The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-27

u,
she was quite unembarrassed In his |
presence, but that now, when she went |
down stairs to meet him, it would be |
with a flush upon her cheek, and tremor |
in her voice. Try as she might, she |
cauld not regain the composure of their
earlier acquaintance, She hoped it |
escaped his attention. Perhaps it did. |
That she was being urged for the posi-
ton of principal of the new enterprise,
she was quite unaware.
The evening of the committees de-
cision, Denike found her in her parlor.
"You remember you told me once"
he said, when both were seated, "that
it wRs your highest ambition to have
charge of such school as ours. "
Maud nodded, and looked at him
with question in the look.
"The opportunity has fallen to me,
he went on gravely, " of gratifying your
ambition"
The color went away all at once from
her face. She did not say a word.
"The School Board, Miss Penny
feather, have concluded to offer you the
appointment as principal of the new
school. This letter, and he handed her
the envelope, "contains the official an
nouncement.
The girl took it mechanically, holding
| it unopened in her hand.
"I have great pleasure in congratu-
lating you," he continued. "To attain
ones ambition, Miss Pennyfeather,
ought to be an occasion for congratula-
tion-ought it not p
She looked up at his question-then
dropped her eyes nervously. "Thank
you,h she said. 1t was all she could
say.
This, then, was the end of it all. To
be sure, it was the end Maud had wished.
Three months ago, she had no dearer
desire. Had anything taken its place ?
Was Maud deceived about herself after
all, and did she have no ambition dear
er than that.
And so Maud woke up--to find the
thing that had seemed best to her now
within her reach, but stale and unprohta-
BILE; the thing for which she hadn't
cared out of her reach, but OF all things
in the world the most to be desired.
And yet she could not complain. Mr..
Denike had only taken her at her word,
and interested himself in friendly way,
to her to realize her aspirations. Now
he would go off and marry the girl in
the picture, whom, by this time, Maud
absolutely hated and she would be left
to teach an industrial school to the end
of her days. But she never would let
Mr.. Denike know how it panied her
never. SO she forced back the tears,
and steadied her voice, and said, in q
low, quiet tone:
"Thank you very much, Mr.. Denike
you have been very kind"
His own voice seemed to tlemble {
little when he spoke.
"But I'm going to offer you an alter
native, he said.
Maud looked up. She was quite in
different now to what he might say.
. "I want to know" he continued, ri
that still remains your highest ambition
or, if, as people sometimes do, yoJ
may have changed it.
Maud gazed at him with open eyes
quite uncertain what he meant. Wa
he going to offer her some other posi-
ton? 1t was ali one to her which sh
took.
t "I may be asking you to give up
good deal, " he went on, without waiting
D for her reply; "indeed, it strikes me a
l rather impertinent on my part, know
ing how strongly you've set your hear
! on this thing, but must take my chance
a / want to ask you, Miss Maud, befor
: you conclude to settle down in life rs
= teacher, if you won't consider the idea c
e becoming my wife"
r Mr.. Denike did not get any furthe
# than that. If he intended to, he wa
o summarily cut short. For Maud maxim
: vain effort to control herself, at lengt
o gave way, and, leaning back against til
n sofa, cried as though her heart woul
break. Happily, Mrs. Pennyfeath'
o was out, and there was no risk Of inteI
l ruption.
8 John waited until the tears wei
checked, very well persuaded as to the
y meaning, and hardly certain what
!. say.
n began.
But she put up her hand depreca
II ingly.
: TI know-I know" she said in
N broken voice.
p "Of course it was 9fStinent in me
/" he went on, now saNee with himsel
"I ought to have known your charact
d better. You are not the kind of girl
Ie change"
d She covered her face with her hand
a. "Oh, / am 70 she cried. "I am "
al do not know what my character
a There isn't a more vacillating girl in 4
g. world. And I've lost every bit of int
s. est in the school.
id He grasped her hands and drew the
m away from the crimson, tear stain
20 face.
is "Have you transferred it to me ?"
ir demanded.
te But Maud did not speak, and he "
he contented to take her silence for an q
X, Bwer.
as After a while, when she had regain
of her composure in tolerable degree,
I'D thought came to her that sent the bio