The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-02

new was wanted. Nj lSS AeW was on ner
feet before the words were well out of
Georgie's mouth. .... ..
"Sit down, il you please, Miss Kew,"
said Mr.. Reed. "I will go down myself
aud see your friend; if it is anything
urgent, you shall follow" Mr.. Reed ac-
cordingly descended; nobody was there.
You may remain 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, ]
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, fol-
lowed by her favor1te chum.
It must be confessed that after the last
lingering girl had disappeared and left
Mr.. Reed alone with George in the
echoipg schoolroom with its psneling OF
blackboard and chalk marks, as il it had
gone into half mourning, that he felt
just little nervous and uneasy. It was
rather upgallant to ask her to come to
him, it was equally undignified to go 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 Georgie," he began, "I am
disappointed in you"
"In me" looking up archly. 81
hadn't promised anything, that I'm
aware"
81 wish you would be serious, Miss
JONES'" he pursued. 81 assure you this
seems to me matter Of too much i'm
portance to admit OF trifing. Icould
not believe that you would stoop to such
devices and deceits Don't you see how
you wound. how you disappoint me2
How hard it goes with one who has
formed an ideal, nd"- he paused in
his eloquence; Miss Jones was regard
ing him with an air of surprise; he
blushed and stumbled in his speech
apd-and-I don't know what 1 was
about to say; however, I hope you are
sorry, Miss Georgia |"
"I am dreadfully sorry to lose my
tea; we were going to have hot mullins.
Aren't you hungry, Mr.. Reed 2"
"You don't mean to say that you are
not sorry?" he flashed. "It cannot be
possible that you have so little regard
for truth, you in whom I have believed,
thing and anything, yo1 whom I love -
He paused again, confounded by his
own words, which seemed to have
slipped. from his lips unbidden.
"Mr. Reed, did you keep me after
school to listen to proposal9" she ask
ed, rising quite angrily. 1T is some
thing qnite unusual"
81 did not intend it, believe me, Miss
Jones. Pardon me; but out of the full
ness of the heart the mouth speaketh-
must have been thinking aloud. If you
have found out my secret, dare say
you are noue the happier for it"
81 suppose l may be dismissed if you
have nothing more to say2" There were
tears OF anger or Of something standing
in her eyes.
"You may be dismissed. I have said
too much; you have been terribly non
committal." He held out his hand, but
she did not choose to see it, or the dusk
prevented. The stars were coming out
in the evening sky, scents of wild rose
and sweet farn were blowing in through
the open windows, and bell was tolling
softly in some remote church tower.
"Shall I walk home with you, Miss
Jones2 he asked, as he locked the
schoolhouse door; "you have quite a
walk over lonely road"
"You night have thought of that
earlier. I am not afraid, thank you. I
know every rock between here and the
farm" she answered, as he held the
gate open for her to pass. Mr.. Reeds
emotions were not of an enviable nature
as he walked home alone that evening;
hn ho1 fn sfah
whom he found it impossible to hate,
and she had rebuked him. A pretty
affair between teacher aud pupil, verify
How pleasant it would be to open school
next day, with each yonng lady ready to
touch his wound with the scalpel of her
ridicule, and Miss George more auda-
cious than ever But Miss George did
not present herself, and the mischief of
the others seemed to proceed lamely
without her. Mr.. Reed thanked Heaven
that it was half-holiday, and instead of
going home to dinner like a sensible
man-though what lover ever is sensi-
BILE, for the matter of that9-he struck
out for the woods and the river, long
tramp in che burning sun, and being ex
bausted On his walk homeward, he
threw himself down in the shade of some
wild blossoming shrubs and fell asleep
He was awakened by the sound of
voices. Were this leaves talking2 Was
the wind syllabling familiar words9
"Georgie had a headache this morn
ing when l called for her lectures don't
agree with her digestion" All at once he
sat upright. 1t was Miss Kew who was
speaking, and he could see her and half
a dozen others through the opening
among the boughs, weaving oak leaves
and gossiping idly.
"Poor Mr.. Reed looked like q ghost
this mornings broken reed indeed
l guess he found that George belonged
to stiff necked generation.
81 wonder what they talked about.
Do you suppose she promised better be-
havior p ...-r
"Maybe she promised for better or
worse" ... .-..-
"Pshaw |" put in Miss Kew; 81
asked her if he said anything tender,
and she said: 'Tenderl is bear
tender2" ...... .
"He hugs !" -.
"I've told her that he was dead in
love many's the time" continued Miss
Kew, sand meant to marry her some
day, with all her imperfections on her
head" . .s.
81 dare say she wouldn't say no."
Indeed, you needn't dare say any
thing of the sort. George Jones is
above marrying poor pedsgogue."
She's poor herself. Her uncle's only
a farmer, and she's got to teach" ''1
" But beauty like George doesn't
need to jump out of the frying pan into