Tears of happiness rolled down the girl's face as she ended the reading
of the letter. "The dear thing! The loyal old body she is! So that was
why she borrowed my dictionary and shut herself up in her room one
whole evening! Just a hired girl she says--could any blood relative do
a kinder deed? Oh, I don't wonder he said it renews faith in human
nature! I guess for every Mertzheimer there's a Millie. I'll surely
keep this letter but I won't let her know I have any idea about what
she did. I'm so glad he gave it to me. It takes the bitter taste from
my mouth and makes life pleasant again. Now I'll run home with the news
of the Superintendent's visit and the nice things he said."
She did run, indeed, especially when she reached the yard of her home.
By the time the gate clicked she was near the kitchen door. Millie was
rolling out pies, Mrs. Reist was paring apples.
"Mother," the girl twined an arm about the neck of the white-capped
woman and kissed her fervently on the cheek, "I'm so excited! Oh,
Millie," she treated the astonished woman to the same expression of
love.
"What now?" said Millie. "Now you got that flour all over your nice
dress. What ails you, anyhow?"
"Oh, just joy. The Superintendent was here and he puffed me way up to
the skies and the directors, all but Mr. Mertzheimer, promised to vote
for me. I didn't ask them too, either."
"I'm so glad," said Mrs. Reist.
"Ach, now ain't that nice! I'm glad," said Millie, her face bright with
joy. "So he puffed you up in front of them men? That was powerful nice
for him to do, but just what you earned, I guess. I bet that settled
the Mertzheimer hash once! That County man knows his business. He ain't
goin' through the world blind. What all did he say?"
"Oh, he was lovely. He liked the baskets and the classes and the
singing and--everything! And Mr Mertzheimer looked madder than a
setting hen when you take her off the nest. He hung his head like a
whipped dog."
"Na-ha!" exulted Millie. "That's one time that he didn't have his own
way once! I bet he gets out of the school board if he can't run it."
Her prediction came true. Mr. Mertzheimer's dignity would not tolerate
such trampling under foot. If that red-headed teacher was going to keep
the school he'd get out and let the whole thing go to smash! He got
out, but to his surprise, nothing went to smash. An intelligent farmer,
more amenable to good judgment, was elected to succeed him and the Crow
Hill school affairs went smoothly. In due time Amanda Reist was elected
by unanimous vote to teach for the ensuing year and the Mertzheimers,
thwarted, nursed their wrath, and sat down to think of other avenues of
attack.