Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-04


man or lady so-far forgets him or herself,
it is intensely pai6ft4. assure you that
l deeply regret this
Anna bowed gracefully as Mr.. Stone
ceased speaking. Again her white teeth
were dented into her lip, while the brown
lashes trembled close upon the deep burn
ing red of her cheeks.
Your hand, if you please
The little white hand was reached
forth as though it were to receive ca
ress instead of blow As it lay so ten
tderly and trustingly y upon the broad palm
of the teacher, he inwardIy cursed his
stars. He called himself brute, a ty-
rant, a monster. He had a mind to get
down upon his knees and pray for big
mouthed earthquake to come and swal-
low him; for sudden flash of lightning
(in the winter time) to melt him into non
enty; for whirlwind to sweep him with
its rapid rushing winds from off the face
of the earth. Strike that little dimpled
hand with cruel two inch rule. He
had rather cover, say, blister it with kiss
es, instead. 1t trembled within his grasp,
and about the mouth of the owner lit
tie white line was islanding the redness
of her lips. For moment, he thought
he'd kneel before her, and ask her to
give the pale prisoner entirely to him.
1t would be his hand then, and no one
could blame him for not wishing to in
jure his own property. A thought struck
him. He might strike his own hand in
stead of Annals. He could shield her
and take the blow himself. The idea was
a rare one. He was in mood for crack
ing every knuckle that he owned He
raised his ruler. Anna raised her eyes
TO his face. His fixed, determined ex-
preston startled her. She would bear
his blow without shrinking, without start.
ing, she thought, but, 0, she would hate
HIM, hate him, hate him, so long as she
lived AS the thought passed throug!
: her mind, gay, dashing looking sleigh
: drawn by pair of fine horses, came rap
: idly up to the School-house door.
i Lucky, lucky, Mr.. Stone, the rule fel
harmlessly upon the fair rosy palm 0
e Anna, as he turned his eyes towards the
e window, and exclaimed hurriediy:
The committee, Miss Hawkes.. Yol
t can take your seat now, but remain to
night after school. Even for this inter
d ruption I should not feel justified in let
n ting the affair pass
II The last committee man upon cart
II that would care to seep exclaimed MI
Stone to himself, as he bowed low belor
the pompous young gentleman, known b
: the cognomen Of DR.. Wesley Barker
: who raped with his whip upon the doc
: said young gentleman being one {
;" wealth and education. But the teache
did not care fig for his wealth-he di
not envy him-or anything for his educs
- tion-his own was quite equal to it. Bl
y what he did care for was, that DR.. Ba1
III ker was a great admirer of Anna Hawke
and in the present state of affairs, he di
40 not care about having rivals around
Everything went along smoothly durin
Vn school hours, as it always did during ii
K visits of the several committee, but ii
moment school was dismissed, DIR. Bark,
stalked across the school-room floor al
up to Anna Hawkes. seat. Mr. Stor
lis bit his lips with vexation. His riv
IN made his appearance in the nick of tim
He despised meanness heartily, denoun
ed ed it, but now in spite of himself,
SIX stood and listened eagerly to catch Il
its few words that dropped from DR.. Barker
and Annals lips.
of IN ask Mr.. Stone to excuse me-
heard Anna say.
Which of course he will do replic
DR.. Barker.
{ | am not so certain, was the smiIi
ou reply, as she started towards his desk.
-ou L hope you will pardon me for dari
to ask such a thing, but DR.. Bark
er- wishes me to drive with him in his n,
ing sleigh, which I'm very anxious to do, a
nd. so I'd like to be excused from remain
ok tonight to take my feruling, promisi
to come early to morrow morning.
IVY Mr.. Stone bowed and said, very we
her though the words choked him. He
to cretly wished DIR. Barker and his n
sleigh in China, and himself free fr
'sk' the vocation Of school teaching.
1 thought as he stood moodily by his d,
aid. watching Anna Hawkes. pin her pI
ent, shawl closely about her throat, and
am under her chin the blue ribbons of
n / quilted hood, preparatory to her DIR