far apart You see
he's got too many to visit to come
often. And the schools is spread over
so much area that it takes up time to
60 to and from"
Nicely decided that for at least a
few weeks she could breathe freely,
and feel comparatively secure from
the danger Of visit.
And that very morning, just after
recess time, as the children were
trooping in from the playground, he
walked in on her.
ooh, dear, you here again." she
openly lamented as he, without offer
ing her his hand, bowed rather CURLY
and drew forth a platform chair-not.
however, seating himself while she
stood, a courtesy to which she had.
for so many months, been stranger,
that it thrilled her. to her amusement.
almost as much as ST. CroiX' IMAM
ners" had thrilled Nettie the night be.
fore.
"rm here" he grimly stated, stand.
ing behind his chair and folding his
arms with a resolute. NapoleOnic air
that made her heart sink. ito hear
you teach geography"
"Here I stand-so help me Gawd!"
she Knocked at his determined mien
Martin Luther!"
sand ! don't leave this schoolroom
until I have heard you"
"Oh. gee!" she sighed.
He set his lips and stared straight
ahead Of him
"Ive had this school on my con-
science since you yourself admitted
that you can't teach. We can't let
these children suffer from your-ex
cuse me-incompetence. Will you call
a geography class. Miss-Schwenck.
TONI"
Did he or did he not hesitate over
her name? She could not feel sure.
"But why this passionate interest
in geography" she complained.
"Aren't you longing to see me teach
spelling? I'll call a spelling class"
Geography, If you please" &.
81 suppose" she said accusingly,
you just want to expose me as not
knowing any geography of the United
States! Well. if you call that chival.
rOus-"
"Pm not here to be chivalrous, but
to hear you teach"
"Why won't spelling do?"
II prefer geography"
"Just because jokingly pretended
to think there were forty-seven states
instead Of ffts-seven land told you
that when was a mere child.
thought the Mississippi river ran east
and west !"
Exactly"
"Well," she said reflectively. well,
Mr.. Creighton, before l take your re-.
quest into consideration. will you tell
me what is the extent of your power
over my job? Can you take it from
me"
81 can advise your school board to
take II from you. But" he hastily
added. "of course don't want to! I'd
hate like the dickens" Again he
pulled himself up. 81 should greatly
dislike" he said primly. ito resort to
such stringent measures"
"That's better-sounds more profes.
sional," she encouraged him. "Be
professional or die"
The children of the school were all
seated now-rigidly upright in the
presence of that magnate, the county
northumberland Nicely could no
longer daily with the situation; she
must decide what to do She might
repeat the successful geography lesson
she had already given that morn.
ing on Italy-though deliberate
repetition of the whole performance
Uould no So astonishing IN the chill.