The Red Cloud chief., 1875-12-09
THE PRETTY PLOTTERs:
Or, A SCHOOL, Room Filtration.

cess"
With this, my friend, by who's. influ-
cnce I was installed in the academy Of
Marlboro, as principal, turned to leave
me.
"Waita moment, Mr.. Jeffries," Vel. said
show a l keep"
"Clear of theml" he added with a
sly laugh. "Draw your v differences.
Handsome young men, with light purses,
must have light hearts. When you
catch a glimpse of your pupils you will
understand me. l haven't been a 4 acher
here for five years for nothing"
Thank you! thank yon"
With this I gave my friend my hand,
AID thus we parted. An hour later
was seated at my desk, in the p~leasantest
school room, looking about me with nc
small degree Of interest for the two pu'
pills of whom my friend had spoken, and
wondering in the meantime if his kindly
well meant caution would not bring me
at once face to face with the very danger
which he had wished me to avoid.
Smiling at my OWE cOnceit, and fail
ing to find, in the threescore faces before
me, L that was particularly stamped
with pride, or one that wal marked with
mischief, l turned to my books.
Something like a quick whisper broke
through the stiffness OF the room as
did SO. l glanced UP. Every counter
ance bore unmistakable signs OF de-
mureness. Smiling again at my thoughts
1 turned a second time to my books, and
this time a big apple started from n OF
the back seats and came rolling down
the aisle. The incident was slight; but,
taken 10 connection with my reflection,
and my friends parting words, it an
noyed me. Ipicked up the apple, laid
it on the desk, and glanced in the direc-
ton from whence it came.
Goodness! what a pair of blue eyes
were raised to mine at that moment
Eyes, saucy, daring and almost wicked,
which wavcred and frightened like two
beautiful stars. This was Lizzie Dane,
was quite ure of that; the req mouth
was dimpled about by smiles, and the
white chin quivered with suppressed
merrimcnt.
"a good beginning" l thought; cit
augurs well for the future"
just then the school room door was
d~arkened, and, looking up, l saw Char
lotte Arden. My friends caution was
well. How like a beautiful picture she
was, as she stood there, her fine head,
covered with pretty braids, and perfectly
poised. her figure straight, round and
perfect, brought out by the strong, clear
light. The very fall of the soft, white
robe, as we'll as of her slender. gathered
foot, just visible beneath the folds Of her
sweeping skirt, was artistic. She stood,
as if h~esitating whether or not it was
best for her to enter the school room,
and her manner was calm, quiet and cool.
Miss Lizzie Dane telegraphed to her
with her sparkling eyes to enter. This
failing TO have tho desired effect, she
doubled up her white. chubby hands, and
held them to her mouth, trumpet fash.
ion. / suppressed the smile that was
rising to my lips, and turned to Miss
Arden, saying:
slave you selected a seat?"
"No, sir, l have not" she answered,
without moving forward a single step.
"You may do so now, if you please"
I said.
She glanced up and down the long
rows Of seats several times, and then
turned to q side desk but a short dis
lance from my table.
"This one, sir" she said. raising her
eyes for a single moment to ny face, and
then turning them, indifferentIy, away.
1 bowed in approval of her choice,
though, at the same time it did not
please me. 1 did not care to have her
SO near, criticising every thing I did,
and I felt sure she would.
At the quarter hour of intermissio
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. I could have wished, and did
wish, that they had chosen any other
promenade. but not knowing how to
help myself, unless I sent them out of
doors to play, like two little children in
pinafores, ! raised the lid of my desk
between their faces and mine, and pre-
tended to be engaged in setting my
books and papers to rights.
Children in ~pinafores! I smiled grimly
to myself as the audacious thought
entered my head. Children they both
were, I said to myself, unceremoniously
thrusting my head above the temporary
screen to confirm my opinion by q good
look at them-a proceeding which made
Miss Lizzie toss her curly head in q dis
concerted attempt at carelessness, and
brought q dash of exquisite color to the
one velvet check of her companions
face which was revealed to ne.
"And as for p~inafores,"I said, suikily
continuing my soliloquy. and drawing
in my head again like . turtle, sim sure
they'd be vastly mor appropriate and
d. AL~A EAAlc ninEud and