Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-04-20
OLD SERIES.

the school would be heightened out sir
weeks into autumn, allowing q vacation Of
one week In the meantime.
50 the days dragged along, not one pas
sing without DR.. Eldridsc making his sp-
pearance somewhere in my way. Some
times wAs pleased to sec him. perhap. al
ways; bu, be had q strange. mi.chievous
way with him that worked agains, my tenn
per always. think no liked my little Gts
OF passion, however. or bo would no. have
provoked them continually.
And the school Dear me whata school
It was Tho trial Of IL wore me thin rs
shadow. Bu, Affairs came to climax one
day. THIS was the way !, was brOugb.
about. While hearing a recitation. one
hot sultry afternoon, drew my chair into
the middle Of the Hoor where there was .
faint show Of breeze. was directly In
iron, Of ono Of tho aisles, and so seated iha.
could not SEQ wba, was going on behind
me. After di'mi.sing the class, mado m
attempt IN rise. when 10 my utter di,may
and horror found myself, or my dress
made fas, TO tho chair. tried 10 be cool
and collected, As I released myself, but my
hand ucnbled violently. and know that
my iace must haze been white with anger.
"Can any one tell mo who pinned ny
dress to the ehair7' asked.
There was dead silence. repeated the
duss,ion. S,ll no answer. could inter-
pre-, that easily enough. No. a scholar in
school dared tell a tale Of Frank Eliridge.
"You may walk this way, Frank" I
.aid.
IA though marching to military drum,
hs came to the door.
IL shall bear your impudencs no longer"
began. Either you or I must be a, the
head Of thi. school. n my arm and ruler
arc as ru.,y a. think. shall be mistress
here"
You DON, dare isrulc me my father
-" be began.
{" Ls, your father como here, and will
ierulo hlm too, I said. in,srrupiing him.
"I'll tell him Of that" he cried out.
"Do 50. by oil means" | answered.
And 50 thrashel Frank Eldrldge, sound.
" and .mntly. ill hs begged for mercy
like ,hrsc year old baby, ani promised a'
humbly as could wish to do better. There
wasa grea, uproar, in consequence OF IL.
both in school and out. But what made
the matter ludcrous in the school and out
was the fact Of my threatening to whip DR..
Eldrid.c (hand.ome. idolired DR. Eldridsc,
the awe of the whole village. and the prid,
Of the whole town. was noised about. Al
las, j, reached the doctors ears and as ! had
feared he came Just at tho close OF school,
the next afternoon. to remind mo Of my
threat.
- have come for my whipping" he'aid
in low tone, as answered his loud rap
at the door.
do no, know why. but the tears .rrang
to my eve. at this. IL seemed unkind in
mm, almos, cruel. Twas afraid ,ha, he
would notice how was moved, and 50 l
turned my head away, rs ! answered
liam very busy now, an you come in
and watt"
"Un,il after school do you mean7"
"Ju., as you please haze no time to
spare now-I suppose You have come to un'
do the work OF yesterday"
" Not !, believe ne"
"wals in, IL you please" | said inter.
rup,ins him. lie was speaking 80 pleas.
an,ly and kindly that the tears were COM
ing to my eyes again.
Now my whipping, Miss Lakin." hs
said after the Las. class was dismissed, and
We were alone together in the old school
house.
"Dr. Eldridgc, how unkind Of you,"I
said.
Bu, I in.i,, upon it," he answered,
passing IN, the rule.
How exceedingly foolish ! felt. How
vrstchcdly he teased me. But there was
no escaping from him. 50 ! said, laughing
and crying altogether, "Givs me your
hand -
"Thc right, I 5clieve, is the one always
claimed by ladies. But are you really seri'
Gus. shall really give !, to you7"
YES" answered, coloripg.
Taking the tips OF his fingers in my lc'.
hand, gave him quick blow.
a kiss for blow" he sand, raising my
hand to bis lips. "S,rito away. dear. |
shall never weary"
Sol struck him again, once, twice. thrice.
"See which hand will &c, blistered FIRST,
yours or mine," he said, in high glee.
How happy you make me, and how good
| ain getting"
"And how bad am growing every day"
I cried. bursting into tears, and dropping
my head upon the dssk.
Heaven forbid, Lizrie," he said, ten.
derly, the mOckery going quite away from
his voice. :" know that have worried
and troubled you, but my heart has eeen'
and Is. all right, my child. DO you re-
member wha, you said to me a long time
az, about my marrying as'in' And do
you know. that in spite ofres'on and pru-
dsnce, (for you are young and pure.hearted
Yeti { hoped and prayed that sometime
you might be the light and lore OF my bad,
darkened heart. my darkened homer Hove
you, and that is all can cay in pleading
nv case"