The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-05-25
DEARER THAN LIFE.

school was over. and out of the rough
but not unpicturcsgue log building
which served for both church and school
house III the little backwoods settlement
came rushing. in one tumultuous mass,
"A score or more Of sturdy boys and rosy
checked girls, Of all ages, from six TO
sixteen
The sharp Canadian winter had just
set in in real earnest. and the children
merry voices rang out, clear and dis
tinci. upon the keen frosty air, a., half
rily and noisily homewards.
Inside the school-h0use a tall, fair
haired Girl was standing by the black
board. collecting her books, with =
thoughtful, serious air that seemed to
contrast strangely with her dimpled
checks, archly curving lips, and bright,
sparkling eyes.
Suddenly, picking up apiece Of chalk,
she wrote upon the blackboard the one
word :. Finis:'' and. turning toward the
teacher. tall. grave-looking man Of
four or five-and-thirty, who was stand
ing by his desk, she exclaimed. - So
ends my last day II school life! Are you
not glad. Mr.. LesterP''
s.And why should / be glad, Miss
Dale?" was the questioning reply; and
Robert Testers pale face flushed a. he
turned towards his fair pupil.
..Why. indeed Have you not told
me. hundred times, that l gave you
more trouble than any other pupil in
the school?r And glance. half merry,
half defiant. flashed from under the CO.
quetti~h little straw hat, up into the
teachers face.
..Ycs. have said many things that
/ did not half mean. have no doubt.
But let US forget al that. Won't you
shake hands, and part friends, Miss
Dale?-
..Of course. We have never been
enemies. have we?r answered the girl,
looking up wonderingly into his earnest
face Then. quickly, (the merry defiant
look suddenly vanishing from her dark
eyes. \. must run away home now.
4 have lots of things TO do before sup
per; and the sun j. not more than half
an hour high. Goodbye, Mr.. LESTER
''Good-bye. and merry holidays to
you, Miss Dale
And the worn grave look came back
ID his face. a. the slight gray-robed fig
ure passed ont at the open door, and,
with sigh. Robert Lester turned again
To his desk, and began arranging his
books and papers.
For nearly two years Robert Lester
had been teacher Of the village school
az Westbrook. a small settlement on the
western shore ~ Spirit Lake, III the \. far
Yves" ~ Canada. and Minnie Dale was
not fat wrong when she half-iokingly
accused him 81 having called her the
most troublesome Of her scholars.
She was merry,willful girl; the pet
ted and spoiled darling OF her forest
home; the acknowledged belle of the
settlement; just little bit Of a coquette,
Yet true a. steel, Notwithstanding frank
and fearless. and, a. i often the case in
the colonies, a good shot, and splendid
hOrscwuman.
On the afternoon Of the day before
Christmas. a week after the breaking up
Of the school, Robert Lester, who had
started that morning On skating cxpe-
dition up the lake (Which, though not
over a mile or two broad, was nearly
twenty miles long). was slowly skating
hnmcward along the eastern shore,
when, on turning round bend, about
seven miles above Wcstbrook, where
the road from that village 10 the next
settlement runs for some distance close
70 the lake shore. he came suddenly up
on an empty sleigh. lying on its side on
the uncovered road.
Close by the overturned vehicle, with
q pcrplcNed look IN her usually laugh
ing eyes. STOOL Minnie Dale, who look
Cd up suddenly as the ringing Of his
skates npon the icc proclaimed his APP
proach.
: Mr.. Lester" she exclaimed,
faint. crimson. flush rising to her fore
head a. she recognized him. ~ am 50