A FANCY OF HERS.
By Horatio Alger
About the print version
A Fancy of Hers
Horatio Alger, Jr. : Munsey's Magazine 1892 Volume 6
Note: pp. 697-744
The strange experiment of a New York girl -- a
Village Romance, and a series of sketches of
Village Types -- A Novel Complete in this Issue.
Chapter 1
The stage rumbled along the main street of Granville, and drew up in front of
the only hotel of which the village could boast. The driver descended from his
throne, and coming round to the side opened the door and addressed the only
passenger remaining within. "Where do you want to go, miss?" A girl's face
looked out inquiringly. "Is this the hotel?" she asked. "Yes, miss."
"I will get out here," she said quietly.
There were a few loungers on the piazza, which extended along the whole front
of the building. As she descended with a light and springy step, disregarding
the proffered aid of the driver, they eyed her curiously.
"Who is she, Abner?" asked Timothy Varnum of the driver, as the stranger
entered the house.
"I reckon she's the new school teacher," said Abner; "I heard Squire Hadley
say she was expected today."
"Where does she come from?"
"York State, somewhere. I don't justly know where."
"Looks like a city gal."
"Mebbe, though I don't think it would pay a city gal to come to Granville to
teach."
Unconscious of the curiosity which her appearance had excited, the girl
entered the open entry and paused. A middle aged woman, evidently the landlady
of the inn, speedily made her appearance. "Good afternoon, miss," she said.
"Shall I show you to a room?"
"Thank you," said the stranger, gratefully. "I shall be very glad if you
will. The ride has been warm and dusty. My trunks are on the stage -- -- "
"All right, miss, I'll have them sent up. If you'll follow me up stairs, I'll
give you a room."
She led the way into a front room, very plainly furnished, but with a
pleasant view of the village from the windows. "I think you will find everything
you require," she said, preparing to go. "Supper will be ready in half an hour,
but you can have it later if you wish."
"I shall be ready, thank you."
Left alone, the stranger sank into a wooden rocking chair, and gazed
thoughtfully from the window.
"Well, I have taken the decisive step," she said to herself. "It may be a mad
freak, but I must not draw back now. Instead of going to Newport or to Europe, I
have deliberately agreed to teach the grammar school in this out of the way
country place. I am wholly unknown here, and it is hardly likely that any of my
friends will find me out. For the first time in my life I shall make myself
useful -- perhaps. Or will my experiment end in failure? That is a question
which time alone can solve."
She rose, and removing her traveling wraps, prepared for the table.
The new comer's two trunks were being removed from the stage when Mrs. Slocum
passed, on her way to the store. Being naturally of a watchful and observant
turn of mind, this worthy old lady made it her business to find out all that was
going on in the village.
"Whose trunks are them, Abner? she asked, in a voice high pitched even to
shrillness.
"They belong to the young lady that's stoppin' in the hotel. She came in on the stage."
"Who's she?"
"I don't know any more'n you do," said Abner, who knew Mrs. Slocum's failing,
and was not anxious to gratify it.
"There's her name on a card," said the old lady triumphantly, pointing to one
of the trunks. "I hain't got my glasses with me. Just read it off, will you?"
Probably Abner had a little curiosity of his own. At all events he complied
with the old lady's request, and read aloud:
"MISS MABEL FROST,
Granville, N. H."
"You don't say!" ejaculated Mrs. Slocum, in a tone of interest. "Why, it's
the new school teacher! What sort of a looking woman is she?"
"I didn't notice her, partic'lar. She looked quite like a lady."
"Are both them trunks hern?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"What on airth does she want with two trunks? said Mrs. Slocum,
disapprovingly. Must be fond of dress. I hope she ain't goin' to larn our gals
to put on finery."
"Mebbe she's got her books in one of 'em," suggested Abner.
"A whole trunkful of books! Land sakes! You must be crazy. Nobody but a
minister would want so many books as that. An' it's a clear waste for the parson
to buy so many as he does. If he didn't spend so much money that way, his wife
could dress a little more decent. Why, the man's got at least two or three
hundred books already, and yet he's always wantin' to buy more."
"I guess his wife wouldn't want the trunks for her clothes," suggested Abner.
"You are right," said Mrs. Slocum, nodding. "I declare I'm sick and tired of
that old bombazine she's worn to church the last three years. A stranger might
think we stinted the minister."
"Precisely, Mrs. Slocum," said a voice behind her. That's my opinion."
"Oh, Dr. Titus, is that you?" said the old lady, turning.
"What is left of me. I've been making calls all the afternoon, and I'm used
up. So you think we are stinting the minister?"
"No, I don't," said Mrs. Slocum, indignantly. "I think we pay him handsome.
Five hundred dollars a year and a donation party is more'n some of us get."
"Deliver me from the donation party!" said the doctor hastily. "I look upon
that as one of the minister's trials."
"I s'pose you will have your joke, doctor," said Mrs. Slocum, not very well
pleased. "I tell you a donation party is a great help where there's a family."
"Perhaps it is; but I am glad it isn't the fashion to help doctors in that
way."
Dr. Titus was a free spoken man, and always had been. His practice was only
moderately lucrative but it was well known that he possessed a competency, and
could live comfortably if all his patients deserted him; so no one took offense
when he expressed heretical notions. He had a hearty sympathy for Mr. Wilson,
the Congregational minister, who offended some of his parishioners by an outward
aspect of poverty in spite of his munificent salary of five hundred dollars a
year.
"The doctor's got queer notions," muttered Mrs. Slocum. "If he talks that
way, mebbe the minister will get discontented. But as I say to Deacon Slocum,
there's more to be had, and younger men, too. I sometimes think the minister's
outlived his usefulness here. A young man might kinder stir up the people more,
and make 'em feel more convicted of sin. But I must go and tell the folks about
the new school teacher. I'd like to see what sort she is."
Mrs. Slocum's curiosity was gratified. On her way back from the store she saw
Miss Frost sitting at the open window of her chamber in the hotel.
"Looks as if she might be proud," muttered the old lady. "Fond of dress, too. I don't believe she'll do for Granville."
Although Mrs. Slocum was in a hurry to get home she could not resist the
temptation to call at Squire Hadley's and let him know that the school teacher
had arrived. Squire Benjamin Hadley was the chairman of the School Committee.
Either of the two Granville ministers would have been better fitted for the
office, but the Methodists were unwilling to elect the Congregational minister,
and the Methodist minister was opposed by members of the other parish. So Squire
Hadley was appointed as the compromise candidate, although he was a man who
would probably have found it extremely difficult to pass the most lenient
examination himself. He had left school at twelve years of age, and
circumstances had prevented his repairing the defects of early instruction.
There were times when he was troubled by a secret sense of incompetence --
notably when he was called upon to examine teachers. He had managed to meet this
emergency rather cleverly, as he thought, having persuaded Mr. Wilson to draw up
for him a series of questions in the different branches, together with the
correct answers. With this assistance he was able to acquit himself creditably.
"Can't stay a minute, Squire," said Mrs. Slocum, standing on the broad, flat
door stone. "I thought I'd jest stop an' tell ye the school teacher has come."
"Where is ...
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