Litchfield enquirer., 1874-01-22

 l. the pupils but hewas so impressed with l her superiority as 8, teacher, that he offer ed her the post of assistant; she finally 1 the day, giving the other half to her stud ! ies. Kate Martin vas. engaged .togd0 the same same by ths .othgr half of fhe day. and the l school went bravely on. 4e 1 It was lovely spring. The snow went off in such good temper, no angry winds l nor dismal rains, the brooks burst into music as soon as ever they broke their icy chains, and the birds sang sweetly as nev- CT before; at least. this was the way it all l seemed to Ralph Willet Every night, at the close of school; he was wont to hold little conference at the desk with Miss Broomtield; somehow there was always something to inquire about or to suggest, and then they often walked down the 1 street together as far as Mrs. Watkin' S 1 gate
 q do think, Efie,'' said Rose Peters 1 enviously, one day, ''that you are getting to be real fiirt, Mr. Willet is altogether l too attentive to you for married man. '
 Effie's eyes flashed indignantly. ''You have no occasion to make such remark. l Mir. Wiliet says nothing to me but what IS proper and bns.ness-hke, and anybody 1 might hear"
 "Oh! now, don't fly into & passion about it., laughed Rose, twirling the null ! titudinous rings on her fingers, ''I only meant to joke you little, though, truth to tell, if he wasn't a married man, I should think he was dead in love with you his eyes follow you everywhere-and when you speak he seems to devour every word you say"
 "Hush!' said Fife, authoritatively, though not soul was in hearing, 1T will not listen to such nonsense"
 "Oh! you innocent httlo darlingr' laughed Rose, q only wish had your chance in Mir. Willett's eyes. I'd make that wife of his jealous" -..-
 Its 8 pity that the devoted attention of all the unmarried men in town will not suffice you, but you must sigh after the married"
 ''Children are always crying for the moon, you know. Perhaps, if Mr. Willett wasn't married man he'd be no better than the rest, but, as it is, there's not 8 young man in town worth mentioning, the same day"
 All pleasant things in this world must come to an end sooner or later, and this pleasant spring term was no exception to
 
 exhibition, but the night proved, as exhi- bition nights are prone to, dark and rainy Dame Nature, after being on good smiling behavior all the term, might be pardoned for making this closing night a time for Ter most copious tears.
 Fife Broomfield wended her way to the exhibition under her fathers escort, with the triple aid of his arm, lantern, and um- brella.
 ''You make such splendid beau, fa- ther: you don't seem at all afraid of wetting your own boots, and leaving me the best walking"
 Thanks for the compliment, but I dare say you'll be leaving me in the lurch, and allowing one of those same glossy booted young men to walk home with you. It's the way of the nngrateful world, you know,
 "But not my way" said Fife, stoutly, ''Im engaged to you for tonight, so don't forget to wait for me; your lantern, um- breila ana general good care are altogeth- CT irresistible. D
 The hall was crowded to overfowinss. in spite of the rain, and Fife, from her seat away i'll front, did not notice that her father was called out before the exhibi- tion was half over. At it's close, she don- ned her wraps, and while she spoke the good-byes to one and another of her school mates, waited and watched for her father.
 He did not come, though the hall was fast emptying. Two or three offers of company home she declined. still thinking he must be there, when up came Fred Peters. crony of her brother Jack.
 ''Oh! Miss Fife! I've been looking for you; your father was called out to serve on jury, but he left his lantern and um- brella with Jack and told him to see you. But Jack, he'd been and offered his com pany home to Minnie Warner before that, so he asked me to tell yon to wait till he came back"
 Fife groaned in spirit, for Minnie War ner's home was away at the other end of the long street. Was there ever anything so inconsiderate as younger brother of 16? She went to the window and inter- viewed the weather, if perhaps she might make the trip alone and unprotected, but it was raining ill torrents. and fearfully dark. There was no alternative but to wait for Jack to play the gallant and done with 1t. Yet the crowd were gone, and the lamps were being put out; only one remained, when MT. Willett suddenly came up the stairs and rentered the room.
 "You here still! Miss Broomfeld," he exclaimed, ''I supposed everybody was gone. came back for book I forgot" and he picked it up from table near
 A few words sufficed to explain Efie'a awkward dilemma. "Never mind," he said, If you will accept my company home, shall be happy to relieve you cepted the offer in the same spirit in which 9o the way home with 8 lantern as bright, an umbrella as large, and an arm as reliable as her fathers.
 As for Ralph Willett, it was the first time since his coming to Monroe that he had waited upon lady, but the occupa- tion was far from uncongenial. Indeed, the very lively tattoo which his heart was beating, as for the first time Fife Broom fields hand rested on his coatsleeve, con- vinced him fully of what he might have known long before, if he would have ac- knowledged 1t to himself, that he was hopelessly in love with her. And all the while she, innocent little thing! was chatt- ing as freely and unsuspiciously as if he was her grandfather! How guilty he felt when he remembered that she and all the rest of the Monroe-ites looked on him as married man, and how afraid he was she would hear his heart beating 50 tumul- tuously!
 Commonplace remarks are the safest under such circumstances, so Ralph spoke of the rain, the mud, the evenings exer- cises, and, finally, the prospect for the summer term. II do not expect to need an assistant" he said, "but I hope you will attend the school, trying hard not to appear unduly anxious on the subject.
 '1 should like to- said Fife, ''but I must be taking care of myself now, and cannot do just what would prefer.
 You will try teaching again?"
 ''Yes, sir but not here. have not mentioned the matter to any one as yet. lest something should happen to defeat my plains, but now the time is so near may tell you that I expect to go to Virgin ia to teach. A friend there has kindly procured me situation, and must start, next week. ;
 To Virginia! Next week! Ralph for