Amanda: A Daughter of the Mennonites

pelli

ing Bee at a certain rural schoolhouse. "A Good Time Promised"--"Classes for All"--"Come One, Come All"--the advertisements never fail. Many persons walk or ride to the little schoolhouse. The narrow seats, the benches along the wall, and all extra chairs that can be broug

rly hour. The scholars, splendid in their Sunday clothes, occupied front seats.

ounced that the scholars had prepared a simple program w

rose and delivered the address of welcome. There followed music and more recitations, all amateurish, but they brough

opposite. A teacher from a neighboring town gave out the words. The weeding-out process soon began. Some fell down on simple words, others handled difficult ones with ease and spelled glibly through some which many of the older people pres

as, "Who is State Superintendent of Schools?" "How many legs has a fly?" "How many teeth has a cow?" "Which color is at the top of the rainbow arch?" The amazed, puzzled expressions on

five persons to their seats before it was answered correctly. Others succeeded in locat

body. The line was already stretched across the schoolroom when Lyman

I'd rather do without his fifteen cents! He expects t

in the old days of school, and it was soon evident that he retained his former ability. The letters of the most confusing words fell from his lips as though the very pages of the spelling-book w

d the teacher. The word fell to Lyman. He w

service, he was inclined to think i

riends who was seated in the front se

only help me!" t

ger of his left hand to his eye, looked at Lyman with

ished Lyman

rre

acher gave out a word to one of the three contestants

audience and with one little turn of her head could view the spellers, had seen the cheating process and understood its significance. The

her face flushing with anger. "How I hope

ut to him. Lyman Mertzheimer outspelled his opponen

mptible cheat!" hamme

known books, an auctioneer stepped on the platform and drew from

ins something good to eat, packed and contributed by the pupils of this school. The proceeds of the sale are to be used to purchase good books for the school library for the

ry boys when one opened a box filled with ten candy suckers and distributed them among the crowd. Other bidders won candy, cake, s

own all rose and sang "The Star-Spangle

wn the dark country roads. Carriages and automobiles carried many aw

exchanged greetings with her and asked, "May I w

ng a prize still rankled in her. Lyman walked about the room impatiently, looking i

He had been setting chairs in their places, gath

ff fine, lots of fun for all. And I heard Hershey, the director, t

The news pleased her. "

th the team to take back the borrowed chairs. I'll walk home with you, Manda. What's Lyman M

ou--but Lyman asked t

calm reply. "I'll see you

ight, M

d, and during the interval of years that childish affection had grown in her heart. In her thoughts he was still "My Martin." But the object of that long-abiding affecti

ve to reward the love." It was not always so, she knew, but she hoped it would be so for her. Martin Landis, unselfish, devoted to his people, honest

go home so you can lock the door and go! And I say, Amanda, don't you think Martin Landis is letting himself grow shabby and seedy? He's

all day, helping his father. Then he and one of his brothers took their team and went afte

ow! It must be the ve

ed out, "if you want to talk about Martin La

thing great to tell you. Can't you take a bit of joshing? Of course, it's fine in you to defend your

e said, laughing. "I do fly off the

asked as the last lingeri

als of merry laughter floated back to them occasionally from a gay crowd of young people who were also going home f

g the subject, "I said I have somethi

What i

you ma

s arms about her and drew her near, as though ther

e said, with hot anger in her voice, "you bette

ned of the time when we were old enough to marry. I just thought to-night, when I saw several fellows looking at you as though they'd like to have you, I better get busy and ask you before some other chap turns your head. I'll be good to you and treat you right, Amanda. Of course, I'm in college yet,

ce of furniture you could just walk into a store and select and buy and then own! You've been taki

g man was unable to grasp the fact that his

think of marrying. You asked me,--I'll tell you--I never cared for you. I don't like

tance?"

spelled stelliform to-nig

that? Why, that was nothing. It was only a cheap book I got for the pri

't the cheap book that mattered? It's the

ll be a different person. I'd do anything for you. You know love is a great miracle worker.

er heart soften toward the man beside her. But her innate wisdom and her own strong hold on her emotions prevented her from doin

ay. We can't will whom we will love. I kno

as no easy loser. "I'll just keep on ho

, that I'll never love you. You an

rry Lyman Mertzheimer yet! Stranger things than that have happened. I'm sorry about that word. It seemed just like a good joke to catch on to the right spelling that wa

quickly. "Dishone

ay! See how docile I have become al

y him. It was, he felt, but a temporary rebuff. She would capitulate some day. His consummate egotism buoyed his spirits and he