Fair play., 1875-12-16

closed over II so strong anu tenuer tHa'
Norma had no desire to withdraw 1t
and sense of protection stole over her
that was very pleasant to realize.
1t was happiness to Mr.. Kendall To
sit there alone with Norma, holding her
hand in his, for since his acquaintance
with the fair young teacher he had been
learning Il new lesson, none the less
sweet for coming So late in life. tie
dared not think what the world would
be to him when this brief dream had
passed and left him again lonely and
desolate. l am afraid that, notwith-
standing the disparity in their ages, he
cherished dim hope of some time win
ming this fair maiden to brighten his
life and make it better worth living.
The storm was not of long duration. 1t
soon passed over and MIR. Kendall re-
luctantly released the little hand that
he had been holding. Norma felt IN
unwonted shyness in his presence that
night, which she could hardly UNDER
stand. He waited until she made her
preparations to go home, and they
walked together down the road as far
as his home. He bade her good night
with an unwOnted tenderness in the
tone, and Norma went home with a
vague, nameless pleasure at her heart
for which she could scarcely account.
One day as Mr. Kendall was working
near the school-house an elegant car
riase drove past and stopped at the
schOol-house door, while gentleman
alighted apd entered. As nearly as he
could judge the stranger was young,
we'll dressed and handsome, and MIR.
Kendall found himself wondering who
he was and what was his business. The
horse remained standing before the
door until school was dismissed, and
MIR. Kendall tOrmented himself with
conjectures which seemed hardly be-
fitting Il man SO cold and stern and
grave rs he was thought to be. Was
this lover of NOrma's come to claim
the hand which had become so dear and
precious to himself? There seemed no
reason Why it should not he. A beauti-
full girl like Norma did not often reach
her twentieth year without admirers,
and seldom without flvoring some
suitOr.
At last he saw the children leave the
and knew that school was
and Norma and the stranger
were there alone. A half hour or more
passed by, and then the objects of his
solicitude came out and Norma was
into the carriage by the
who took seat
beside her and drove away to-
wards her home. As they passed the
place where he was at work. Norma
leaned out of the carriage and bowed to
him. He returned the bow in his uni
formly courteous manner, but never in
his life had any thing of that nature
affected him SO painfully as this little
episode. This time he had fair view
Of his rival, as he considered him. He
was young man with very handsome
lace, dark mustache and curling hair,
md by his manner Mr.. Kendall could
not doubt that he was most interested
II his fair companion.
For long time after this Mr.. Ken
lall did not watch Norma as he had
lone when she passed the house; and
,ften she looked from the school-house
windows to the field where he had
'pent so much time that summer to find |
nobody in sight. She missed some
hing too in his manner that filled her
With regret. He was not so cordial as |
ormerly, and she feared that he was
,ffended.
Mr.. Kendall had occasion one night |
o call into the schOol-house. He had
ound something in the road which he
hought might belong to one of the
,upils, and he carried it in to leave it
With the teacher that she might restore !
in the morning to its owner. Norma
vas at the desk writing. Her cheeks
we're unusually flushed and she had a
heet of note paper before her, evidently
vriting letter. And there on the desk,
n plain sight, was photograph Of a
handsome young man; indeed the very
ne who had aroused his jealousy weeks
efOre. He would have retreated if he
ould, but she had already seen him.
Ter flushed cheeks famed into crimson
'hen she noticed him, and he saw her
ush piece of paper over the photo
raph. Mr.. Kendall found himself stam-