Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-12
THE PRETTY PLoTTERs.


"PRIDE, pride, pridel there you have
Charlotte Arden. Mischief, mischief
mischief! there you have Lizzie Dane
Look out for them both, Hart! And now
goOd-by. I'll pray for your success2'
With this my friend, by whose in
fuence / was installed In the academy of
Marlboro as Principal, turned to leave
me.
Wait moment, Mr.. Jeffries,' said
" how can / keep"
:. Clear of them p, he added, with sly
laugh. Draw yort own inferences
Handsome young men, with light purses,
must make light hearts. When you catch
glimpse of your pupils you will under
stand me. haven't been teacher here
for five years for nothing. "
Thank you thank you!"
With this gave my friend my hand,
and thus we parted An hour later was
seated at my desk, in the pleasantest
schoolroom, looking about me with no
small degree of interest for the two pupils
of whom my friend had spoken, and won
dering in the meantime if his kindly,
well meant caution would not bring me at
once face 10 face with. the very danger
which he had wished me to avoid.
plnllluE az llll Ohl COuCGlJ, anu
to find in the threescore faces before me
one that was particularly stamped with
pride or one that was marked with mis-
chief, turned to my books.
Something like a quick whisper broke
through the stiffness of the room as l did
so. l glanced up. Every countenance
bore unmistakable signs Of occurrences.
Smiling again at my thoughts, turned a
second time to my books, and this time a
big apple started from one of the back
seats and came rolling down the aisle.
The incident was slight; but, taken in
connection with my reflection and my
friends parting words, it annoyed me. /
picked up the apple, laid it on the desk
and glanced in the direction from whence
it came.
Goodness! What pair of blue eyes
were raised to mine at that moment! Eyes
saucy, daring and almost wicked, Which
wavercd and Frightened like two beautiful
stars. This was Lizzie Dane, l was quite
sure Of that; the red mouth was dImpled
about by smiles, and the white chin quiv-
cred with suppressed merriment.
"A good beginning Thought; 1t
augurs well for the future.n
Just then the school-r door was
darkened, and, looking up, saw Char
lotte Arden. My friends caution was well.
How like beautiful picture she was as
she stood there; her fine head, covered
with pretty braids, perfectly poised, her
figure, straight, round and perfect, brought
out by the strong, clear light. The very
fall Of the soft, white robe, as well as OF
her slender, gathered foot, just visible be.
meath the folds of sweeping skirt, was ar.
tistic. She stood, as if hesitating whether
orr NJ ~ haCf for hnY. To he
school-room, and her manner was calm,
quiet and cool.
Miss Lizzie Dane telegraphed to heE
with her sparkling eyes to enter. This
failing to have the desired effect, she
doubled up her white, chubby hands and
held them to her mouth, trumpet fashion
| suppressed the smile that was rising tC
my lips and turned to Miss Arden, say
ing:
Have you selected seat?
"No, sir, / have not" she answered
without moving forward single step. q.
tYou may do so now, il you please"
said
She glanced up and down the long rows
of seats several times, and then turned tC
side desk but short distance from my
table.
"This one, sir" she said, raising hel
eyes for single moment to my face, and
then turning them, indifferently, away.
l bowed in approval of her choice
though, at the same time, it did not please
me. | did not care to have her so near
criticising everything l did, and fell
sure she would.
AT the quarter-hour of intermission Miss
Arden and Miss Dane passed the time in
pacing arm in arm back and forth on the
blank space of floor before my desk.
could have wished, and did wish, thai
they had chosen any other promenade
but not knowing how to help myself, un
less sent them out of doors to play, like
two children in pinafores raised the lie
of my desk between their faces and mine
auti pretendvd 10 be engaged In setting my
books and papers 10 rights.
Children in IinafOres! Ismiled grimly
to myself as the audaciSus thought en-
tered my head. Children they both were
said to myself, unceremoniously thrust
ing my head above the temporary screer
TO confirm my opinion by good look a
them--a proceeding which made Mis-
! Lizzie toss her curly head in discon
certed attempt at atcarelessness, and brough
a dash of exquisite color TO theone velve
check of her feompanion 8 face which wa!
| revealed to me.
And as for pinatores," l said, sulkily
continuing my soliloquy, and drawing il
my head again like turtle, *I'm SURF
they'd be vastly more appropriate and be
| coming than that little pinked and seal
loped and puckered affair of plaid sill
which Miss Lizzie wore under the digni
fed name OF apron"
Such saucy little pockets, fixed off will
gimp and things-the corner of TIM
note and the profile of q big,yellQW OF
ange revealed from the distended fnouu
Of one, and the lace edge of q handker
chief with captivating rent in it, hang
ing jauntily from the other; such wicked
knowing tassels, sueh lengths Of variegat
1ed silk cord round, found and round he
pretty waist, as though once started 1t ha(
lost its way and had been travelling in
circle ever since, instead of going straigh
ahead as any sensible cord would hav
done that had been stout enough not to &c
becoiled on the road. 1t looked content
ed, though, as if il didn't care a whit 70
the predicament II was in, or whether
ever went straight again, as it could hav
that charming route 20 travel round ant
round, and began. 10 .WQnder, -.
Tln Heh Splendid. Lot; isn't hcf1
4 Miss Dane's voice broke my wonder
ings. was modest in those days ant
blushed easily. My wife told me yes
terday, referring 10 that morning that th'
tip of my ear, just visible at the edge 0