One last odd incident closed the day of strange experiences for this new teacher. In spite of his utmost efforts, poor Skully had broken out every once in a while with his “blabbing.” The children, rather strained and excited by the presence of their very learned instructor, finally “got the giggles” after the fashion of tired and nervous school children the world over. Even the gentle Mrs. McIntosh could not keep from a foolish “snicker” now and then as the wild cadences of Skully’s voice broke on the air and were choked back by a grimy hand clapped across his mouth. The poor little “blab” boy was covered with confusion, and finally, in despair, dropped his towseled head upon his arm and softly wept.
The children, ashamed and sorry, did the very thing they did not want to do, and giggled all the more. And at that, up rose Bud Coulter, the hereditary enemy of little Skully.
“Look a-here, you-all,” he said defiantly. “I said that there kid should come to school and no harm should be done him. What I say I mean. Nobody but a Coulter ken take the stuffing out of a Simms, and this here Coulter is going to see that this here Simms is give a chanct.”
“Go home, Skully, my lad,” said Mr. Rowantree kindly. “It’s been a hard day for you, but you’ve done wonders. Practice studying to yourself awhile this evening, and be here to-morrow morning with the rest. You’ll come out ahead. Miss Azalea was very happy that you were to be in her school. You see, she and Miss Carin have given up a good deal to come up here to help you young folk along, and they want everybody in the country round about to get some good out of the school. They want you to make their sacrifice and hard work worth while. So you’ll come to-morrow, won’t you, son?”
Skully lifted a tear-stained face and looked at the teacher with weary eyes.
“You bet, sir,” he said sadly.
“And please be so good as to run over to Miss Azalea’s house to see how they are getting on there, and bring me back word.”
Skully cast a look of gratitude at the man who was making his escape easy, and finding his battered corn husk hat, fled from the school.
Incredibly soon he was back again.
“Miss Zalie says for you to come over to the house soon as ever school closes, sir,” Skully reported. “She says to tell you Mis’ Rowantree is there and Mr. Keefe is mighty poorly, and Mis’ Rowantree wants to take him home with her.”