Middletown transcript., 1876-11-25
station after school, encountered her
ount ,,,st stooo;nr - fror, tho train

L didn't know you were out of town.
said he. Have you been away long ?
| Only weeks shopping. How is
George doing. Mr. Reed ? Do you
think she will graduate this year? I'm
anxious. because she will have to teach
when she gets through
. Indeed I hope she may find pupils
as docile as herself
The next time Miss George brought
her pencil and requested Mr. Reed to
sharpen it, as she sometimes did, he
| asked: Are you going to write me an
other note, Miss Jones
Another note 7 she repeated when
did ever write you a note 2
Can you say that you never did ?
What do you mean, Mr. Reed 2
What does this mean 2 and he pro-
duced the note in question.
She gave light laugh. 1T means
that you haven't proved that problem
yet. ALPS fair in love and war. they
say.
| Mr.. Reeds face did not reflect her
smile, and George noted the fact with
astonishment
DO you think this quite honest p he
asked.
'Honcst!' 7 she repeated, coloring.-
Il certainly do not think it is polite to
call mo dishonest de6antly.
] Was it polite to deceive me?'
please give me my pencil, said Miss
1mpertinence Your riddles are too
hard for me-
You may take your seat, Miss Jones'
Miss Jones took her seat obediently,
and presently the bell rung in the lower
hall A stranger might not have dis
covered any connection between the two
facts ; but the young ladies were allow
ed to answer the bell by turns, and it
SO happened that it was Miss Georgie's
week to perform that pleasant Office
She rose quickly to the performance of
her duty. Compose yourself, Miss
Jones, said Mr. Reed. Miss Samp-
son, if you will take charge of the
school, l will answer the bell myselfp
There was general litter, led by the
disgraced George, as he suspected, for |
when be reached the lower hall. nobody |
was to be seen, not so much as
naughty urchin scampering down the
green or peering from behind an elm
He went quietly up stairs, but said
nothing. The next afternoon the bell
rung again. You may 60 down, Miss
Georgie,' be said Miss George did
as she was hidden, for a wonder, and
returning after a reasonable time, re-
marked that Miss Kew was wanted. -
Miss Kew was on her feet before the
words were we'll out Of Georges mouth
sit down, if you please, Miss Kew
said Mr.. Reed. L will go down my
self and see your friend if it is any
thing urgent. you shall follow Mr..
Reed accordingly descended nobody
was there. You may remain after
school, Miss JONES' be said, when he
returned /; and in the meantime will,
to prevent any further Interruptions
from visitors, invite you to take this
seat, which, I think, is more than arms
length from the bell wire' Miss Jones
had sat where she could watch her
chance, touch the bell spring, and take
an airing, followed by her favorite
chum
1t must be confessed that after the ,
last lingering girl had disappeared and {
left Mr. Reed alone with George in the t
echoing schoolroom, with its paneling !
Of blackboard and chalk marks, as if It t
had gone into half mourning, that be .
felt just little nervous and uneasy
1t was rather ungallant to ask her to {
come to him, it was equally undigni6ed ,
to 60 to her; however, he went pre-
'ently, and sat down in the seat just in /
front Of her, facing, and leaning one t
arm upon her desk {
"Miss George" he began, II am O
disappointed in you" d
"In me-" looking up archly. II s
hadn't promised anything, that I'm '
WARE" b
II wish you would be serious, Miss t,
Jones," he pursued. Il assure you :
his seems to me matter of too much a
Importance to admit of trifing. I could a
lot believe that you would stoop to such D
levices and dsceits Don't you see 8,
low you wound, how you disappoint a
ne How hard it goes with one who r,
as formed an ideal. and"-he paused n
D his eloquence Miss Jones was re- il
,arding him with an air of surprise be v
lushed and stumbled in his speech
'aud-and-I don't know what l was d
bout to say /; however. | hope you are IL
orry. Miss George !" a
Il am dreadfully sorry to lose my W
ca we were going to have hot mullins. "
Aren't you hungry, Mr.. Reed ?" it
"You don't mean to say that you are b,
OF sorry?' be flashed 1T cannot be pt
ossible that you have SO little regard lie
'r truth, you in whom have believed,
18th whom would have trusted every
hing and anything, you whom I love"
He paused again. confounded by his :,
wn words, which seemed to have slip Ia
cd from his lips unbidden. g
"Mr. Reed. did you keep me after IN
'hool to listen to a proposal ?" she Oh
'ked, rising quite angrily. at is er
'mething quite unusual" pa
II did not intend it, believe me, Miss so
ones. Pardon me; but out of the III