The Washington times., 1938-01-18

A honey print that spoke Gle
THANKSGIVING spirit. 1t used to
hang in Rose Gillan's grand
mothers bedroom, and when she
died Rose treasured it.
Hanging the picture in the An
tique Shoppe window now with a
For Sale" sign hurt Rose. Grand
ma used to say the picture al
ways brought her happiness.
To have a piano was Roses
dream of happiness. Could she
expect S25 for the print? Every
little helped.
Good morning, Rose. Changed
your mind about the new school
houSe?"
Rose Gillian drew her curly head
out of the shop window and
turned defiant eyes on the young
man. He stood straight shoul-
dered before her, smile widen
ing his mouth above the deter
mined chin.
mo, Tom Terry. And you're
wasting your time ana NINE
In trying to convince you?
You've said that before. But a
rising young lawyer in Sayport
has plenty of time to waste and
as this is Saturday, surely school
teacher has a little time to waste
too.
Now listen, Rose. Main Street
Is the only site for the new school.
Think how it will advertise the
village. Why, folks driving through
will be impressed; they'll see what
an up-to-date community we are"
ROSE is DEFIANT
Rose shook her curls, snapped
her defiant eyes, compressed her
lips.
You are stubborn" said Tom.
"The whole crowd agrees with
me-"
For the first time Rose smiled.
We'll find that out at the
school meeting tonight"
"It'S in the bag" said Tom, re-
turning the smile. II only want
you on our side because the kids
think such a lot of YOU, and
they're against us because teacher
is. Lucky those kids have no
vote"
Tom, we've gone into all this
before" Rose spoke in voice that
meant the matter was settled.
The new school should be built
where the old one is, next the ath-
letic field. All the boys want it
there, naturally"
The smile left Tom Terry's lips.
He thrust out his firm chin and
said in an impatient voice:
"Kids CAM know the impor-
tance of this; just because they'll
have six or eight blocks more to
walk. Now you-"
A flame he saw in Rose Gillan's
eyes checked him. For a full min
ute they faced one another, nei-
ther blinking an eyelid. Then Tom
turned. He dragged his hat on his
head.
"Good-by," he said curtly, "and
speaking of wasting time, you'll
be doing that when you come to
meeting tonight" He slammed the
door, the bell in the rear Of the
shop changing harshly behind him.
Color flushed Roses cheeks. Hot
waves of anger ruffled her; yet
underneath her anger something
troubled her; she felt forlorn,
hurt.
Only for a moment. Through
the window she watched the tall
figure striding down Main Street.
We'll see, Mr.. Thomas Terry!"
Feeling never runs so high as in
q Small-town contest. National
elections bring conflict, but it is
mild, for in a small town the po-
litical faith of all is known, and
the vote can be counted within a
few ballots almost any time.
Not so when it is village ques-
ton. 1t may be a matter as unim-
portant as the location of a dog
pound, yet if it happens to be dis
puted, the question will turn
neighbor against neighbor, revive
sleeping feuds, raise passions that
equal the hatred shown during
the Civil War.
SHOUTING TURMOIL
The schoolhouse site dispute
was such a rivalry in Sayport.
The meeting was a tempest. No
single voter was absent. All
wrangled in a shouting turmoil
for an hour. The time for vot-
ing came.
Tom Terry was to have the clos
ing say for those who favored the
Main Street site. Rose watched
and listened with mixed feelings,
He was a little like the youth,
Lincoln, she thought, only much
better looking.
Rose felt her face growing hot
as she spoke. She noted faces
smiling up at her, she met ap-
proving, slightly mused eyes. She
Sensed what they were thinking.
Tom Terry and I have always
been friends, until this question
came before the village. I've men
toned his athletic record.
What I cannot understand is
that a man with such a record
should stand in the way of boys
in school today, making it harder
and harder for them to enjoy
athletics.
"Why, to locate the new schoo
house on Main Street would NEAR