The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-25

"Oh, paSShDiI, II Ac huutISlIutS !Iis pitN
, and stays in ii. hate presum!ng men
"Men. Boys"
"Well, boys thea Mcn in assurance. boy
, In intelligen are what %c have nowadays.
She spoke Us if she had lived in the age {
, her grandmother. | clcnched my hands, an
declined Jupiter under my breath in Latii
, "Do you think you'll bring him around
. For shame I'm sHrc have 40 each u
r sign on his peace,
"Now, really am aching to know " h
YOU intend 10 do. Shall! you firt with him +:
, Ny intentions were not consulted, but
made them, nevertheless, biting my fnge
nails viciously all tie time.
"Oh, no matter
"You're too bad. got you apa.; from h
other girls on purpose 10 have y eontiIepila
chat, and her the time Is almost up, and yo'
haven't told me thing"
"Well, l Will now-two things, You hal
is twisted out of your net, ana your collar /
shockingly tumbled."
Bother my collar! Shail You firt will
him. / wouldn't mind. oaly that hateful
Sue Liscomb VOWS she'll get ahead Of YOU
and don't want to set her win. Now, dt
tell me-
i thrust my heal up again and looked Il
them. They were not Winding me in thu
least, though they had stopped directly il
front OF me. Lizzie looked flushed and anX
ious, Miss Arden cool and selfcollected
! / laid my hand upon the bell and gave it 1
violent ringing. The two girls stared like
culprils, and glanced hurriediy up at me
What they saw in my face l cant say, bu
for their seats, but not before heard Lizzt
whisper desperately, "Shall you?"
Il shall = fOated back the reply, los anL
firm, as If determined not to be mistaken.
Should she? We'd see.
| That after noon, while l was engaged with
the French grammar class, was startled by
a sharp little scream, and by Lizzie DANE
springing up and crying out:
40! hornet has bitten Charlotte Arden
Mr.. Eldrdge."
The whole school Uttered. scowled very
pedagoguely, TO coin word,) and command
ed her to resume her seat.
Lizzie Hounced into her seat very red in
the face, and saw Miss Arden put IA book to
her face to conceal smile.
After school l went TO her and inquired
politely for her arm. She showed me her
round, dainty wrist, with large, discolored
swelling dlscoloring its wilderness.
"GOod heavens" | exclaimed, forgetting
myself, show it must nave panied you! Why
didn't you 60 home? would have excused
you
She smiled and looked amused. That
smile recalled me TO myself.
"Oh, it's nothing. 1t was slightly painful
at first, but was not child enough 70 run
home for so slight hurt"
In spite Of nay anger at her, envied the
very words that slipped through her red,
naughty lips. Had she already begun her
arts?" | asked myself, If that simplicity OF
look and trankness Of voice were art, why,
confound nature. Well, l walked home with
her, carrying her sachel Of books. My cx'
cuse was her arm. As If she hadn I but one,
and couldn't by any possibility have carried
her books on the other. Oh, the day that
foll.wed Oh the days that followed-and
the weeks and the months Miss Arden
wanted to tlirt, and We flirted Miss Arden
wanted me to make love to her, and did It.
OF course had no further exposition of her
wishes on the point than the overheard con
versation Of the first day; but that was
enough. / took the part assigned 10 me to
play, and played it with all the strength of
my heart and soul.
I had the Satisfaction Of knowing, as
stood by one Of the long windows at the close
Of the last day, watching the scholars file
out, that the whole village was alive with the
rumor that my beautiful pupil and myself
were engaged.
NHaiiOttC hIuCu uciiu' tuO c'NSlS
as IL wishing to speak to me. The coquctte
had her last snare set, thought, bitterly.
IL stopped to bid you goodbye she
said, fal,eringly, Ms | approached hcr. How
the proud face was BUNDLED by its blushing.
And TOTO give you this"
She held out white rosa withercd
white rose. 1t was one l had begged from
her hair, the night before at party, and she
had refused it.
Thank you I, will be cherished SOU
venir"
spoke derislvely, for all the bad blood in
my heart was aroused by her GROWING arti-
fee The words were scorniul, but they were
true in spite of me. She looked Up with a
shocked expression and made a halfangry
motion to snatch the flower from my hand,
ave have had very pleasant Irritation
have we not, Miss Arden?'
Her face grew deadly white, then turned
frey red.
"Flirration"
Eyes. This will remind me of it when
am far away"
saw the mighty pride that struggled in
her face.
n don't quite understand you, sir she
said, with dignity.
II refer you for an explanation of my
words to the conversation you held with Miss
Dane about the irst day OF the Term
She looked puzzled
IL did not have any, she replied after Il
moments hesitation.
About flirting" | suggested, to prompt
her memory. you were 10 win me away
from Sue Liscomb, think"
She leaned her head on her hand IA moment,
wondering and confused; then she lifted 1t
and broke INTO a merry laugh.
What an absurd mistake. And YOU over
heard US, and have been laboring under tina,
impression all these months: -. Nr. FL
bridge. how could you
And as though some sudden recollection
well nigh maddcncd her, SHE hid her face in
her hands and broke into u choking tempest
OF tears.
what is II, Charlo,te?" inquired, soften.
ing in an instant, anu feeling that had been
acting like a miserable fool.
ave were not talking of you at all, SIR
and the hot, blinuing tears flowed afresh.
Mot talking of Inc. Ii was all nv own
z Al. a..