The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-06-11


heart ran away with him-that was all.
He could not keep away from Mays
side, nor forget her when they were
apart and so summer passed and
autumn approached, and the city folks
we're going home, and the district
school was to be opened, and Cousin
Helen's husband, hard driven Wall
street man, came down to spend a week
before he took his family home and
all this delightful time was nearly at an
end.
Marcus was to be examined for his
position as teacher OF the SCHOOL,
mere fern with his fine education.
The doctor, as a learned gentleman,
was one of the committee to examine
the coming schoolma'am for the girls
department.
"a pleasanter task, as he said, jest
ingly, "if he expected to see anybody
there but old Miss Cynthia AIderny and
older Miss Baker"
May heard a good deal of the school,
especially as Farmer Parsons was an
other of the committee, and she felt al
| interest in it, too; as Marcus was to
teach. 1t seemed so odd to think of.
Cousin Helen's husband went about
as men always do, and heard more in
day than the ladies could in
year. He returned one evening with a
solemn face, and informed his wife, in
confidence that the talk of the whole
place was Mays fortune, and that the
doctor, who had done nothing but run
after rich women since he came to the
place, was said to be "after it."
GA regular fortune hunter, my dear"
said the husband. You must use
your influence with poor little May"
May meanwhile had been in her
favorite grove, and there had Marcus
| MOreland betaken him self to say good
bye. Poor boy, he had had some Bit
ter hours of late The truth that Mays
love was the enc thing worth having
upon earth had dawneu upon him, and
with it the knowledge that he had no
right to offer himself to an heiress.
| How he hated her money. 1t stood be-
tween them like some awful spell. If
she had been the poor est girl living, he
! could have said all that was in his heart
! to her-nOt now.
| So the poor boy uttered a few falter-
! ing words and went his way.
" 1t was folly for me to think he liked
me much" said May, as he left her.
"HOw formal and cold he is after all
nipped her heart, and she smiled more
brightly on the doctor when he also
entered the grove than she had ever
smiled before.
He made love to her that afternoon
after true story book fashion. On the
stage at 5 he would have caused
tender hearted ladies to say chow
sweet" 1t was a pretty little scene,
rehearsed in private. Had May but
known it the night before and no girl
could have failed to understand his
parting words.
Tomorrow, before you leave, l
must see yOu. You will grant rue
private interview, will you not l have
something of intense importance TO
myself, at least, to say to You. You
will let me see yOu in the garden? I
I" falter, look, a snatch at her
hand, the touch of his lips upon it.
Then the curtain should have dropped,
as he rode a way in his gig and said to
himself:
- always was a lucky fellow-to
think that Providence should have sent
an heiress to such a place as this,
pretty one, too
When May entered the house, sur
prise awaited her. Cousin Helen took
her at once to her bedroom, and there,
behind closed doors, repeated her hus-
bands information.
lyon know yOu are so young and
inexperienced, said she, land for
tune hunter is such a dreadful crea-
ture."
Mays face flushed crimson.
"Do yOu really think nobody could
/ I r. - q
sudden fit of Indignation.
Then cOmmOu-sense came to her aid.
She sat quiet for while. ard then drew
near her cousin and whispered some
thing in her ear. 1t was a long whisper.
% 1t will prove him." she said aloud
"and you will help me?'
Cousin Helen promised, and May
retired to her own room, there to shed
a few not uuatural tears.
Night passed the morning came.
The school-hOuse doors were set open
for the first time for months. The
committee was to meet at eleven, to ex-
anime the candidates for the teachers
positions.
Old Farmer Parsons walked over,
also Farmer Brown. The doctor was
there, and the lawyer, Mr.. Tripham-
mer. Miss Cynthia Alderny was seen
walking toward the door with a defiant
face. Miss Baker followed with a
scared one. Marcus Moreland took
his way in, and Just as all were settling
into their seats a little figure in buff
linen, with a blue ribboned hat on it's
head, slipped into one of the doors and
stood among them.
Every body looked up.
Miss Dimple " said the farmer.
"Why, declare ,"
Miss Dimple ?" said the doctor,
advancing with gallant air.
Yes, SIR" said May, quietly. 81
understand that you examine candi-
dates to day. l am fond of teaching,
ana when one must do something, one
seizes every chaLce, you know. May L
be examined ?"
81 suppose you are iesting, Miss
Dimple," said the doctor.
Not /, said May. 81 suppose you
have heard that foolish story about me.
Two or three hundred dollars may be
very pleasant little sum to spend on
summers vacation, but it doesn't make
one great heiress."
Folks will talk, You know" said
farmer Parsons, with twinkle IN his
eye. a poor Bai Is RS respectable as
rich one, long as she conducts proper.
Set down, Miss Dimple."
The doctor retired to his seat, his
face very pale and rigid. Marcus
horeland, on the contrary, had flushed
scarlet.
Mays two lovers were strange con
trast at that moment. For her own
part, she was quieter and sadder and
more wOmanly than usual. She went
through the examination bravely, under
the fire of Miss Cynthia's indignant
eyes. and amidst Miss Bakers despond-
ent siRhs Then she walked home and
waited. as she had promised. in the
garden. Would the doctor keep his
engagement2 He did.
my dear. Miss Dimple," he said, as
he advanced gsyly, but not quite natu-
rally. 81 feared | should scarcely get