The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-12-17

the dream Of being Il husband and
father-had faded until only Il breath OF
the old sweetness fingered. He be-
! lievcd that he was destined to remain n
single man the rest of his lifetime.
1t was early spring and Mr.. kemdall-
rural labOrs were often Interrupted by
candidates for examination, but when
even he was called i'll to question them
his heart sunk like lead in his bosom.
1t would be hard to say which most
dreaded the ordcal-the Young, fright
ened schoolgirl making her first appli-
/ cation for Il certificate, or the calm and
apparently Sclf-possessed committee
whose keen, searching eyes had such
power to confuse the young applicant.
One day, as he was working in the
garden, he heard the summons that he
had learned to dread, and entering the
house found a young lady in waiting to
be questioned. There was something
in her pale, delicate face that impressed
him differently from the most Of the APP
~plicants, for it was not only very pref
ty face but a most interesting one.
Pale, rs | have already said, but not
! with the pallOr of i'll health. 1t was
more as though some sudden sorrow
had blanchedt the roses from her cheeks,
leaving her white and fair as a lily. \
Ii,,c 90 ,,, ,l.,I t,le -, IL.
pretty lips; the wiStful blue eyes were
shaded with long, soft lashes, and back
from the pure, white brow was brushed
the wavy golden hair, tinged with Il
shade of brown. The form was slight
but graceful and was arrayed in deep
mourning. Her face was very youth
full, and yet there was a maturity of ex-
preston rarely seen in the cO%untenances
of young maidens.
Mr.. Kendall found himself unusually
embarrassed in trying to question this
beautiful and refined girl, so different
from the buxom maidenS with whom
he was accustomed to deal, and it is to
be feared that his queries were not al
ways the most pertinent to the subject.
1t did not, however, require much tact
on his part to discover that she was
possessed of an excellent education, and
il was with Il sense of relief that he felt
himself authorized to write her a Ger
.tificate.
"What name shall | write" he in
quired, heSitatingly.
"Norma Fielding.'
He held the pen suspended for Il mo-
ment As he looked at her inquiringlv.
"The daughter of the late George
Fielding?' he questioned.
She bowed without speaking, and Mr..
Kendall felt the blood rush in Il quick
tide to his face As he thought that this
beautiful girl had probably been 4
neighbor of his al her life, and yet he
not know that he had ever seen her
He felt that some apology was
needed, and he said with a smile such
Is but rarely illumined his face, Il see
he young people about here so seldom
hat | can scarcely remember their
'O~untcnances.h
sit is not strange that You DO not re-
me, for | have been away to
school for two or three years, and have
,ut lately returned"
"What school do YOU design totake?"
he inquired.
"The one in this district" was the
answer.
"Indced!n and Mr.. Kendall was con-
cious of Il slight feeling of satisfaction
IS he heard it, for the school-hOuse was
lot far distant from his home, and he
.ould not be utterly indifferent to the
choice of a teacher.
George Fielding had died but Il few
weeks before, and although when living
he was thought to be worth cOnsidera-
he property, Yet at his death it was
ound that he had left his family in pov-
rty. Mr.. Kendall was aware of these
circumstances, and honorcd the brave
.irl, who had been brought up and ed
.cated 50 far above her station, for tax
NJ the first means that suggested itself
. earn her W support. He pitied her
for her sad face told only too
of the loss she had sustained in
he death of i loving and devoted IA
her. As he passed her the certificate
e said, in a tone more tenderly modu-
lted than was his wont, 81 knew your
,ther well. He was a kind man, a good
eighbor." ,