The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-12-25
"Thank youl thank YOU n,

thus we parted. An hour later was seateC
at my desk, IN the pleasantest school.room
looking about me with no small degree of In
terest for the two pupils of whom my friend
had spoken, and wondering in the meantime
| if his kindly, well-meant caution would mo-
bring me at once face 10 face with the very
danger which he had wished me TO avoid.
Smiling ut my own concet, and failing tt
| find in the thrcescorc faces before me ont
that was particularly stamped with pride OF
/ one that las marked with mischief, turned
to my books.
Something like quick whisper broke
through the stiffness OF the room rs did so
! | glanced up. Every countenancc bore un
mistakable signs of occurrences. Smiling
again at MY thoughts, turned q second time
! to my books, and this time big apple star
led from one of the back seats and came roll
ing down tho aisle. The incident was slight
hui taken in connection with my reflection
and my friends parting words, 1t annoyed
me. l picked up the apple, laid 1t on the
desk, and glanced in the direction from
whence il came
! Goodness, What pair of blue eyes rails.
ed to mine at that moment! Eyes saucy, dar.
| ing and almost wicked, which wavered and
frightened like two beautiful stars. This
was Lizzie Dane, was quite sure OF that
the ed mouth was dimped about by smiles,
and the white chin 9uivered with suppressed
mcrriment
"a good beginning" thought; at argues
well for the future"
Just then tho schoolroom door was darken-
ed, and looking up, | saw Charlotte Arden.
My friends caution was well How like q
beautiful picture she was as she stood there /;
her fine head, covered with pretty braids,
perfectly poised, her figure strait, round and
perfect brought out by the strong, clear light
The very fall of the soft, white robes, as we'll
as of her slender, CATERED foot, just visible
beneath the folds of sweeping skirts, was arts
tic. She stood, as If hesitating 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 the desired effect, she doubled up her
white, chubby hands and held them 10 her
mouth, trumpet fashion. suppressed the
smile was rising TO nay lips and turned to
Miss Arden, saying:
"IIave you selected aseat?"
mo, sir, | have not" she answered, with.
out moving forward single step.
you may do so now, ii You please"
said.
She glanced up and down the long row of
seats several times, and then turned TO IA side
desk but short distance from my table
"This one sir" she said, raising her eyes
for single moment to my face, and turning
them, indIferently away.
bowed 10 approval of her choice, though,
at the same time, 1t did not please me. did
not care to have her so near, criticisins every.
thing did, and felt sure she would.
At the quarterhour of intermission Miss
Arden and Miss Dane passed the time in
pacing arm liz arm back and forth on the
blank space OF floor before my desk. could
have wished, and did wish, that they had
chosen any other promenade, but not know
ing how to help myself, anless ! send them
Jut doors To play, like two children in pima
fores, raised the lid of my desk between
heir faces and mine, and pretended to be en-
gagged in setting my books and par ers to
rights.
Children 10 plnafores! smiled grimly to
myself rs the audacious thought entered my
head Children they both were, l said to my.
self, unceremoniously thrusting my head
above the temporary screen to confirm my
opinion by good look at them---a proceed
ing which made Miss Lizzie toss her curly
head in a disconnected attempt at careless
ness and brought dash of exquisite color TO
the one velvet cheek Of her companions face
which was revealed to me.
"And as for pinaforss," said, sulkily con.
.inuing my soliloquy, and drawing 10 my
head again like turtle, I'm sure they'd be
vastly more appropriate and becoming than
hat little pinked and scolloped aud pucker
I'd affair of plaid silk which Miss Lizzie wore
under the dignified name ofapron."
Such saucy little pockets, fixed of With
gimp and things-the corner OF u tiny note
and the profile Of big, yellow orange reveal.
I'd from the distended mouth of one, and the
ace edge OF u handkerchief, with csptivat-
ng rent ia IT. hanging jauntingly from the
,ther such wicked, knowing tassels, such
cngths of variegated silk cord round, and
-ound her pretty waist, as though once start. !
I'd it haa lost IFS way and had been travelling |
n circle ever since, instead of going straigh |
ahead as any sensible cord would have done |
hat had been stout enough not to get becoil. |
ID on the road 1t looked contcnted, though
Is il it didn't care a whit tor the predica. |
nent II was in, or whether il ever went |
naight again, as it could have that charm.
ng route to travel round and round, and be. |
ran to wonder.
Hes splendid, Lot; isn't hey
Miss Danes voice broke my wonderings. |
was modest In those days and blushed east. |
y. My wife told me yesterday, referring to |
hat morning, that the tip of my ear, just visi- |
,le Il. the edge of my desk lid, grew red as a
;oal, and that her fIicnd threw IA lOzenge at it |
md missed il by the sixteenth OF an inch. |
wasn't aware Of the circumstances before.
"Say, Lot, don't you think he's splendid ~ !
anne that loud whisper again.
"If do, don't intend to tell him of it,"
he retorted.
Evidently, however much averse she would
ave been 10 informing me on such point,
he was nothing 10th for me to judge Of her
musical powers, for she burst forth into
merry song and warbled like bird--in fact, |
ike twenty birds. Whether my ear looked
ike coal or not il drank in that gay melo |
ly, and, when il ceased, longed FOR more.
what eyes he has
Rather too deep-set for beauty"
"Deep-set indeed They are pro'ruding as |
! cows, and rs big"
Mere difference of opinion, my love.
Don't let US quarrel"
mo. Then, how much character there is
IN his nose
"Decidedly,'