Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-12-30
MORNING LEADER.
FERULING ANNA HAWKES..
BY MARGARET VERNE.


take your seat now, but remain to night after
school Even 70. this interruption should not
feel justified in letting the affair pass
'The last committee man upon earth that l
would care to see ~ exclaimed Mr.. Stone to
himself, as he bowed low before the pompous
young gentleman, known by the eognomen of
DR.. Wesley Barker, who raped with his whip
upon the door-said young gentleman being one
of wealth and education. But the teacher did
not care a tig for his wealth-he did not envy
him-Or anything for his educatiOn-his own
was quite equal to it. But what he did care for
was, that DR.. Barker was a great admirer of
Anna Hawkes., and in the present state of af
fairs he did not care about having any rivals
around. Everything went along smoothly dur
ing school hours as it alwaysdid during the visits
OF the several committee men, but the moment
school was dismissed, DR.. Barker stalked across
the school room floor and up to Anna Hawkes.
seat. MIR Stone bit his lips with vexation.-
His rival had made his appearance quite in the
nick of time. He despsed meanness heartily,
denounced it wherever he saw it, but now III
spite of himself, he stood and listened eagerly
to catch few words that dropped from Dr.
Barker's and Annals lips.
''I'll ask Mr.. Stone to excuse me-" he heard
Anna say.
Which of course he will do" replied DR..
Barker.
al am net so certain of that, was the smiling
reply, as she started towards his desk.
'tI hope you'll pardon me for daring to ask
such thing, but DR.. Barker wishes me to drive
with him in his new sleigh which I'm very anx-
ious to do and so I'd like to be excused from
remaining tonight to take my feruling promis-
ing to come early tomorrow morning."
Mr.. Stone bowed and said, very well, though
the words quite choked him He secretly
wished DR. Baker and his new sleigh in Chi
ma, and himself free from the vocation of
schoOlteaching. He thought as he stood m Jod-
lily by his desk watching Anna Hawkes.
pin her plaid shawl closely about her throat
and tie under her chin tha blue ribbons of her
quilted hood, preparatory to her drive with Dr.
Barker, that he was the most miserable man in
existence, and that he would purchase him a
farm, work shovelhng on the railroad, would do
anything rather than teach another school. He
had engaged already to take charge of the vii
lage academy the following spring, but now he
resolved that he would not do it, He would
throw up the engagement at once.
''No doubt she thinks me a very brute' he
said to himself, as the gay equipage went dash
ing down the street Perhaps after all, she had
not meditatcd that ruthless attack upon his dig
nifty and patience, he unused. Indeed, now he
thought of it again, the whisper was more like
sudden exclamation than anything else. Yet,
he had not given her the slightest chance for an
explanation, but like an executoner who loved
his occupation, hurried her forward to punish
ment-the dolt that he called himself He had
a very poor opinion of Arthur Stone Just at that
| moment. He was sure that he would quite like
to horsewhip him.
fair counterpart of the pupils thoughts and
| teeIlpaS- -Wera those of the teacher 1t was a
DIR. Baker. She hadn't heart to enjoy it after
the folly OF the afternoon.
'He thinks that do not care for, or respect
him. was the thought uppermost in her mind,
whichever way she turned "And this Is the
return l am making him for all his kindness to
me-all the interest he has taken in my studies,
both out of school and in. o. if he could but
know the truth y
The truth The young girl startled herself by
the words And what was the truth She
buried her burning face in her hands, as she
| asked the question. 1t was this She l0Ued
Arthur SioRe!-loved him better than life itself
A cry of pain went from her lips, as her know
ledge settled slowly down upon the heart But
what proof had she given him of this! What
proof that she was any other than a vain, selfish
unwomanly thing None, alas none Like any
woman who is conscious of her power, she
gloried in hers over Arthur Stone. But how
was he to.know that it was anything but the glory
ofa tickle, heartless coquette, rather than that o
ajstrong, loving, true-hearted woman, who make.
her power a golden chain about the heart Ofthe
man she loves, by which she draws him tenderly
and gently towards herl How, o! how, was ht
to know this! The thought was agorizing t.
her.
She resolved at last to go to him in the morn
inc, and confess her fault, humbling as it was
| ebo,II Iypotr or that shp hold bgG fool
ings too sacred to wound them wantOnly. Blu
: in the morning she was sick and feverish, hard,
5 able to lift her head from the pillow. She coul
: not see Arthur that day, and SO she must con
tentedly wait for the next. Against her wishe
| Dr. Barker was summoned, who croaked ddbi
ously of a fever which was hanging about her
! l She must be careful, be very quiet, and follow
i his directions, be said, and he would come agai
in the afternoon to learn how she was gettin
along. He came in the afternoon, but at an III
:. lucky hour Anna sat leaned back in the rOcB
q ing-chair by the window, looking eagerly up th
?. steet. DR.. Barker was vain enough to believ
she was watching for him. But while he prate
l. earnedly at her side, he saw rapid red stat
q through the whiteness of her cheek, and a
? eager light break out from the clear blue of he
it eyes. Arthur Stone was passing by the hous
e and viewing with a scorniul curl of the lip ii
le handsome equipage of DR.. Barker. He did nj
u look beyond it, to the pale face bent so eaInestl
towards him, but turned his eyes coldly ava
and walked haughtily down the street, Will
Anna sank back with a sigh into the sOftl
II cushioned chair The next morning Anna r
n fused to stay away from school another day.
Arthur Stone would say that she was eoward
ID that she feared a feruling, that she absentt
herself purposely, because of the misuderstanC
=. ing of Tuesday afternoon, which she was tC
guilty to face again. She would 90 10 scho
though she dropped fainting on her way. 81
S could not rest until her weary mind WI
unburlened Of its heavy load. So she wen
pale and trembling, at an early hour to Il
le school house.
re How he scorus mellow he hates mep' 81
Is thought, as Mr.. Stone quietly raised his eyes
her face, and bowed a silent good morning
she entered the room. How could she ever fat
that stern, cold gaze, and make her excuses f
: not meeting her appointment of the preyiol
D. morning!
u al was too i'll to come out yesterday NOR
y ing" she said, in trembling voice, cor shou
not have broken my promise. Will this NOR
ct ing do as well!"
Mr. Stone glanced keenly into her face
~ The blanched cheeks and white quivering Iii
testified to the truth of what she said.
= + ''Are you able to be here now 7" he asked,
: q tone of voice that had more of tendernei
Is than aught else running through it.
ID Hardy You can fer-ferule me, and wi
N 90 home," she said, while her cheeks crimson
t ed with shame.
Mr.. Stone bit his lips to keep back rePl
4 4 which rose involuntarily to them. Again W;
= that tender, white hand before him waitin
N meekly for its punishment, now weak and tren
10 bling from illness. Did she think him brute
Or Quite evidently, from her actions.
"I-I-regret that wounded your feeling
g Tuesday" she said, raising her eyes to his fac
N N 81 am thoughtless, hope not heartless. WI
f. f. you pardon metz The question was asked in