Dixie Martin, the Girl of Woodford's Cañon

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN A JOYOUS DIXIE

  The next morning Miss Bayley's glance wandered often to the corner ofthe room in the old log schoolhouse where sat the four little Martins.She wondered why they all looked so beamingly happy. Little did shedream of the exciting events of the day before. Not only had the smallprodigal returned, but their monthly income had been increased, and nolonger need the little mother scheme, plan, and contrive just to makeends meet. Little Jimmy-Boy's much-needed warm coat now could bepurchased as soon as the money came, and that would be at least twoweeks before the really cold weather set in. In fact, there were yearswhen November was as pleasant as October, and where, in all the world,could one find more beautiful autumn weather than in Nevada?

  When Dixie, as usual, led the opening song, her voice rang out withlilting joyousness, and when she stood up to read, Miss Bayley wascharmed with the expression with which she interpreted the little story.In fact, so pleased was she that she forgot to stop Dixie at the end ofthe second page, as was the custom, but permitted her to read the entirestory of "The Three Bears." It delighted her to note how Dixie's voicechanged when Papa Bear or the Baby Bear spoke.

  Then, when the little reader had finished, the teacher exclaimed withreal appreciation: "Dixie, you read that splendidly! You surely have agift."

  Then it was that she recalled that the mother of the Martin children hadbeen an actress, and a very audible sniff also reminded her of the factthat she was praising some one who was not a daughter of the board ofeducation.

  The sniff had come from the front seat, center, and the sniffer was, ofcourse, the haughty little Jessica Archer. That maiden had risen, and,with a toss of her corn-colored curls, she announced, "Miss Sperry, ourlast teacher, said I was the best reader in this school, and my fathersaid yesterday that she was the best teacher we'd ever had inWoodford's."

  Miss Bayley was indignant, and yet, if she wished to remain, she must bepolitic, and now that she was so interested in the Martins, more thanever did she want to stay.

  "You read very nicely, Jessica," she told the irate little maid,"especially when you are thoroughly acquainted with the text. You maynow read the entire story of 'Henny Penny.'"

  Somewhat mollified, Jessica Archer read the tale which she knew byheart, forwards or backwards, with more expression than was her wont.She did not intend to have those no-account Martins win more praise thanwas given to her.

  With an inward sigh Miss Bayley assured Jessica that she had neverbefore heard her read so well, which indeed was true, and then shecalled upon Ken to do an oral problem in arithmetic.

  At recess, when the other children had trooped out of doors to play,Dixie remained, and Miss Bayley, who was writing on the board, turned tofind a pair of eager eyes watching.

  "Did you want to speak to me, Dixie, dear?" she inquired.

  "Yes, ma'am, Miss Bayley, please, if 'twouldn't be interrupting toomuch. I want to ask advice about something that's very secret."

  The teacher smiled. She believed that she was at last to learn the causeof the inward glow that radiated from the thin, freckled face of theolder Martin girl, who was sometimes called "homely."

  But the secret something was destined not to be told, for just thenJessica Archer, who had missed Dixie from the playground, entered theschoolroom in search of her. Not that she desired the companionship of aMartin, but she did not wish to give Dixie an opportunity to be alonewith the teacher.

  Miss Bayley frowned, and very softly she said: "Dear, can't you comeover to my cabin after school to-night? I very much want to have a realheart-to-heart visit with you."

  "Oh, teacher, Miss Bayley, I'd love to. You can't think how I'd loveto!" was the eagerly given reply.

  Jessica Archer could not possibly have heard, and so it was merely acoincidence which prompted her to say, "Miss Bayley, my mother said Iwas to tell you to come home with me after school to-night and havesupper at our house."

  "Thank you, dear," Miss Bayley replied, "I am sorry that I cannotaccept. Please thank your mother for me, and tell her that I had alreadymade another engagement."

  The young teacher was rebellious. Her free time, surely, was her own,and she determined that she would do with it as she pleased.

  Dixie was about to protest that she could come any other day just aswell, but there was an expression in her dear teacher's eyes thatsilenced her. Then as the clock marked the hour of ten, Miss Bayley ranga bell which ended recess and recalled the small pupils to theirlessons. Jessica Archer, with another toss of her corn-yellow curls,seated herself, feeling that she was not being treated with the respectthat was due the daughter of a sheep-king. She was suspicious, and thatwas why she lingered so long after school, rubbing imaginary marks fromher reader, washing off the top of her desk with unusual care, and allthis time, while the teacher was preparing examples for the followingday, Dixie Martin sat on the bench outside of the little logschoolhouse, happily waiting.

  At last the teacher's patience reached the breaking-point. Looking upfrom her work, she found the pale-blue eyes of the daughter of the boardof education watching her.

  "Jessica Archer," she exclaimed, and the degree of exasperation she feltsounded in her voice, "will you kindly tell me why you are remaining?The afternoon session ended at least fifteen minutes ago. You willplease leave at once, and do not remain after school-hours again withoutasking my permission and explaining your reason for wishing to do so."

  Jessica's expression was decidedly impudent. "There's that Dixie Martinstaying after school."

  The teacher's eyes narrowed. "She is not in the schoolhouse. I have nocontrol over all the big out-of-doors. What is more," and this tookmoral courage, "Dixie is waiting for me at my request. Now take yourbooks and go!"

  Miss Bayley had never before been so angry at a pupil, for she believed,and truly, that she was being spied upon by the small daughter of Mrs.Sethibald Archer.

  Jessica did depart, but she did not go home at once. Having reached aclump of low-growing pines near the inn, she hid among them to await thereturn of Miss Bayley to her small cabin home. At last she saw hercoming, and with her was the hated Dixie Martin, and, what was even moreshocking, Miss Bayley was swinging the little girl by the hand andskipping; yes, she was actually skipping in a way that noself-respecting teacher had ever done before.

  Jessica remained in her place of hiding until she was sure that Dixiewas going in the cabin with the teacher. Then, when she believed thatshe was unobserved, she crept but, keeping hidden as best she couldbehind the sagebrush, until she reached the trail that led down to hervalley home.

  Bursting into her mother's room, she began to sob. Mrs. Sethibald Archerat that moment was struggling to write a speech, and a very largedictionary lay open on the table at her side.

  Her real reason for having invited Miss Bayley to supper that night hadbeen to have the assistance of the teacher in preparing the paper whichshe was to read on the day following in Genoa. Once before Miss Bayleyhad given invaluable assistance, and the ladies had greatly praised Mrs.Sethibald on her clear and lucid exposition of the subject. Just whatthat meant, the speaker of the day had not known, but she was convincedthat it was praise, and she was desirous of doing equally well on themorrow.

  "Do stop crying," the weary mother now remonstrated, "and tell me whereis Miss Bayley? I didn't see her coming down the trail with you justnow."

  "She--she wouldn't come, Ma," Jessica sobbed afresh. "She--she treats meawful mean. She says that horrid Dixie Martin is the smartest girl inthe school. She says she can read better'n I can. I told her you wantedher to come to supper to-night, and she said she had another engagement,and--and, ma, it wasn't so. She just had Dixie Martin go home with her,that's all, for I hid and saw, and she didn't act ladylike neither, ma;she skipped!"

  Mrs. Sethibald Archer arose, and the expression in her eyes was notpleasant to see. "There's your pa coming into the barnyard this veryminute," she said. "Run right out,
darling of my heart, and tell him notto unhitch. Tell him I'm wishing him to drive me over to the inn. We'llsee whether or not my requests are to be set aside like this."

  Jessica ran out to deliver the message, which was really a command, andSethibald Archer understood it as such. Then, returning, the child askedeagerly: "Ma, I want to go along."

  "Of course you may go. This thing's going to be settled this very day.I'm not going to have any upstart of a teacher refuse my hospitalitywhen I offer it. Indeed not."