Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-30


them with her all day, and took them
home at night As for the giver. it
never occurred to her to remember him
she had always had flowers, and here
was some kind fate still bestowing them
John Mowbray was merely the servant of
this fate. 1t seemed, though, as if the
little flowers were in some sort seal of
benson upon her work; she went about
it with better heart because of them So
tor one week and another she took her
seat at her desk, and every few DAYS the
passing hand quietly laid before her the
few blossoms, or she found them there
when she came-a single spray OF salmon
colored geranium flowers ringed with the
darkest pansies, just one. splendid cactus
blossom, to look at her like a red-fanged
live creature, a score of the first deep vio-
lets, snowy Gala full of those violets,
spike of creamy hyacinths, or, if there
were not any blossoms out, bunch Of
fragrant leaves. The ungrateful girl never
thought for moment about the way they
reached her; it was SO natural that she
should have them; they came as part of
her belongings, and she gave a nod of
thanks to John Mowbray, as she would to
a waiter, and went her tiresome way, but
made no complaint.
But when the tirst term was half through,
Mr.. Mewbray was called away. The
Principal attended to his classes and
bungled through his Rotations, and he
was gone three weeks. I'm sure you
| miss your flowers,n said the old Precep-
| tress; and all at once the perception of
| her Indebtedness crossed Louise crossed
| her in an angry rush OF feeling--she, a
Belleschevaux, to be indebted for what
| had been hers in abundance from her
cradle! When Mr.. Mowbray came back,
shaking hands with one and another, he
| paused at her desk. " was gone a great
while, Miss Belleschevaux," said he.
"But it is not every day one has legacy,
and--n
We are glad to have you back, Mr..
Mowbray,f she said, as loftily as so
small thing could speak, evincing such
pleasure as might be found in the return
| of blackboard and crayon, and not heed
| ing the sprays Of exquisite pink heather
| he laid before her. The sight of them,
| after their absence, served to remind her
| that she no longer had the wide gardens
! and Conservatives, and moreover that she
| owed to this school usher now the simple
| commonplace Of her old life. She never
| touched the heather, but let it lie and
wither for the janitor 10 sweep out. 1t
was, however, only few days before she
| found in the glass on her desk cluster OF
! little white Scotch roses the quick glance
| that saw them there was all the glance
they had from her, and they too withered
untouched. She was with these people,
but not of them she would not be placed
on the level of such familiarity as the
| giving and taking of these flowers, and
she would be the debtor of no such usu-
rer as one who expects gratitude. She
could live without this Mr.. Mowbray'
flowers and wanted none of them. She
heard it rumored that his legacy was Sc
generous he would leave teaching and
establish himself in his profession al
once; she wished he would, and the soon
er the better. 1t became more and more
unpleasant to have him place the bios
SONS in her hand; she could not refuse
them without rudeness, and rudeness hao
hitherto been foreign to the Bellesche
yEux. Sne nateu 20 IIfank MN; IL III
had any Interior design, any intention OF
Tins expressing emotion toward her, tn
thing was doubly repugnant-one OF thes'
people daring 10 feel, much less express
any emotion toward her! Since the lde'
struck her she hat really given him
second look. She delayed reaching schoo
till the last bell, and she paid no NOR
attention to any flower she found, al
though. it must be confessed, that bLncI
of lilies of .the-valley cut her to the hear
and it would have been rapture to bur
, her face in them.
"Do Won know what Mr.. Mowbray say
, of YOU p, asked the confidential old pre-
= | ceptrcss once.
! =" How should II" she answered, curly
{" He SAYS you are like frozen Jasmln
: flower"
u Il would thank Mr.. Mowbray not
make me a subject of remark, " said Iii!
! Belleschevaux. 80,
u "Mv dear" said the other, " il Will
!, silly to pursue that course with Mr.. Nov
. bray: he is rising man. And a youn
y girl" .
= 81 do not care to hear anything CO..
J corning him." said Louise, gathering n
= exercises.
"Ah. Miss Belleschevaux," return'
tbe old preceptress, laughing klndl
{" Won have vet to learn, and are gong
o make il a hard lesson, that all the Wor
e of the world is not shut up in the Belle
Ie chevaux familyp' ,
II was only the next day that one OF u
Ie qirls-in that worshiping enthusias
er Which many young ladies entertain
&c ward certain teachers--brought an albu
T. 10 Miss Belleschevaux for her to wrlte
s. verse on one OF its pages After she ~
" complied with the request, Louise 10
t. turned the pages, and her eye was caug
n, by another verse ~
III s. She hath no scorn Of common things,
IN And though she seem OF other Olrth'
)n Round us her heart entwines ana clhHs'
M And patiently she folds her wishgs, :,
~ TO tread the humble pashs OF easth'
a Louise sighed as she read it; she wi Sr'
as abe could do as much. MIR. NOVEL,.
nv copied that verse for me-" said The Nv
nj maid: land, do you know, Miss De eii
EN- chevaux, he said it made hin 'nihA
&c Miss Belleschevaux shut 'he po
no. with snap. This was g'oWing unD ~
,is able. She looked through tne glasS :. w
W, at Mr.. Mowbray, quie'iy llsteni NJ, !,
ala pebraic demonstrations, and she Iel. ~ -
gh rndesf intrusion, the worst presuih p.lol
e. he who might have been her ofo.he
70, hired tutor, her fathers clerk,
fe: speaking and writing OF her IN lnis III !.
flo ner to be presenting her with mowers s', 1,
mi following her with gallantriesl She hl
ed the mornings flowers upon inc Iiooi,
' ~, when She came up from her singingcii
ves still warm with her sense Oh MI' NJ
Us 80 - LNnA ~