Flirts are rare in the hills. “If two boys meets at the same house,” Pleasant once had told her, “they jes makes the gal say which one she likes best, and t'other one gits!” But with the growth of the Mission school had come a certain tolerance which Polly had used to the limit. Indeed, St. Hilda had discovered a queer reason for a sudden quickening of interest on Polly's part in her studies. Polly had to have the letters she got read for her, and the letters she sent written for her, and thus St. Hilda found that at least three young men, who had gone into the army and had learned to write, thought—each of them—that he was first in her heart. Polly now wanted to learn to read and write so that she could keep such secrets to herself. She had been “settin' up” with Ham Cage for a long time, and now she was “talkin' to” young King Camp. King was taking her to the dance, and it was plain to Pleasant that trouble was near. He looked worried.
“Well,” he said, “I reckon thar hain't so much harm the way you school folks run sets because you don't 'low drinkin' or totin' pistols, an' you make 'em go home early. I heerd Miss Hildy is away—do you think you can manage the bad uns?”
“I think so,” smiled Miss Mary.
“Well, mebbe I will come around to-night.”
“Come right along now,” said the girl heartily, but Pleasant had left his own gun at home, so he shook his head and started up the mountain.
II
Happy Valley was darkening now. The evening star shone white in the last rosy western flush, and already lanterns glowed on the porch of the “big house” where the dancing was to be. From high in the shadows a voice came down to the girl:
“I hain't got a gun an' I hain't had a drink to-day. Hit's a shame when Miss Hildy's always a-tryin' to give us a good time she has to beg us to behave.”
The young folks were gathering in. On the porch she saw Polly Sizemore in a chair and young King Camp slipping into the darkness on the other side of the house. A few minutes later Ham Cage strolled into sight, saw Polly, and sullenly dropped on the stone steps as far away from her as possible. The little teacher planned a course of action.
“Ham,” she said, as she passed, “I want you to run the first set with me.” Ham stared and she was rather startled by his flush.