The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-05-17
PLUCK.


shoulder and read aloud the signature of
the letter he held. "Who is Olive Har-
land, papa?"
"To Secretary of Board of Trustees
Sir: Your proposal regarding the school
under your supervision is accepted. I
shall be able to commence work Sep
TENDER first. 1 shall be at Morris Sta
ton August twenty-first. Very respect
fully, OLIVE HAR1AND.
est. Louis, Aug. GOTH"
"Good! Oh! am so glad!"
Floy executed pirouette in the most
approved style; then seized the letter for
another reading. IF this wasn't bust
ness epistle I could judge something about
her. I'm sorry it is formal. But she is
young and know she'll be jolly. had
forgotten that you had sent for St. Louis
girl to teach our school, paps. Cousin
Egbert, look at her writing and give me
an opinion. Handwriting shows charac-
ter, have heard you say.
DR.. Preston smiled his own inimit-
able Smile, and took the note from Floy.
"Humph!" he calculated; then he
looked long at the perfectly formed o's,
the abrupt is, and the careful contour of
the signature.
Miss Harland is evidently selfre-
liant person" he said, at length; II am
also inclined to believe her somewhat
egotistic."
-"You are too bad, Egbert," pouted
Floy; II don't believe you can tell a word
about persons by their writing"
est were imbecile hcwing out roads to
wall,'" quoted he. Floy looked at him
in puzzled way tor moment, then went
singing from the room, and presently Eg-
bert saw her out among the verbenas,
wedding and watering, looking very pref
tyin her morning dress Of blue.
by the way" said Mr.. Preston, sud
denly, "this is the thirty first. Miss Har-
land may come on the noon train. Eg-
bert, can you drive down to the station
Immediately after lunch?"
ooh, no, sir. Orwell, that is, l have
several patients to call upon before even
ing
Mr.. Preston smiled. He knew that, if
the truth were told, this nephew of his
was extremely -distrustful; so much
30, indeed, that Floy sometimes accused
him Of bashfulness.
1t makes no difference. l shall 90
down when it co0ls off little. 1t is
hardly probable that Miss Harland will
come until later train," and he lazily
turned page Of "Middlemarch." Oh :!
the sclfishness of that man!
The Prestons are all more or less selfish
and the head of the household being not
at all exempt from this family failing,
thought lounging comfortably in his vine
covered porch far preferable to driving
two miles through the broiling August
sunlight to meet a tired little schoolma am,
who, possibly, might not be there.
Yoo-oOo-Ooo0.
A pause of moment and the train
rushed on again, leaving Olive Harland
standing beside her trunks, hot, dusty,
and not little disappointed that she did
not see waiting for her the cool roomy
carriage her Imagination had pictured
One forlorn looking wagon stood at lit
tie distance, and Olive inquired Of the
driver: Do You come from Squire Pres
ton's?"
mo-" said the man.
"Can you tell me how far from here he
lives?''
NO." again.
Do you know which direction it is!"
NO." more stolidly than ever.
She turned from him in disgust, and
entered the combination of storeroom
waiting-room and telegraph office, that
the people Of Morris Station fondly call
"The Depot One busy little official
was in attendance, and of him Olive in.
4ulred whether or not any one from
Squire Preston's had been at the station.
mo, ma'am," said Little Obsequious
he never comes down until evcnin'
Was he expectin' you, ma'am?"
ayes"
ooh! we'll, never mind. He'll be along
byme-by. Sit down."
Olive hesitated. The thought of a long
afternoon in that hot little room seemed
unbearable.
How far it it to MIR. Prcston's?"
1.-TWO miles right east of here. Biz
house; first house east"
"Take care ofmy trunks, please, 1 shall
Walk
Olive spread her parasol and left Little
Obsequious bowling in the door of The
Depot" Right on into danger walked
Olive. Passed were the store, the black
smith shop, the post Office, and the hall
dozen struggling houses. Passed was thu
mile long stretch of marsh road, and
Olive was talking to him almost before
she had time to realize his presence
Swiftly behind her, slowly beside he,
walked the man, and almost instantane
ously with the knowledge that some ont
was near her, came the horrid beliof thai
grew at once into certainty, that the some
one was human being Invested of al
That makes humanity noble that she wa.
IN the power Of mailman. His blacl
hair was tangled over his shoulders, hi.
face was white, and Olive shuddered a!
he stretched out his claw-like hand to
ward her.
May I escort you2"
shall be nleased to have Won y m