The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-20

She never answered word, but Just
kissed me on both eyes and stroked my
hair tenderly for minute or two. Then
we parted for the night, and / went in
the morning before Mr.. Deane was I'D.
Aunt Rachel was out of sight of
" deaths door, long before | reached
her, as | had confidently supposed she
would be; but she welcomed me heart
lily, and the kisses of the children soothed
somewhat the sore spot in my heart.
For the next three days the activity
of the &C busy bee," long ago impaled
on a poetical pin, was not to be COM
pared with mine. If there were any
gifts of healing in mere work | was
determined to have them out of it; but
the image of Mr. Deane was ever in nv
minds eye, and, as people say who
have not been to the " Normal" | got
no better fast.
Last of all | went huckleberrying
with the children, and picked as for my
life.
There's a strange man coming
across the field" said one of them.
L looked up after minute, and took
WI DCillC . OutIcu HuUu.
eff you teach school as you pick
berries your fortune will soon be made"
he said, with the glad look in his eyes
which seemed to Danish that dreadful
wife of his to the uttermost parts of the
earth.
How did you find me?n
"By my wits, chiefly. Your grand
mother was as mysterious over your
departure as if you had gone into con-
vent; but when told her had good
news for you, she relented and gave me
the clew to your hiding-place.
"And Aunt Rachel directed you
here?"
Precisely"
"What is your good news?"
81 have heard of a school that you
can have for the asking"
81 am exceedingly obliged to you"
cit is a private school, and very
small; but it has the reputation of being
difficult to manage; and from all that |
know of you, | have concluded thatyou
will be the right person. Will you I'M
dertake it?''
Yes, if you are sure of my fitness.
81 haven't a doubt of il. | said the
school is small it has, in fact, but one
scholar, aged thirty-two, and his name
is John Jacob Deane.n
If said anything or committed my
self in any way for some minutes after
this astounding speech | have entirely
forgotten it.
"And that letter." found myself
saying after while.
WAS from my sister to her husband,
who had deserted her. 1t was to look
after him and bring him to reason that
l was riding post-haste to Meriden that
wild night. She inclosed it in letter
to me. | forgot to MENTION he said,
after a pause, which was not without
eloquence of its own, that my school
begins about the first of September -
mot if l am to teach ii" said l. 81
shall spend that month and others after
it in turning all my fortune into the
pretty things that | have always longed
for
When Miss Rebecca Vcrjuice, my
former roommate at the Normal"
heard the story of my engagement, she
wrote me letter of congratulation, in
which she intimated darkly that mine
would be one of the many marriages
founded on gratitude.
John jacob said l, solemnly,
when l saw him again, :" if you are
about to marry me out of gratitude tell
me at once, that l may flee to Aunt
Rachel while there is yet time"
my dear little schoolmistress," he
replied, t" if | had been moved only by
gratitude, should have proposed to
your grandmother"