The Wind Before the Dawn

that night, all the disappointments and handicaps of that wonderful year of expe

hat had been dear to her. When Elizabeth was called to the blackboard that afternoon to explain a problem in algebra, the board, the pointer, the very chalk in her finger

to the less frequented streets with the certainty that she was going to disgrace herself with tears shed publicly. It had been a trying day, and in spite of all efforts

" was coming

ht that he had probably met her. He looked puzzled, but lifted his hat as

across the stree

ver for some help on th

n," and mixed with Elizabeth's mortifying con

ug

g the young men of the city, was set apart by a peculiar grace and culture. She remembered the hat which had not merely been lifted from the head, but had been carried below the chin as he bowed dis

ansformations of her own life did not call for any such transformations in him. He was Luther. It had been his mental processes which had won and now sustained her attachment for him. Their two minds had worked together as one mind while they had struggled with the innocent problems of their childhood days, and Elizabeth still felt incomplete without him. She had been less conscious of Luther's absence the first year than at any time since his going away, but in Topeka, and now that she was approaching the scene of their association together, Elizabeth wanted him with a depth of homesickness she had never felt

he asked herself so many times that the

rant-gentle and loving and tolerant," they sang for miles

the moment Elizabeth arrived, and for new reasons she

rom the farm wagon at the kitchen door that afternoon. "It ain't got no warmth," he added scornfully

ickening conte

e go

rself around here. I'd 'a' kept my money if I'd 'a' knowed it was goi

ce. When Elizabeth took it off her mother took it to the bedroom to put it away, remarking in a whisper that it made her look quite like a school-teacher ought to look. She was secretly glad that her daughter had it, since

more stuck-up than if it

's nerves. Aunt Susan never diffe

e said, to shake herself f

uccess. Mr. Farnshaw discoursed upon the senselessness of prevailing styles, with the new cape plainly in mind, an

repaired to the corral, however, Mrs. Farnshaw turned from

to your pa, Lizzie; he gets

r's life she knew were far more responsible for her mother's broken health than anything she did

easy to discuss with her mother; they were very different, Elizabeth and her mother. Elizabeth hardly dared express her longing to reorganize their home. If only she could effect a reformation! Her heart had been set on it

ay hating our work, scolding and fretting at each other, and

Something of the girl's moo

cause we don't never belong to ourselves. Now your pa wants t' run th' house, an' th' farm, an' you children, an' me, an' everything, an' I'm so ti

meditatively at the cream gathered about the hole in the churn li

e asked, letting the dasher rest while she

if you think you can marry an' belong t'

woman couldn't she get hi

got children they know she can't help herself. She's got t' stick to it 'cause she can't raise 'em alone a

er's words to her own case. She knew that her mother had wanted her services

love pa more than you do us children; you

ence ready. Elizabeth was encouraged by her mother's silence. Mrs. Farnshaw talked so much that it was not easy to get her attention. The young girl, glowing with the discoveries made in A

we're alone you talk about him domineering over you, but when he's here you let him say anything he wants to and you never try to help yourself. Why don't you strike out on a new tack and

ks at you. I'm as weak as water when he looks at me. I don't know why. I guess it's because I've always give up-an'-an'-I can't tell why. A woman does just like a horse-there's more'n one kind of whippin'

that there was some other element in the matter not yet accounted for. The hopeless tone of the older woman, however, goaded her young spirit into forgetting the caution necessary to deal

you leave him? We children are ol

zzi

the mark. Her mother wa

of settling matters. Can't you have a talk with him-and get him to let you alone if

t' you is goin' t' make you say such things, I ain't goin't' talk t' you no more. When

gether you ought to try and have it out, and be a help to each other inste

y than She'll ever take out. Your pa's been rantin' about her all winter an'-an' he said you'd be pokin' her ways into

orld to ever suggest such a thing. That's just what I started out to say-they never have a word abou

fended than before. "She'll most likely get all your love just like she got all your father's money last winter. You needn't mention her here no more. Th' schoo

one wrong with the school here? I don't want a piece of a term, and I

the brief reply. "Your pa a

zabeth asked with curiosity, ignoring the curt disposal of her ser

piked off after he got his money o

t's all upside down from that kind of h

about it. Here, ma, tie up this finger," Mr. Farnshaw said. He had

ide now. Elizabeth was divided between a fear of inability to manage a demoralized school and the desire to add twenty-five dollars to the family revenue. In anticipation she saw the unruly boys supported and encouraged in insubordinat

he sort of quarrels all children have, Mr.

h, but big of heart, and the open

e an thrash every mother's son of 'em if I have t'. I'd kind o' like t' lick a few of 'em anyhow, an' if my

her hand a moment at leave-taking while he

's at your back. We know it's a bad school, but, by ginger! we'll see that you're stood by. You jes' let me know

arried to the boy long before Monday morning and that a bad matter m

the Ransom boy was?"

stinker if ther

that what we have said be kept quiet? I would rather like to have a fair show with him-and I'll admit I'd like to

ke confidentially. The man lik

we done about it, an' fur once they'll suck their thumbs. Look out fur that boy, though; he

is character, and soon came to the conclusion that whatever else the boy might be, he was at least not to be classed a

is district that she could take that boy and not only conquer him but become friends with him. Instead of being nervous about the coming encounter, however, Elizabeth grew more steady and s

an the rest and defiant of manner. Elizabeth looked around the room with frank inquiry and the titter died down. She let he

ulated plan, Elizabeth walked slowly down the room to his desk. A

I shall inquire into the matter," she sai

e she had ever used the tone of authority and she instinctively recognized that the quality of

the face and letting him see that she was measuring him openly. "Is your name

e Jacob," the

because they think we are going to pull each other's hair presently. We will show them at least that we are a lady and a gentleman, I

ddle of the ring and bidding for an open fight, if fight they mus

ol. Are you preparing for the high school?"

" the boy

h the book in her hand

r along as this in arithmetic last yea

nor sprinkle the floor with cayenne, as was the usual proceeding of the country bumpkin who failed to admire his teacher. Jake Ransom was not really a bully; he was a shy boy who had been domineered over by a young popinjay of a teacher who had never taught school before and who had himself man

undercurrent of which Elizabeth was aware, but upon which she could lay no finger of rebuke, but at times it was more traceable, and then, to the young teacher's surprise, Jake Ransom had ways of dealing with the offenders outside of school hours. Sadie's tongue was sharp and she was accustomed to a wholesome attitude of fear among the scholars, but her first thrusts at Jake had aroused a demon of which she had little dreamed. Jake had no foolish pride and would admit his faults so guilelessly that her satire fell to the ground. He was an entirely new sort

the transforming things she had found; but when she tried to give the boys gentle hints about correct ways of eating she was greeted with guffaws and sarcastic chuckles about handling soup with a fork. Mrs. Farnshaw saw nothing but Susan Hornby's interference,

hority. When the matter of a spring term of school came up for discussion she refused to teach the home school again, though Mr. Crane had bee

I won't do it," and that was all she would say. She secured a school ten miles

ling. Mr. Farnshaw sold himself short of corn in the fall, however, and the young girl was expected to make up the deficit. In the spring the interest was to be paid again, and so at the end of a year and a half the situation was unchanged. The nex