Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-03-15
- PolGERoY, TUESDAY MARCH Is. 1859

shrinking, without starting, she thought,
but o, she would hate him, hate HIM, hate
him, SO long as she livedl AS the thought
passed through her mind, a gay, dashing
looking sleigh, drawn by a pair of fine
horses, came rapidly up to the school
house door. Lucky, lucky Mr. Stone, the
rule fell harmlessly upon the faif rosy palm
of Anna, as he turned his eyes toward
the window and exclaimed hurredly:
1.-THE committee, Miss. Hawkes. You
can take your seat now, but remain to night
after school. Even for this interruption
should not feel justified in letting the affair
pass" s...ssg, ,ssss,,s,
would care to see!" exclaimed Mr.. Stone
to himself, as he bowed low before the
pompous young gentleman known by the
cognomen 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
fg for his wealth-he did not envy him
or care 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 affairs he did not care
about having rivals around. Everything
went along smoothly during school hours,
as it always did during the visits of
the several committees; but the moment
school was dismissed DR.. Barker strobe
across the school-ro floor and up to Anna
Hawkes. seat. Mr.. Stone bit his lips with
vexation. His rival had made his APP
pearapce Just in the nick of time. He de-
splsed meanness heartily, denounced it,,
but now in spite of himself, he stood and
listened eagerly to catch the few words
that dropped from DR.. Barker's and Anna S
lips.
"I'll ask Mr.. Stone to excuse me-" he
heard Anna say.
(Which of course he will do" replied
Dr. Barker.
81 am not so certain,'' was the smiling
answer, as she started towards the desk.
~ hope you will pardon me foC daring
to ash such thing, but DR.. Barker wishes
me to take a drive with him in his new
sleigh, which am very anxious to do,
and So I'd like to be excused from remain
ing tonight to take my feruling, promis-
ing to come early tomorrow morning."
Mr.. Stone bowed and said every WELL
though the words quite checked him. He
secretly wished Dr.. Barker and his new
sleigh in China, and himself free from the
vocation of shool- teaching. He thought
as he stood moodily by his desk watching
Anna Hawkes. pin her plaid shawl closely
about her throat, and tie under her chin
the blue bbons of her quilted hood, pre-
paratory to her drive with DR.. Barker,
that he was the most miserable man in ex-
stence, and that he would purchase him
a farm, work at shoveling on the railroad,
would do anything rather than teach
another school. He had engaged already
to take charge of the village 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 very great
brute" he said to himself,a as the gay equip
ace went down the street. Perhaps after
ali, she had not meditated that ruthless at
tack upon his dignity and patience. In
deed, now he thought of it again, the
whisper was more like a sudden exclama-
ton than anything else. Yet he had not
given her the slightest chance for an ex-
planation, 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 thai
he should like to orse-whip him.
A faint counterpart of the pupils
thoughts and feelings were those of the
teacher. 1t was a dull, dreary drive thai
Anna Hawkes. took with Dr. Barker
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, which
ever way she turned. "And this is the re-
turn am making him for all his kindness
to me-all the interest he has taken In my
studies, both in and out of school. ., i
he could but know the TRUTH"
The truth! The young girl startled
herself by the words. And what was the
truth? She buried her burning face il
her hands as she asked the question. l
was this. She loved Arthur Stone! loved
him better than life itself! A cry of pain
went from her lips, as the knowledg'
slowly settled down upon her heart. Blu
what proof had she given him OF this
What proof that she was any other than
vain, selfish, unwomanIy thing! None
alas, none! Like any woman who is con
scious of her power, she gloried In her
over Arthur Stone. But how was he Il
know that il was any but the glory of
6ckle, heartless coquette, rather than of {
strong, loving, rue-hearted woman, VIII
makes her power golden chain about tn
heart of the man she loves, By which sh'
draws him tenderly and gently towarc
her? How, o, how was he to know this
The thought was agonizing to her.
She resolved at last to go to him in tn
morning and confess her fault, humblint
as it was. He should know, at least, tha
she held his feelings too sacred to woun'
them wantonly. But in the morning sh
was sick and feverish, scarcely able to lif
her head from the pillow. She could no