Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1877-08-02

ID my lace caht say, DuG Jney ootu
colored, Just then they separated
for their seats, but not before l heard
Lizzie whisper desperately, "Shall
you?'
81 shall" Aoated back the reply,
low and firm, as ii determined not to
be mistaken.
S .ould she? We'd see.
That afternoon, while / was engag-
ed with the French grammar class, I
was startled by a sharp little scream,
and by Lizzie Dane springing up and
crying out:
"O hornet has bitten Charlotte
Arden, Mr.. Eldridg,
The whole school Uttered. I scowl-
ed very pedagoguely Ito coin word)
and commanded her to resume her
seat.
Lizzie Aounced into her seat very
red in the face, and I saw Miss Ar
den put a book to her face to conceal
smile.
After school I went to her and IN
quired politely for her arm. She
showed me her round, dainty wrist,
with large, discolored swelling mar
ring its whiteness.
Good heavens I exclaimed, for
getting myself, "how it must have
panied you Why didn't you 60
home would have excused you,
She smiled and looked amused.
That smile recalled me to myself.
"Oh, it's nothing. 1t was slightly
painful at first, but I was not child
enough to run home for a slight
hurt.
In spite of my anger at her en-
We'd the very words that slipped
through her red, naughty lips. Had
she already begun her arts" | asked
myself. If that simplicity of look
and frankness of voice were art, why
confound nature. Well, I walked
home with her, carrying her sachel
of books. My excuse was her arm
AS if she hadn't but one and couldn't
by any possibility have carried hel
books on the other. Oh, the day
that followed Oh, the day that fol-
lowed-and the weeks and the months
Miss Arden wanted to hlrt and VIZ
lirted Miss Arden wanted me tc
make love to her and | did it. o.
course l had no further exposition o.
her wishes on the point than the
overheard conversation OF the first
day but that was enough. l took
the part assigned to me to play and
played it with ali my heart and soul
had the satisfaction Of knowing
as stood by one of the long win
dows at the close Of the last day
watching the scholars file out, that
the whole village was alive with the
rumor that my beautiful pupil ant
myself were engaged.
Charlotte Arden fingered behind
the others as if wishing to speak t
me. The coquette had her last snare
set, thought bitterly.
II stopped to bid you good
by, she said, falteringIy, as l ap.
preached her. How the proud face
was humbled by It's tsblushing. Ant
to-to give you this.
She held out white rose--a with.
cred white rose. 1t was one | had
begged from her hair, the night be.
fore at party, and she had refused 1t
Thank you. 1t will be a cher
ished souvenir.
spoke derisively, for all The bad
blood in my heart was aroused by
her crowning art;lice. The words
were &cornful, but they were true, III
spite Of me. She looked UP with q
shocked expression and made a half
angry motion to snatch the flower
from my hand.
We have had q very pleasant
hrtation--haye we no;, Miss Arden
Her face grew deadly white, then
fiery red.
Filtration = she fa!tered.
Yes. This will remind me OF ii
when I am far away.
saw the mighty pride that strus'
gled in her face.
al don't quite understand you
SIR she said, with dignity.
~ refer you for an explanation ol
my words to the conversation you
held with Miss Dane about the first
day of the term"
Sho lool-oa puzzled.
81 did not have any" she replied
after moments hesitation.
about flirting" I suggested, to
prompt her memory. "You were to
win me away from Sue Liscomb, |
think"
She leaned her head on her hand
a none ;, wondering and confused
then she lifted it and broke into a
merry laugh.
What an absurd mistake! And
you overheard us, and have been la
boring under thatimpression for these