Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-03-22
"No, sir, she faltered.
II presume not!" said MIR. Charlton.

II presume not!" said MIR. Charlton.
sarcastically.
Was it possible thought I, that
Fanny's apparent difficulty in speaking
was caused by suppressed merriment
Her face certainly indicated it, for
while she bit her lips, her shoulders
moved convulsively, and there was an
unmistakable sparkle in her black dane
ing eyes. I watched the proceedings
with intense interest.
II shall read 1t aloud" said Mr..
Charlton relentlessly, and evidently
somewhat excited with the prospect of
making such an impression as heexpect-
ed, "and I hope it may prove lasting
lesson to you"
He unfolded the paper with pomp-
Gus air and help it before his face.
The attention of the pupils was al
most breathless, and the hush of ex-
pectation was profound.
But instead of reading the note Mr..
Charlton looked at it with an expression
of utter astonishment. Perplexity, dis
may and anger fitted by turns across
his face, which was finally overspread
by violet red flush. He turned to Fan
ny furiously.
"Was this done on purpose to entrap
me, Miss Burns?'
"No, sir"
The astonishment of all knew no
bounds now. The scene was inexpressi-
ble to all except the two chief actors in it..
What does this blank piece fpaper
mean?"
An audible litter suddenly arose, like
the first pattering of summer shower.
The true state of the case began to
dawn upon our minds.
Fanny was using all her energies in
endeavoring to retain sober and re-
spectful air toward her questioner.
He didn't answer my note" she
said, and SO was going to hand him
that piece of paper and pencil to-to
-as-a-sort of hint!,
The litter now swelled into roar, in
an instant every boy and girl in the
school-room laughed uncontrollably.
Fanny buried her face in her handker-
chief, and also laughed violently, but
silently. Peals and cheers arose, and
it was simply impossible to pursue fur
ther serious treatment of the subject.
MIR. Charlton himself was obliged to
smile, in the midst of his wrath and
discontinue. He handed the paper
back to Fanny, and said few words
to her which none of us could hear in
the uproar, and she, bowling went to
her seat.
The funny scene ended, and all was
studious enough for the remainder of
that day, and indeed for many days
thereafter.
I we'll remember when we went up
to the next "grade," Mr.. Charlton was
talking to the teacher whose department
we were about to enter.
Fanny stood near, and patting her
on the head, he said:
"This girl you will find, will always
have her lessons, but look out for her,
or she'll be too much for you. There
danger behind those black eyes!"
If this was "story" Fanny would
of course be my wife now, but as it is a
simple reminiscence of real life, it
doesn't end that way. Soon after our
entrance into higher grade Fanny dis
covered charms in youth named Smith
that far outshone mine. This threw
me in cynical frame of mind, from
which it took me fully two weeks to
recover. Then to spite her I went with
another girl.
Then came the breaking up of our
class, some tears and hearty hand-shak-
ing. That was dozen years ago, and
believe Fanny is now the wife of a
man out west. Such is life!