Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-02-17

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broom and inviting him in, then COINS
IN search of her father, glad TO escape from
the room, and yexed with herself for evel
singing, and with the stranger for listen
ing. For she knew by the amused lool
In his eyes, although he was polite enough
not to smile, that he comprehended hel
embarrassment
"Wcll, it's no matter now; Ill nevel
meet him again. quoth wise little Jell
But at dinner Mr.. Evans said his caller OF
i the morning was the son of an old class
mate. land, /" he added, turning teasing
ly to Eleanor and Amelia. .'you had bet
| ter look your best when be calls again, al
he is considered good catch, and is psr.
1 ticular as 10 ladies' dressi''
| :" Humph!' thought Jell, wonder
what he thought OF my sweeping rig,
He'll not see me this evening, for I'm go.
ing TO run over the field to Clara's."
So in the evening, while Eleanor and
| Amelia were ''primping," as Jell STYLED
it, she crossed the fields TO the house OF
| her bosom friend and confidant, and did
not return until she was sure the caller
should be gone. Her sisters. were full oi
| new topics.
And just to think, Jell, !" said Eleanor
he asked papa If he had no other daugh.
ter, and when papa said yes, but that you
were at a neighbor's / actually thought
he seemed disappointed, but of course il
was fancy; he has never met you"
OF course ii was,n said Jell, quickly,
and then thought, What would he think,
! wonder, If he knew ran away from
him?"
On Sunday the girls came from church
to Jell, who had remained at home to see
| to dinner, with long account of how Mr.
Landreth had looked so eagerly at them
! as they walked into church, and when the
services were over, had handed them into
the carriage. promising himself the pleas.
ure of calling during the week
Il believe he is in love with one OF
you" laughed Jell; "but which oneg'
don't know" said Eleanor, looking
doubuully at Amelia.
81 don't know said Amelia, looking
doubtfully at Eleanor.
"Time alone will tell" said the wise
little school mistress oracularly." Let us
go to dinner"
Monday morning Jell went TO school,
glad and yet sorry, for il was her last week
before vacation. Although she sometimes
wearied OF her work, yet IL was something
in which she could not help but be inter
ested. This week she resolved to be kind
and forbearing TO her pupils-her children,
as she playfully called them--so that none
but happy remembrances might be carried
away.
At noon one of her sweetest little girls
begged to take down her hair and put il
up again, this being deemed by some a
great priyilege-neyer granted, however,
unless the teacher felt specially indulgent.
But this time Jell allowed il 10 be done,
and sat with her back to the door, reading,
with her long hair falling la lovely CON
fusion around her. A slight noise made
her turn, and she beheld Mr.. Landreth
standing in the door, as though he knew
not whether to advance or withdraw. An.
noyed, Jell invited him 10 be seated, and
told Nellie to put up her hair
While this was being done, the gentle
man remarked that he had been thirsty,
and had stopped for drink. So the
child was dispatched for some water in
Miss Jell's own private glass. After drink
ing, the stranger introduced himself and
abruptly inquired If Jell was not Miss
Evans, and on her acknowledging her
identity, he said he had met her sisters,
but there seemed To be some fate against
his becoming acquainted with herself, as,
when he called she was out and on Sun
day she remained at home. Then they
talked of various things until school.
time, and, since he was there, Jell could
not help asking him TO remain and see
some OF the exercises.
Thus ii came to pass that Eleanor, look.
ing from the door about four O'Clock, saw
Mr.. Landreth and Jell walking up the
lane. Great was her wonder thereat, but
when she was informed they met by acct.
dent and he was going TO stay To tea, she
asked no more questions, but sat down 10
entertain the guest, while Jell slipped
away. She returned, however, before tea,
with her hair arranged In somewhat bet
ter order and white rose at her throat
After this Mr.. Landreth managed to
drop in this pleasant circle quite often
very often, in fact And Mrs, Evans puZ
zled herself considerably as to which of
her daughters attracted him. He turned
Eleanors music, and criticised Amelia's
drawing, and discussed Sartor Resartos"
with Jeii. Ii he took Eleanor riding in
the morning, he was quite sure TO walk
with Amelia In the afternoon, and just
as sure to meet Jell coming from school,
and persuade her TO go rowing. i do
not think Jell herself knew which he
cared for most, or that she thought of II.
She only thought the days unusually
bright; and when he sent Eleanor bou-
quet Of fairest roses, Amelia stately lilies,
and Jell violets and heart's-ease, she put
hers carefully away In drawer, scarcely
knowing why only that she hated 10 throw
them away.
One morning Jell missed her sweeping
cap--she could not find IL anywhere.
She remembered seeing IL in the sit
ting-room the night before, but now II
was gone Carlo must have run off with
It, Jeli was quite distressed, for this cap
was dear 10 her. Her mother called IL her
"happy cap" and It's owner was discon.
ISOLATE enough without 1T.
School was over, and her two eldest
sisters had gone for short visit. The
house seemed lonely, and the day passed
slowly. But evening finally arrived, and
with 1t Mr. Landrcth. Jell was just tell
ing herself that she need not expect him,
now that Eleanor and Amelia were alb
sent, when she spied him coming up the
walk. AS the air was warm they re-
NAMED on the piazza la the moonlight
and talked, or were silent, rs the spirit
moved them
Presently he drew forth from a side.
pocket-Jell's sweeping cap! She was
silent in astonismeDt.
ado you know" said he, tenderly
smoothing the saucy scarlet bow - have