Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-01-21

! ware iaT from considering her education
! finished. in her desire to d. her duty 20 the
! children under her, she applied herself in
! her leisure hours to her books, and might
/ be seen at the window of the little cottage
| after her days duties were over, her bend
| bent over her books. and fingers swiftly
! plying the knitting needles. The little cot
| tage was a miracle Of Dea,ness, for Gran
! ny's desire bad been to make the maiden
thoroughly useful 10 her situaticn-and no
house was cleaner, no wardrobe in bettor
order than Mary Snyder's.
One day there was gay party starting
Ter ride from the great house" First,
mounted on u white horse, her Hue habit
and white ?iumsd hat setting off her
blonde beauty to the best advantage, was
| Ef6e Fisher, the child Of the house and the
| belle of the village. Her education had
been finished as it was begun-a perfect
dancer, brilliant performer on the piano,
a fine rider, and an Accomplished firt.-
She had, to attain perfection in these four
arts, neglected all the more solid pursuits,
and was, at eighteen, as giddy, empty
| headed and silly beauty as couli be
| found. By her side rode Il, land Rivers a
! tall, handsome man of about thirty, rich,
accomplished and intelligent, and as Efie's
mamma told her, ID cided CATCH "Do
your heat 10 make a conquest there" said
the adectionate parent, for such chance
does not fall in your way every dav-aud
to try to talk sensible, for he is particularly
fond of intelligent young ladies'" The
rest Of the party consisted of Efie's broth
er George, with Miss Harding a burnette
who shared the honors Of beIleship with
Efie- Some other young people with
whom we have no particular interest, made
up the party.
There was a beautiful brook running
along about hundred yards from Mary's
cottage, ard one side of it a large tree grew.
As it was back Of the cottage. in a retired
place. Mary often took her book and work,
and seated on large stone at the fuur of
the tree, passed many a pleasant after
! noon.
The riding party started in high spirits.
and it was near sunset when they turned
! their horses heads bomeward, Then, a.
they lived in different parts of the town,
one after another fell off, until Ellie and
Roland were left alone.
What a pretty cottage !" cried the
! young man as he drew up near a tiny vine
covered dwelling. Look, Miss Fisher, is
it not like fairy home, all covered as it is
with climbing roses and honeysuckles p
Who lives there ?"
"Ouly the village school ma'am," said
Ede.
Pretty? She must be to suit the dwell
ing, and tasty tco, | know by the appear
aHce of the little garden. Can we not
frame an excuse to stop here for a moment?
You have had long ride, Miss Fisher
am sure glass Of water must refresh you;
| will call out the charming occupant of
this place"
Charming :" said Efie, with a carcastic
laugh -"charmiug a little, demure lock-
ing peace, dressed in the fashion of ten
years ago, with hands and feet like wash
erwemun's"
Roland insisted upon seeing this indi>
vidual. declared that he was enchanted by
Fines description. AMI dismuunt;ng, he
knocked at the door. He knocked anc then
rushed il open. The room aud parlor of
the cottage into which he entered ives emp
ty lie walked to the back window, lnoked
out,and then stepped to the back door and
looked gain Seated under a tree with u
n rivulet running between her and the
house WAS young girl. Her white Grts.
was cut low, showing a beautiful neck, al
n round, white ara, tinishpd by very
pretty hand, with delicate, tapering fingers.
Her soft brown hair was parted simply
from her broad white foreh cad. and made
into a rich knot behind. lie, complexion
| was fair, but psle, and features delicate -
, Hearing Roland's step. she raised pair of
/ large brown eyes, and with quiet grace
' crossed the little bridge, ard stood ready
/ to do the honors IF the cottage.
After a graceful apology for his in'ru-
I sion. Roland obtained the glass of water,
r and returned to Fife, vino was, with some
! difficulty, persuaded t. dismount, and rest
few moments in the cottage.
Mary's quiet but perfectly lady ike man
ner showed to great advantage beside the
e naughty, superc li1us style Efe thought fl
! to assume to the village school MISTRESS
/ r, lands quick eye detected a whole vel
t ume of Racine in the book Mary brought
in from her seat beneath the tree. He
' soon entered into conversation with bis fair
hostess-and Efie found herself left behind
, il the animated conversation on books and
arts which ensued. At length, to her grea
: relief, they were mounted, and on their
: way homewards.
! Mamma I" said Efie, about week af.
! ter the dsy Just mentioned, Roland Riv
e ers has fallen in love with Mary Sny-
. der"
: "Nonsensew was the answer.
= but it is not nonsense. He would stop
D there the day he rode out. and the artfu
, piece lust made love to him as decidedly a;
you ever saw anything done in your life
. Thev talked about books and drawing, a1C
the pictures be had seen in Italy. and a
= last she made him promise to bring bi.
: portf Ito, aud show her the sketches he
0 made in Europe"
made hin promisef Howl"
well, she didn't make him promise eX-
actly, but he offered Just out of poiteness
and she took him right up, and so he had
= to go and worse that that she has had hin
. there every evening since. Just as long a.
i that girl stays here, he won't come neal
= me, | know The idea of being cut out by
such demure looking, plain idiOt-that't
e what provokes me. A girl that spends
. time knitting farmers stockings, and teach
= iug dirty little brats of children to come ii
e between me and my lover, for he was ml
e lover before be saw her."
r "Efie, | have it-we1l turn her out Q
0 the school Your father is at the head o
r the school Committee, and he is the riches
o man in the place, so the others won't like
J. to offend him-Pll have her out"
= Next morning Mary received notice that
f as her quarter was nearly finished, her ser
$ vices would 20 longer be required at thu
d school, The same morning an invitation
r came from her uncle to pay him visit IL
= the vacation. Childless themselves, they
often sent for Mary to come to them wheI
e che could escape from her school duties
n Her resolve was Immediately taken. Sh,
g would go to the city, and perhaps her un
Y Gle could find her some work by which sbt
i could gain living. With many q hear
, pang she shut up the little cottage. packed
|. her trunk, and sat down ia the parlor, nov
n all Garkened except one window, TO wal
s for the stage.
r She was sitting weeping, when kuoc|
: at the door aroused her On opening
n she found Roland. Explanations snsued
and Roland asked her something, to whicl