The Lincoln County herald., 1872-12-18

now u emoto my neeIt ltue-'O uear,
how honest you are | Why, l come
homo every day aud dress up, and take
my books and 60 calling. like people
to think that NY. nice clothes ore my
school clothes"
Here the car going down came along,
and they got in, but | walked back, not
liking to ride with them. Aud I put
my hand over the watch several times to
be suro that it was there. And wasn't l
glad it was there?
was called homo during tho Christ.
mas holidays. My father sent down q
clerk Of his own, we'll acquainted with
the business. to take charge Of my store
l did not have to give him any directions
except q warning not to sell my Lady
Elgin.
1t SO happened that in returning to
Cattaqua after New Year, l travelled in
the same cur and sat in the same seat
with Louise Jones, the young school
teacher, who had been spending the hol.
idays with her parents at Aurora. Un.
sentimental - l am, liked her more
and moro, and heard several things
about her 10 the next few days which
raised her greatly IN my estimation, but
which | cannot take time to tell.
A week after New Year she brought 10
her watch TO have it fixed. 1t was 40 old
silver English lever OF her fathers. She
asked how soon l could fix it, and I told
her that it would take four days, On &C.
count Of the work ahead Of it. She
looked disappointed. A time piece is
indispensable to teacher you know, so |
offered to lend ber watch. took one
down aud put it back three times. Then
l went to tho show case, and with trem
ulous hand took up my Lady Elgin, 6rst
removing the chain. She did not know
the watch, and so let me fasten it to her
watch guard without any suspicion.
Before night the absence OF the watch
from the show case had been observed,
and all the girls set themselves to find
out who wore it. Sophie Bennett was
accused Of having it, aud she managed to
deny it in such q way IS to leave the i'm.
preston that she had 1t.
Early next morning, in came Louise
Jones. "Mr. Irving" she said, "you
have made mistake. 6nd in the back
Of this watch on inscription which leads
me to think you have given me what you
did not mean to.
Foresseing that the conversation would
DO delicate one, l gave Thomas, my
apprentice, q letter to mail, aud then
took the watch and read the inscription
in order TO gain time. l had put on the
inside Of the case q sentence l had heard
the minister quote ~ perfect Uoman
nob!y planned"
l handed it back to her and said
"Miss Jones, made No mistake. lent
you that watch on purpose.
"But you must see, said she strongly,
that cannot wear it ON any account. "
Il do not see," l said smiling, and
blusbing, l fear.
ut would create false impression"
"lf you say the impression it would
create would be false, | must take it
back"
GLOW could it be otherwise than
false ?" she asked, little puzzled.
AuOW VI Oug OuO way, L edIu,
slowly. "You know what the impres.
sion made would bo. On my part
wish that it might be true one. If you
are agreed, it shall be aud you shall
accept the watch and wear it forever"
She was silently holding the watch aud
turning it ovor abseutly, and growing
exceedingly red.
Take time said. "Do not show
the inscription to any one. l will come
aud see you about 1t whenever you say.
Shall it be this evening?
She nodded her head and left.
She has often told me that she did the
poorest teaching OF her life that day. l,
does not matter. She has long since
quit teaching. But it took the gossiPs q
lsns time to find out who had the watch
She wears it yet-enly her name is moi
Jones new.