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

strong To be resisted. His broad palm
closed over it SO strong and tender that
Norma had no desire to Withdraw it
and Il sense of protection stole over hen
that WAS very pleasant to realize.
1t was happiness to Mr.. Kendall tc
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 50 late in life. Ii,
dared not think what the world would
be to him wien this brief dream had
passed and left him again lonely and
desOlate. ! am afraid that, notwith-
standing the disparity in their ages, h,
cherished a dim hope of some time win
ming this fair maiden to brighten hi,
life and make it better worth living.
The storm was not Of long duration. Ii
soon passed over and Mr.. Kendall re-
lu~ctantly released the little hand that
he had been holding. Norma felt an
unwonted shyneSs in his presence that
night, which she could hardly under
stand. He waited until she made her
preparations to 90 home, and they
walked together down the road as far
as his home. He babe her good night
with an unwOnted tenderness in the
tone, and Norma went home with Il
vague, namclesS pleasure ut her heart
for which she could scarcely account.
One day As Mr.. Kendall WAS working
ncar the school-house an elegant ar
riage drove past and stopped at the
schOol-house door, while a gentleman
alighted and entered. As nearly as he
could judge the stranger was young,
well dressed and handsome, and Mr..
Kendall found himself wondering who
he was and what WAS his business. The
horse remained standing before the
door until school was dismissed, and
Mr.. Kendall tormented himself with
.cOnjecturcS which seemed hardly be-
fitting L man 80 cold and stern and
grave as he was thought to be. Was
this Il lover of NOrma's come to claim
the hand which had become So dcarand
precious TO himself? There seemed no
reason why it should not be. Abeauti-
full girl like Norma did not often reach
her twentieth year without admirers,
and seldom without favoring some
At last he saw the children leave the
school-houSe and knew that school was
dismissed and Norma and the stranger
were there alone. A half hour or more
passed by, and then the objects of his
>olicitude came out and Norma was
assisted into the carriage by the
gentleman, who took a 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
He returned the bow in his uni
courteous manner, but never in
his life had any thing Of that nature
affected him 50 painfully As this little
This time he had a fair view
# his rival, as he considered him. He
vas L young man with a very handsome
ace, 4 dark mustache and curling hair,
md by his manner Mr.. Kendall could
lot doubt that he was most Interested
II his fair companion.
For a long time after this Mr.. Ken
lall did not watch Norma Us he had
lone when she passed the house; and
,ften she looked from the schOol-houSe
windows to the field where he had
ipent SD much time that summer to find
in sight. She missed some
hing too in his manner that filled her
With regret. He was not so cordial rs
ormerly, and she feared that he was
blended.
Mr.. Kendall had occasion one night
o call INTO the schOol-housc. He had
Ound something in the road which he
hought might belong to one of the
and he carried it in to leave it
With the teacher that she might restore
in the morning to its IL Norma
at the desk writing. Her cheeks
'ere unusually flushed and she had Il
heet of note paper before her, evidently
a letter. And there on the desk,
plain sight, was a photograph of a
andsOmc 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