The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-28
sTAUNTON. VIRGINIA, DECEMBER %. 1876.

H. uiuil kiioW you were out OF te"H.
sssaid he.
+ Have you been away long?"
'Only for Weeks shopping. How is
George doing, Mr.. Reed? Do you think she
will graduate this year: I'm anxious, be-
Fcanse she will have to teach when she gets
Through
Indeed. | hope she may find pupils as
'sdoeile rs herself"
I8 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 another note, Miss Jones::"
"Another note.' she repeated. "When
did ever write You a note?''
+ ''Can you say that you never did2'
'fWhat do you mean, Mr. Reed?'
''What does M,s means'' And he pro.
duded the note in question.
Size gave light laugh. s'It means that
yoN haven't proved your problem yet. Airs
fair in love and war, they say
Mi. Reeds face did not reflect her smile,
and George noted the fact with astonish-
mcnt
$40 you think this quite honest?" he
asked.
Honest" she repeated, coloring. ~ GER
tainly do not think it is polite to call me
dishonest" deiiantly.
''Was it polite to deceive me?''
''please give me my pencil,'' said Miss
lmpertinence. 'Your riddles are too hard
for me-"
"You may take your seat, Miss Jones'"
Miss Jones took her seat obediently, and
presently the bell rang in the lower hall.
A stranger might not have discovered any
connection between the two facts; bat the
young ladies' were allowed to answer the
bell by turns, and it so happened that it was
Miss Georges week to perform that pleas
ant Office. She rose quickly to the perform
ance Of her duty. Compose yourself, Miss
Jones,n said Mr.. Reed. ''Al;ss Sampson, if
you will take charge Of the school, I will an
swer the bell myself!'' There was gen
eral litter, led by the disgraccd George, as
he suspected, for when he reached the lower
hall nobody was TO be seen, not so much as
a 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 rang again.
"You may go down, Miss Georgia. he said
Miss George did as she was hidden, for q
wonder, and returning after 4 reasonable
time, remarked that Miss Kew was wanted.
Miss Kew was on her feet before the words
were we'll out OF Georgie's mouth.
''Sit down, if you please, Miss Kew, said
Mr.. Reed. Il will 60 down myself and see
your friend; if it is anything urgent, you
shall follow Mr.. Reed accordingly de-
secluded; nobody was there. s'You may re-
main after school, Miss JONES' he said,
when he returned; "and in the meantime |
will, to prevent any further Interruptions
from visitors, invite you to take this seat,
which, l think, is more than arms-length
from the bell wire.'' Miss Jones had sat
where she could watch her chance, touch
the bell STING and take an airing, followed
by her favorite chum.
It must be confessed that after the last
lingering girl had disappeared and left Mr..
Reed alone with George in the echoing
sclool-room, with its panelng OF blackboard
and chalk marks, as if it had gone into half
mourning, that he felt just little nervous
and uneasy. 1t was rather ungallant to ask
her to come to him, it was equally undigni-
fed to 60 to her; however, he went presently
and sat down in the seat just in front of her,
facing and leaning one arm upon her desk.
'Miss Georgia." he began, II am dsap-
pointed in you.''
SIN mel" looking up archly. 81 hadn't
promised ANYTHING that I'm AWARE
II wish you would be serious. Miss Jones, y
he pursued 81 assure you this seems to me
4 matter of too much Importance to admit of
tri1ing. could not believe that you would
stoop to such devices and deceits! Don't
you see how you wound, how you disappoint
me? How hard it goes with one who has
formed an ideal, and -" he paused in his
eloquence; Miss Jones was regarding him
with an air of surprise; he blushed and
stumbled in his speech and-I don't know
what was about to say; however, I hope
you are sorry, Miss Georgia.
81 am dreadfully sorry to miss my tea; we
were going to have hot mullins. Aren't you
hungry, Mr.. Reed?''
''You don't mean to say that you are moi
sorry." he flashed. SIT cannot be possible
that you hasf p little regard for truth, goa
in whom have believed, with whom have
trusted everything and anything, you whom
love- He paused again, COMPOUNDED
by his own words, which seemed to have
slipped from his lips unbidden.
''Mr. Reed did you keep me after schoo
to listen to a proposal:" she asked, risns
quite angrily. lit is something quite un
usual
II did not intend it, believe me, Mis-
Jones. Pardon me; but out of the fullnes
Of the heat the mouth speaketh-I mus
have been thinking aloud. II you hav
found out my secret, dare say you are nom
the happier Tor IT,
81 suppose may be dismissed if you iav
nothing more to says" There we're tears o
anger or OF something standing in her eyes
''You may be dismissed. I have said to-
much; you have been terribly non-commit
tall He held ont his hand, but she did no
choose to see it, or the dusk prevented. Th
stars were coming out in the evening sky
scents OF wild rose and sweet fern wer
blowing in through the open windows, an
bell was tolling softly in some remot
church tower. ''Stsall walk home wit
you, Miss Jones? p he asked, as he locke
the schoolbouse door; ''you have quite
walk over a lonely road
s'You might have thought of that earle
am not afraid, thank you. know ever
rock between here and the farm,' she al
| swercd, as lie held the gate open for her
pass. Mr.. Reeds emotions were not OF a
enviablc nature as he walked home alor
that evenin e; he had proposed to that lit
witch whom he found it impossible to hat
and she had rebaiked him. A pretty affa
between teacher and pupil verify! Ho