True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-09-26
2. RAGAN Editor and Proprietor.

10 ohO Pi0CVyI ALL w hytO dohVuJ
timidly peeping'up in the school-commit-
tee mans face a S4
H'Well, rather so, Miss Fanny; but she
knows d good deal, anyhow; and if she
manages to keep you young ones to your
books, that is all that is necessary. She
stands very high in the city where she
taught, and her testimonials are very
good : and Mr.. Whyte walked away no
little elated with his success.
The crimson days of October were fast
fading away, and very soon now, in the
early part of November, was Miss Warren
to be with us. In the meanwhile, Chip
dale was in a stir. The old school-house,
under the superintendent Of the commit
tee-men, was repaired and neatly fitted up.
The village children, who had been run
ming wild, or, at the best, only occasion
ally going to the district school, were gath
ering up their books and well-thumbed
primers, and waiting, with much anxiety
I the arrival of the new teacher. And we
were busy at home. Aunt Esther, it was
true, had long been settled from her fall
cleaning; but then she had many prcpar-
ations to make, and the brightest and best
room in the house must be put in com
plete readiness for Miss Warren.
| In the mean while, awaited the COM
4 ING of my new teacher with a strange sort
of dread. could not forget the SERPENT
SEAL. Such a chill gray afternoon it was
when Mr. Whyte set off in his carriage
to meet her at the neigbbonng railway sta-
ton. The evening closed in yet more
chilly and gloomy; and / sat by the win
dow, hardening to the winds moaning
amongst the tall pines, and looking out
upon the dark and starless sky until /
heard Mr.. Whyte speaking to his horse
close by our gate. Then / let the long
: crimson curtain fall slowly back over the
window, and going to dark corner of the
room, sat down there quietly My aunt
snatched up light, and hurried into the
: hall; but did not follow her. And at
last the packages were taken from the car
riage. Mr.. Whyte rapidly drove off, and
then 1 heard the front door close, and foot.
steps crossing the hall.
"Come from your corner, Fanny. Here,
n Miss Warren, is one Of your pupils; my
;. niece, Fanny Raynor." t "
!, y "A faint, though very sweet smile was
Miss Warren's only Acknowledgement Of
my courtesy; and then, complaining Of
r weariness, she threw herself back in my
' aunts great cushioned chair. As she sat
there with her large black eyes languidly
i closed, the red fre-Gght shone full in hel
Y face. Surely, Mr.. Whyte had spoken
without knowledge. Miss Warren WAS
S beautiful, yet hers was mournful beauty
< Perhaps it was the rich folds Of raven hail
v which shaded her high forehead, and the
It deep black dress she wore, which gave tt
I her face its ghastly whiteness; but arount
r. the exquisitely carved mouth hung an ex
e preston Of great suffering, almost agony
n care you sick, Miss Warren?" | ask
}, ed, noticing that, through the thin whit,
fingers pressed over her eyes, the tear
4 were fast falling. 1s
D "Not any worse than usual, for, indeed,
1. she added, with a slight smile, 4 NEvEI
ls s am VERY well; but tonight / am so tired.
: : The supper-table, with its snowy clotl
and tempting array Of good things, looked
4 very pleasant; but Miss Warren took he
/ seat at it half mechanically she sippec
! her coffee listlessly, and scarcely ate
i morsel. Aunt Esther was disappointed
she always was when any one failed to ca
. with zest at her table,.
~ "But poor Miss Warren, she afterward
= said, looked more that night like dyinI
! than eating" ap
I Miss Warren went back to her seat BY
" the fire and as she sat there, I could d
., nothing but look at her, and always witt
1t fearful eyes. That black figure in tn
y great chair, with its snowy face and mourn
d fully cleaning eyes, seemed to my younI
ie heart the very emblem Of woe-despair
Aunt Esther went up with her to he
d; to her chamber, and when she came down
IN she looked perplexed. 4
ut a0ply think, Fanny she said /; q coul
not get Miss Warren past the dark room
u. as you call il. : She insisted upon takin,
VT for her room, although I showed he