CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE DIXIE VISITS A FRIEND
They were again on the street, and the noon throng had vanished. As itwas still too early for the afternoon shoppers to arrive, the townseemed to be taking a midday siesta. Dixie wondered where they weregoing, but said nothing until they turned a corner, when she uttered anexclamation of joy. "Oh, teacher, Miss Bayley," she exclaimed. "There'sthe bank. How I'd perfectly love to go in and see kind Mr. Clayburn."Then, looking up anxiously. "Would it 'sturb him too much, do yousuppose?"
Miss Bayley had a secret desire to see the head of the board ofeducation of the Genoa district, and so she replied, "We can at leastinquire, and if Mr. Clayburn is not busy, he may see us for a fewmoments."
The banker had just returned from his lunch, and was in his handsomelyappointed private office. He was never too busy to see a friend, he toldlittle Dixie, when, wondering-eyed, she had followed the uniformedbank-messenger into the marble-walled room.
"This is our new teacher, Miss Bayley," the child said, not knowing theright form of introduction.
The kind face of the man lighted. Holding out his hand, he exclaimed,"Miss Bayley, this is truly a pleasure, and right now let me say that Isincerely regret not having visited your little school before this, but,since your arrival, I have been more than ever confined to the bankduring school-hours. However, I shall endeavor to visit your districtregularly after the first of January."
They had seated themselves at the banker's invitation, and JosephineBayley said quietly, "I shall not be the teacher at Woodford's school inJanuary, Mr. Clayburn."
There was real regret in the face of the listener. "Why, Miss Bayley, Iam sorry to hear that. Has something happened to recall you to New York?I remember you wrote that you would gladly stay one year with us in ourwild mountain country." Then he smiled as he asked, "Have you found ittoo wild?"
The young teacher also smiled, but she said seriously: "No, indeed! Ilove the West! I felt smothered in that city of walled-in canyons, wherethe sweep of the wind is never felt. I glory in your rugged mountains. Iforget that life holds much that is petty when I look at them,especially at night when they are outlined against the sky, and even thestars are much nearer here. In New York heaven seems farther away."
"But, my dear girl," the banker said, "If you like it here so very much,why desert us?"
"It is because I have been dismissed by the local board of education."If there was a twinkle in the brown eyes of the speaker, Mr. Clayburndid not notice it. He tapped upon his desk with the pencil he held, anda frown gathered between his eyes.
"Miss Bayley," he said after a thoughtful moment, "I alone am at fault.I should not have entrusted to a man without education the power toengage and dismiss a teacher." Then, looking up inquiringly, "Which oneof the three have you offended?"
"All of them, I think," was the reply. "The little girl is indignantbecause I have to acknowledge that the Martin children are brighterpupils, the mother feels that she has a personal grievance because Iwill not devote my free time, whenever she wishes, to preparing papersfor her to read at your women's club, as her own compositions, while thefather considers me insubordinate because I have declared myindependence."
"Good for you, Miss Bayley!" was the rather astonishing exclamation. Thebanker looked his approval. Then, rising, he held out his hand. "Don'tbegin to pack your trunk, and, as I said before, the first of the year Iwill make regular visits to the district schools. Let me know if youneed new books or anything else to help your work along."
When they were again on the street, Miss Bayley caught the hand of thesmall girl and said: "Dixie, come with me! We're going to the movies tocelebrate."