Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-02-02
The Pretty PIotterss
Or. a school Room irritation.

Or. n SCHOOL ROOm fIfft8tAOus
''Pride, pride, pride! there you have
Charlotte Arden. Mischief, mischief.
mischief! there you have Lizzie Dane.
Look out for them both, Hart! And
now good-by. III pray for your sue
cess"
With this, my friend, by whose influ-
ence was installed in the academy of
Marlboro as principal, turned to leave
me.
"Wait a moment, Mr.. Jeffries," !
said; show can 1 keep
1.Clear of them" he added with sly
laugh. '.Draw your own differences.
Handsome young men with light purses
must make light hearts. When you
catch glimpse of your pupils you will
understand me. haven't been teacher
here for five years for nothing"
''Thauk you. thank your'
With this gave my friend my hand,
and thus we parted. An hour later L
was seated at my desk, in the pleasant
est school room, looking aboat me with
no small degree of interest for the two
pupils of whom my friend had spoken.
and wondering in the mean time if his
kindly, well-meant caution would not
bring me at once face To face with the
very danger which he had wished me TO
avoid.
Smiling at my own conceit, and fail
ing 10 find, in the three score faces be-
fore me. one that was particularly
stamped with pride, or one that was
marked with mischief, 1 turned to my
books.
Something like quick whisper broke
through the stiffness of the room as L
did so. | glanced up. Every counte-
nance bore unmistakable signs of de
mureness. Smiling again al my thoughts,
| turned a second time 10 my books, and
this time big apple started from one of
the back seats, aud came rolling down
the aisle. The incident was slight, but,
taken in connection with my reflection,
and my friends parting words, it an
noyed me.
picked up the apple, laid it on the
desk, and glanced in the direction from
whence il came.
Goodness, what a pair of blue eyes
were raised to mine at that moment.
Ewes. saucy, daring, and almost wicked.
which wavered and frightened like two
beautiful stars. This was Lizzie Dane,
L was quite sure of that: the red mouth
WAS dimpled about by smiles, and the
white chin quivered with suppressed
merrimeut.
"a good beginning" I thought; ''it
augurs well for the future"
Just then the school room door was
darkened, and, looking up, L saw Char
lorte Arden. Ny friends caution was
we'll. How like a beautiful picture she
was, as she stood there, her fine head,
covered with pretty braids, perfectly
poised. her figure straight, round and
perfect, brought out by the strong, clear
light. The very fall of the soft, hite
robe, as well as of her slender, gathered
foot, just visible beneath the folds of her
sweeping skirt, was artistic. She stood,
as if hesitating whether or not ii was
best for her to enter the school-room,
and her manner was calm, quiet and
cool.
Miss Lizzie Dane telegraphed to her
with her sparkling eyes TO enter This
failing to have the desired effect, she
doubled up her white, chubby hands,
and held them to her mouth, trumpet
fashion. suppressed the smile that
was rising to my lips, and turned TO
Miss Arden, saying:
'.Have you selected seat.
mo, sir, | have not" she answered,
without moving forward a single step.
"You may do SO now, if you please,
said.
She glanced up and down the long
rows of seats several times, and then
turned to side desk but a short dis
tance from my table.
.sThis one. sir" she said, raising her
70 INV
and then turning them, indifierently,
away.
bowed, in approval of her choice,
though, at the same time, it did not
please me. L did not care to have her so
near. criticising everying L did, and l
felt yure she would.
At the quarter hour of intermission
Miss Arden and Miss Dane passed the
time In pacing, arm in arm, back anu
forth on the blank space of floor before
NV desk. could have wished, and did
wish, that they had chosen any other
promenade, but did not know how to
help myself, unless | sent them out OF
doors TO play. like two little children in
pinafores. / raised the lid of my desk
between their faces and mine, and ap-
peared to be engaged in setting my
books and papers TO rights.
Children in pinafOres. i smiled
grimly to myself as the audacious
thought entered my head. Children
they were, said to myself, unceremo-
niously thrustiug my head above the
temporary screen to confirm my opinion
by a good look at them-a proceeding
which made Miss Lizzie toss her curly
head in disconnected attempt at care
lessness, and brought dash OF exquisite
color to the one velvet cheek Of her
companions face which was revealed 10
me.
"And as for pinafores, l said, sulkiiy
continuing my soliloquy, and drawing
in my head again like turtle, I'm
sure they'd be vastly more appropriate
and becoming than that little pinked
and scalloped and puckered affair oil
plaid silk which Miss Lizzie wore under
the dignified name of apron"
Such saucy little pockets, fixed on
with gimp and thiDgs-the corner OF
tiny note and the profile Of big, yellow
orange revealed from the distended
loo <,f q