Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-13
QQortester Daily Spp.
FERULING ANNA HAWKES..
Observation-Disclosures


forced to resort to harsher method Now,
listen one and all, while assure you that the
first scholar, Old or young miss or master,
young gentleman or lady, whom l shall see
whispering without leave, will feruleP
The teacher, Mr.. Arthur Stone, closed his
bearded lips firmly, and glanced about tbe
oldfashioned school-reom with determined
expression, as he ceased speaking He evil
IDENTIFY meant just what he sad-meant it in
the faces OF the stout, stalwart young gentle
men, and the pretty, witchng, bright-eyed
girls about him. For a moment there was
dead silence upon all, while every eve was
fixed upon the handsome, resolute face of the
teacher. But IN the little crowd of eager, up
turned faces, there was but one which his eve
sought, mtultivey drawn as it were, by some
strange, mesmeric power One face, and one
at that moment which was a pretty picture of
plquant beauty, with its saucy. inquisitive blue
eyes, which met his own fully and daring
ly;-lts strawberry red mouth pursed up by
the most provoking and daring of smiles, that
SAID as plainly as words could have said it
you won't ferule me, Arthur Stone, if l whis-
per ever so much !"
a sudden flush of anger redeemed up into
the cheeks of the young man, and shot from
the depths OF his fine gray eyes, as he said,
determnedly, in answer to the smile of the
red mouth and blue eyes, and the toss of the
dainty head-T repeat it; | will ferule the
1lrst scholar whom l see whispering without
ieaveP
This time there was no mistaking it; there
was perceptible motion of Anna HAWKES.
pretty head, an unmistakabe light in her ewes.
and whole, unbroken sentence wreathed
about the curve of her lips, as she turned care
lessly to her books-"You can ferule me if
you choose" she said mutely, not believing
that he would venture to do it.
And l certainly will, was the silent reply of
the young man, confident the While that she
would not allow him an opportunity of putting
his threat in execution. But he was i'll at ease
as he turned moodily to the arithmetic class
from which his attention had been drawn by
the unusual confusion. Affairs had taken a
dlsagreeable turn, an unexpected course. and
whatever he might do he could not better
them There was but one way for him. He
must put stern face upon the matter He
must MAINTAIN his dignity as a teacher, even if
ne was Obliged to thrust roughly aside his own
wishes and inclinations. Anna = Hawkes.
pleasant, witching, graceful Anna-the one
bright star that threw so much light upon his
arduous, tiresome duties the warm hearted
glrl who had grown nearer and dearer to him
as the dun, wintry days went by, till he had
dared hope, silently, yet earnestly, that some
tme he might be more to her than any one
else in the. world, even she, if she came be-
tween him and his duties, must be sacrificed
1t was miserable thought, and he greeted it
with long, deep-drawn sigh.
Not once during that forenoon did he ven
ture to look towards Annals seat, or allow him
self to pause anywhere in her vicinity, for fear
his ears might be greeted by provoking whis-
per- Not once, say, but l must except the
long recess, during which he watched her ca
gerry, as she bent over her slate, working out
hpr alC aIroip
erythlng about her, Two or three times he
half started from his seat to 90 to her assist
ance, as she knit her white brows perplexedly,
Z BIZ. a Strangu new ieGling, like pride, kept him
back. he thought he had never seen her look
half so pretty or loveable as then, as she sat
there bending thoughtfully over her book with
one white hand running rapidly and gracefully
over her slate. Her dress Of dark crimson
cloth, with its full sleeves confined at the
wrists by black velvet bands, fashioned high in
the neck, but in such manner as to display her
tul,white throat, was strangely becoming to her.
He 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 cambria collar confined
at the throat with a small breast-pin the knots
of black velvet ribbon fastened about her lux
uriant soft brown braids the petite black silk
apron, with its girdle of silk cord and full,
large, dropping tassels, and even the slender,
shining little kid boots that peeped daringly
out from the folds Of her ample skirt. In all
his life Arthur Stone had never looked upon
face or figure so pleasant or captivating. But
as he watched her, she raised her eyes to his
face. In moment the pretty seriousness
which had rested so becomingly upon her fea-
lures was gone A provoking smile curled up
her rosy mouth, and went with a sudden rush
of triumph over her whole face, dilatng her
finely curved nostrils and sweeping like very
) sunshine over the blue of her eyes, making
such rare dimples about her chin, as one might
have supposed to have been fitted by the cum
nmg forefnger Of Cupid himself.
Arthur Stone was veXed, but he was too
much man of the world to allow the young
girl to know how much she was capable Of an
noyng him. and so after the first fame ofpetty
anger had died out from his cheeks and fore
head, he said in voice, the GOODNESS Of which
surprised even himself
Can l be of assistance to you, Miss
Hawkes. 2"
"None, Sir, thank you 1 have quite con-
quered my exercises alone to-day"
Foolish fellow The very GOODNESS of his
manner betrayed the secret which he strove to
hide. There was little need of coverts if there
was nothing to conceal And so it was that
the forenoon slipped unpleasantly by, and the
afternoon came in its stead The teachers
rule so far was good one. The school was
remarkable for its quietudc. If Anna Hawkes.
had not been present. Mr.. Stone would have
counted it success, but as it was, he was in a
constant tremor of fear.
A raised hand in the neighborhood of her
seat, and tinlid application for assistance, was
met with something like an unreasonable
frown. In a hurried, nervous way, he pro-
ceeded to explain away the difficulty to the
iOaiH IN no FREQ
dangerous surroundings. just as he was con-
graduating himself upon his success, and about
turning away a rapid, whispered voley of
words ratified past his ears. There was no
.avoiding it. He knew the source from whence
they came as well as did every scholar that
heard them. He could not pass thoughtlessly
along.
The dread alarm had come with such sud-
den distinctness as to surprise him into an in
voluntary start Every pair of eyes i'll the
school-room were turned inquiringly and curl
ously to his face. He was forced into doing
his duty. The heavy beard about his mouth
was friendly to him. then, for it covered a sus-
picious pallor that settled there as he turned
about and rested his eyes sternly upon the
blushng, pquant face of Anna Hawkes.. she
was the picture of innocence just then, with
her brown ashes dropped low upon her checks,
and the pearly white teeth crushed cruelty
down upon the crimson Of her lips.
"Miss Hawkes., can you tell me who whis-
pcrcd moment since g
eyes, sir" The white lids were thrown
wide open, and the clear eye fixed frankly
upon his own.
"Who 2"
a. SIR"
"Will you oblige me by stepping THIS way a
momentV He led the way out into the floor
ayes, sir, certainly" She followed nm
promptiy, pausing beside the desk and resting
one hand prettily upon its top.
~ suppose you listened to my rule Of this
morning."
Eyes, sir"