Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-07-10

CHAPTER THIRTY-FoUR

l. -
THE MINISTER did not notice
his daughters hair, but Sarah Anne
saw Bob's frank eyes scrutinize it.
Then he shook his head. but his
eyes twinkled,
Better the old way" His words
were said out Of the corner of his
mouth.
you're being subpenaed as a
witness in the investigation" the
minister announced. "The govern
ment never needed us SO much be-
FORE"
with a price on my head, or a
session Of waiting behind bars if 1
didn't earn, enough teaching geogra-
ply and reading to meet it ?" asked
Sarah Anne.
"It's taker care OF. Tt seems
providential that Bob crashed into
town that night. He's keeping the
family out of JAIL" the dry rejoin-
der came from Mr.. Melton.
Suddenly Sarah Anne began to
laugh. It was a choking sound,
flooded with tears. She, who had
been such an agreeable child-all
the Ladies' Aid society members
said so-couldn't take much more.
She had coaxed the neighborhood
children not to throw rice at brides
and bridegrooms, because it hurt
business, though her heart longed
for the snowy flutterings. She
never had led the rose drill in a
,Children's Day march, because
there always was a little girl who
needed to be lured into regular at
tendance with that honor. She had
waited or dark, unfrequented ta-
bles at ice cream sociables because
her honest little heart believed that
it was her duty. Now she was tired
iof being a martyr. She hated the
term. For the first time she realized
that it might have applied to her.
She did not recall her sacrifices
in chronological order. In fact, she
did not think Of any Of them. She
merely knew that she had tried to
Jbe q credit to the parsonage and
hadn't succeeded.
Her father smiled reassuringly.
you're only being human. Nerves
all women have them"
Bob looked worried. He tried to
speak, but it was apparent that he
didn't know what to say.
IF she: could go away-well, why
not? No one needed her now. May
be, in the autumn, she could find
a school in a strange city, where
she would be Sarah Anne Melton,
girl alone, not the minister's daugh-
ter. She would talk over the mat
ter with her superintendent, who
had been kind and complimentary.
! But when she entered the Office
of the man, a few days later, he
acted embarrassed. She haStened to
explain her mission. He frightened
quickly.
Miss Melton, think that's a
wise decision. You have my appro-
baton. I realize that your father
may be leaving" He broke off
and flushed. Doubtless a change
would be good for you. I can give
you excellent recommendations to
present wherever you 60"
Sarah Anne interrupted. II
thought you might suggest a
school or an agency"
"Well. yes. that could be ar
ranged"
This was home. These people
were her people. Maybe she
wouldn' be happy away from here.
Should she do this?
The superintendent's secretary
asked him to step into the outer
Office for minute, and he closed
the connecting door between the
two rooms. He forgot that the win
dows stood wide to, the breeze and
the offices were side by side.
1.-THE matter adjusted itself, Miss
Evans. Miss Melton came in to re-
sign. You can tear up that letter
7 dictated this morning. This takes
away all the embarrassment and
leaves us free. Lucky break,
wouldn't you say?"
IT guess so." The secretary was
more compassionate. "But the girl
hasn't done anything that might
not have done, or your own daugh-
ter, for that matter. It's not fair"
UNFORTUNATELY our school board