Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-01-07
MistCllanfons.
FERULING ANNA HAWKE
ny MARGARET vERSE.

"lndeed ] cannot stand this. You'll
drive me quite crazy with your buzz, buzz
buzzng. must and will have silence.
find that plain pleasant persuasion viii, no
do; shall be forced to resort to harshc
method. Nov. listen ore and all, while
assure you that the first scholar, old or younl
miss or master, young gentleman or lady
whom | shall see whispering without leave
Twill ferule p
The teacher, Mr.. Arthur Stone, closed hi
bearded lips firmly, and glanced about th,
old-fashioned school room with deter
mined expression as no ceased speaking
He evidently meant just what be had sale
meant it in the faces of the stout stal
wart young gentlemen, and the prett,
witching, bright-eyed girls about him. Fo
moment there was dead silence upon all
while every eye was fixed upon the hand
some resolute face Of the teacher. But il
the little crowd of eHger, upturned faces
there was but one which bis eve sought in
tuitively, drawn as it wore, by some stranr,
mesmeric power. One face, aud ono a
that moment which was pretty picture o
! piquant beauty, with its saucy, inausltivc
blue eyes, which met bis own fully and da
ringly;--its strawberry red mouth pursec
up by the most provoking and daring o
smiles, that said as plainly as words could
have said it-"You won't ferule me Arthur
Stone, if whisper ever so muchp
A sudden flush Of anger Redeemed up in
to the checks of the young man, and shot
from the depths Of his fine gray eyes, as he
said determinedly, in answer to the smile Of
the red mouth and blue eyes, and tho tos.
OF the dainty head-'1 repeat it; viii
ferulo the first scholar whom l see whisper
ing without leavep
This time there was no mistakinp IT,
there was a perceptible motion of Anna
HAWKES. pretty head, an uumistakable
light in her eyes, and a whole unbroken
sentence wreathod about the curve Ct hsl
lips, as she turned carelessly to her books
"You can ferulo me if you choose" she
said, mutely, not believing that he would
venture to do it.
"And | certainly will" was tho silent 70.
ply of tho young man, confident the while
that she would not allow him an opportuni
ty of putting his threat in execution. But
he was i'll at ease as he turned moodily tc
the arithmetic class from which his atten
ton had been drawn by the unusual confu.
sion. Affairs had taken disagreeable
turn, an unexpected course, and whatever
he might do, he could not better them.-
There was but one way for him. He mus
put a stern face upon the matter. He
must maintain his dignity as a teacher, ever
if no was obliged to thrust roughly aside
his own wishes and inciuations. Ann,
Hawkes., pleasant, witchng, graceful Anna
the one bright star that throw so much
light upon his arduous, tiresomc duties tho
warm hearted girl who bad grown nearer
and dearer to him as tho dull wintry DAYS
went by, till he had dared to hopo silently
yet earnestly, that sometime he might be
more to her than any ono else in the world
even she, if she came between him and hi.
duties, must be sacrificed 1t was miser
able thought, and he greeted it with long
deep-drawn sigh.
Not once during that forenoon did he
venture to look towards Anna's seat or al.
low himself to pause anywhere in her vicin-
ity, for fear his ears might be greeted by a
provoking, odious whisper. Not once say,
but | must except tho long recess, during
which ho watched her eagerly, as she bent
over her slate, working out her algebraic
problems, apparently lost to everything
about her. Two or three times he half
started from his seat to go to her assistance,
as she knit her white brows perplexedly, but
a strange new feeling, like pride, kept him
back. He thought he had never seen her
look half so pretty or loveable rs then. as
she sat there bending thoughtfuly over hor
book, with one white hand running rapidly
and gracefully over her slate. Her dress
of dark crimson cloth, with its full sleeves
confded at the wrists by black velvet bands,
fashioned high in the neck, but in such
manner as to display her full white throat,
was strangely becoming to her. Ho had
never thought Of it before, but there was
certain refinement in her taste that was
truly pleasing. 1t was visible in everything
she wore--the dainty cambric collar con-
fined at the throat by a small cameo breast
pin; the knots of black velvet ribbon fas-
tened about her luxurient soft brown braids !;
the petite black silk apron, with its girdlo
of silk cord, and full, largo, dropping tas-
sells, and even the slender, shining little hid
boots that pesped daringly out from the
folds Of her ample skirt. In all his life
Arthur Stone had nsvor looked upon face
or figure so pleasant or captivating. But
as he watched her, she raised her eyes to
his face. La moment the pretty serious
ness which bad rested so beeomingly upon
her features was gone. A provoking smile
'urled up her rosy mouth, and went with a
ludden rush of triumph over her whole
ACE, dila!ing her finely curved nostrils and
weeping like very sunshine over the blue OF
ler eyes, making such rare dimples about
ler chin, as one might have supposed to
nave been itted by the cunning forefngsr
IT Cupid himself
Arthur Stone was vexed, but he was too
much a man Of the world 10 allow the Young
,irl to know how much she was capable Of
Inuoying him, and so after the flrst fame
f petty anger had died out from his checks
nd forehead, he said, in voice, the cool
less Of which surprised even himself.
"Can | be of assistance to you Miss
IawkeslD
"Nons, sir, thank YOU l have quite
onquered my exercises alone to-day !