Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-14
dNurtestrr Daily spp.
FERUL1NG ANNA HAWKES.,

lessly upon the fair rosy palm of Anna, as he
turned his eyes towards the window, and ex-
claimed hurriedly-:
"The committee, Miss Hawkes. You can
take your seat now, but remain tonight after
school. Even for this interruption l should
feel justified in letting the affair pass"
1he last committee man upon earth that |
would care to see % exclaimed Mr.. Stone to
himself as he bowed low before the pompous
young gentleman, known by the cognomen of
DE- 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 fig for his wealth-he did not
envy him-or anything for his education-his
81 own was quite equal to it. But what did he
care for was, that DR.. Barker was great adj
mirer of Anna Hawkes., and in the present state
OF affairs he did not care about having rivals
around. Everything went along smoothly
during school hours, as it always did during
the visit of the several committees, but the
moment school was dismissed, DR.. Barker
stalked across the school-room floor and up to
Anna Hawkes. seat. Mr.. Stone bit his lips
with vexation. His rival had made his APP
pearance quite in the nick of time. He de-
spised meanness heartily, denounced it, but
now in spite of himself, he stood and listened
eagerly to catch the few words that dropped
from MIR. Barker's and Annals lips.
iii ask Mr.. Stone to excuse me-" he heard
Anna say.
(Which of course he will do" replied DR..
Barker.
81 am not certain" was the smiling reply,
as she started towards his desk.
81 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 am
very anxious to do, and so I'd like to be excus.
ed from remaining to night to take my terul-
ing, promising to come early tomorrow
morning..
Mr.. Stone bowed and sad every we'll"
though the words quite choked HIM He
scarcely wished DIR. Barker and his new sleigh
IN China, and himself free from the vocation
OF school teaching. He thought as he stood
4 moodily by his desk watching Anna Hawkes.
pin her plaid shall closely about her throat,
and tie under her chin the blue ribbons of her
quilted hood, preparatory to her drive with
q Dr. Barker, that he was the most miserable
man III existence, and that he would purchase
q him farm, work shoveing on the railroad
would do anything rather than teach another
8 school, He had engaged already to take
Il charge OF the village academy the following
spring, but now he resolved that he would not
do 1.-The would throw up the engagement at
once.
mo doubt she thinks me a very brute" he
said to himself, as the gay equipage went
dashlng down the street. Perhaps after all,
she had not meditated that ruthless attack up
on his dignity and patience 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 the executioner
who loved his occupation, hurried her forward
to punlshment-the dolt, that he called him
sell. lie had very poor opinion of Arthur
Stone just at that moment. He was sure that
he would like to horsewhip him.
fair counterpart of the pupils thoughts
and feelings, were those of the teacher 1t
was dull, dreary drive that Anna Hawkes.
took with DR.. Barker. She hadn't heart to
J enjoy it after the folly of the afternoon.
"He thinks that l do not care for, nor re-
spect him, was the thought uppermost in her
mind, whichever way she turned. "Arid this
is the return | am making him for all his kind
ness to me--all the interest he has taken in my
studies, both in and out of school, 0, if he
could but know the truth p
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 Oyed
Arthur Stone Loved him better than life it.
self A cry of pain went from her lips, as the
knowledge slowly settled down upon her heart.
But what proof had she given him of this p
What proof that she was any other that vain,
selfish, unwomanly thing None, alas, none
Like any woman who is conscious of her pow
SiJ SlOl1cu III uGTS over ATlUuT plO0e.-
But how was he to know that it was any but
the glory of a tickle, heartless coquette, rather
than that of strong, loving, true-hearted wo
man, who makes her power golden chain
about the heart of the man she loves, by which
she draws him tenderly and gently towards
her How, o, how was he to know it? The
thought was agonizing to her.
She resolved at last to go to him in the morn
ing and confess her fault, humbng as it was
Ha Shplll6 kOnw of fbotc no hold 40
feelings too sacred to wound them wantonly.
But in the morning she was sick and teverish,
scarcely able to lift her head from the pillow.
She could not see Arthur that day. and so
she must contentedly wait for the next.
Against her wishes, DIR. Barker was summon
ed, who croaked obviously of a fever which
was hanging about her. She must be careful,
be very quiet and follow his directions, he
said, and he would come again in the afternoon
to learn how she was getting along. He came
in the afternoon, but at an unucky hour.
Anna sat leaned back in the rocking chair by
the window, looking eagerly up the street.
But while he prated learnedly at her side, he
saw a rapid red stain through the whiteness OF
her cheek, and an eager light break out from
the clear blue Of her eyes. Arthur Stone was
passing by the house. and viewing with a scorn-
full curl of the lip the handsome equipage of
DIR. Barker. He did not look beyond it, to the
pale face bent so earnestly towards him, but
turned his eyes coldly away and walked haugh-
tlly down the street, while Anna saEk back
with a sigh into the softly cushioned chair
The next morning she refused to remain
away from school another day. Arthur Stone
would say that she was cowardly, that she fear
ed feruling, that she absented herself pur-
posely because of the misunderstanding of
Tuesday afternoon which she was too guilty
to face again. She would go to school, though
she dropped fainting on her way She could
not rest until her weary mind was unburdened
of this heavy load So she went pale and
trembling, at an early hour, to the school
house.
GLOW he scorns mellow he hates me !"
she thought, as Mr.. Stone quietly raised his
eyes to her face and bowed a silent good
morning as she entered the room. How could
she ever face that stern, cold gaze and make
her excuses for not keeping her appointment
Of the previous morning
81 was too ill to come out yesterday morn
ing" she said, in trembling voice, cor should
not have broken my promise. Will this morn
ing do as well?"
Mr.. Stone glanced keenly into her face The
blanched cheeks, and white quivering lips, tes-
titled to the truth of what she said
"Are you able to be here now ?" he asked,
in tone of voice that had more of tenderness
than aught else running through it.
"Hardly. You can fer-ferule me, and
will go home" she said, while her cheeks
crimsoned with shame.
Mr. Stone bit his lips to keep back a reply
which rose involuntary TO them Again was