On late summer nights, young men, made euphoric by their drinking, carouse in front of the boardinghouse where Gertie lives. Wooing her in any way that they can has become a town sport. She is the ultimate prize.
But she gives these hooligans only a tight smile.
When school resumes in September, everyone is surprised that Gertie and Clyde have not gotten engaged.
Mr. Carus commands Miss Fitzsimmons to his office. He wants to know why she isn’t engaged. Too much talk!
She says that she isn’t ready to give up teaching. She wants to wait a few more years.
He harumphs. He thinks she’s courting disaster. By then she would be too old to marry.
But Mr. Carus doesn’t know the whole story. In fact, only Gertie knows.
In 1900, there is a total of nine schools, including a high school, in the
