The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-10-31
Emna's Great
Triumph
By H. LOUIS RAYBOLD


in the high school at Montrose High
lands. 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
recuperation and study. In time we
hope to grant this years vacation with
full pay; at present, all we can do is
to allow a small bonus and hold the
position OPEN"
Emma, strange to say, was not vi
tally 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 20G on the
third floor. Six years added a gray
hair or two, droop to her shoulders
a wrinkle in her forehead, And she
woke suddenly to a real and vital in
terest in the fact that the next year
was to be herS-a whole, free year, in
which to devote herself-to what?
Why to whatever would make her serv-
ices valuable for another six years to
the high school and Curtis Hunt and
the town of MontrOse Highlands.
And so her Sabbatical Year came
to Emma. And at its close back to
school, she appeared at the first teach
ers' 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. And
as she sat there and viewed the groups
of fellow teachers daring impulse to
speak the truth arose within her.
When her opportunity came Emma
arose and, grasping the chair back in
front of her, swept her audience with
a grave glance. "Some of my Sabbat-.
ical Year she told them, "was spent
at the university; some of it was
spent taking a course in PhOenician
archaeology, the rest of it | put in max
ing myself ready fOr-fOr marriage
studying how to be a companion, a
thrifty helpmate and a home maker"
She sat down amid a silence that was
audible.
Then smoothly, tactfully, under
John Wentworth's hand, the meeting
flowed on in the usual channels.
Emma had unconsciously accom-
plisbed a strange thing. She had 70,
cused upon herself the attention of
every fellow teacher, man and wom-
an. And that attention, once captured,
remained riveted. For it was impos-
sible not to observe that Emma wore
different Clothes and wore them in
a new way, and that her personal APP
pearance had grown youthful, yes,
more beautiful The women would
have understood had they known that
course in drcSsmaking and weekly
visits to Il reliable beauty specialist
had been a part of Emma's past year.
The men accepted the change at face
value, but none the less interesting.
John Wentworth, walking home
with Emma, discovered that she was
Womanly, alluring provocative. He
began to regret his many years of
bachclorhooG and to wonder how soon
he could bring them to an end. Here
was a woman, drawing a good salary,
who had come out bravely and de-
clared she wished to marry. What a
treasure and Il marvel such a woman
was, these modern days.
If Emma cared for Wentworth she
gave no outward sign of it that win
ter. but pursuing her pedagogical way
serenely, accepting equally the atten-
tons of the principal, the head of the
science department, the history teach
er and the young instructor in Eng
fish. A triAe bitterly the other wOm-
en- teachers compared notes and laid
little bets among themselves as to the
final outcome.
Then came the spring vacation from
which Emma returned with a radiant
ly happy look in her eyes and a ring
that sparkled triumphantly on its ap-
propriate finger.
Was 1t John Wentworth or the his
tory man, or?
But after school in the teachers
restroom Emma satisfied their curios-
ity. ITS Curtis Hunt, girls. I'm sure
you're not surprised"
But as a matter of fact they were,
and crowded about her.
"Come, Emma, loosen up" begged
Mabel Southwick. "My year off IS
due. Tell us what you did that got
all the men interested"
"Well," said Emma, twisting her
ring with a whimsical glance, 81 stud
led up clothes and I studied up
the gentle art of conversation.
| made the most of my looks and I
took correspondence course in
household economics, interior decOrat-
ing and cooking, But well, to he
frank about it, III have to confess
that Phoenician archaeology did as
much for me as anythng!"
"Phocuician archaeology" The two