The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-04-11
The Anti-Monopolist.
Maud hooded, and looked at him-with


| a question in the look.
The opportunity has fallen to me-" he
went on gravely, ''of gratifying your am
bition."
The color went away all at once from
her face. She did not say word.
1.-THE School Board, Miss Pennyfeath-
er, have concluded to offer you the ap-
pointment as principal Of the new school.
This letter." and he handed her the envel-
| ope, contains the official announce
ment."
The girl took it mechanically, holding
it unopened in her hand.
Il have great pleasure in congratulate
ing you," he continued. "To attain ones
ambition, Miss Pennyteather, ought to be
an occasion for congratulation-ought it
note
She looked up at his questionable
dropped her eyes nervously. "Thank
you," she said It was all she could say.
This, then, was the end Of it all. To
be sure, twas the end Maud had wished
Three months ago, she had no dearer
desire. Had anything taken lis place?
Was Maud decided about herself after
all, and did she have no ambition dearer
than that
And so Maud woke up-to find the
thing that had seemed best to her now
within her reach, but stale and unproft
able; the thing for which she hadn't cared
out of her leach, but of all things in the
world the most to be desired. And vet
she could not complain. Mr.. Denike
had only taken her at her word, and in
terested himself in a friendly way, to her
to realize her aspirations. Now he would
60 off and marry the girl in the picture,
whom by this time, Maud absolutely hat
d. and she would be left to teach an in
dustrial 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 low, quiet tone:
"Thank you very much, Mr.. Denike
you have been very kind.
His own voice. seemed to tremble
little when he spoke.
" But I'm going to offer you an alter
native" he said.
Maud looked up, she was quite indifer-
ent now to what he might say.
6 want to know" he continual, eff
that still remains your highest am
bition-or, if as people sometimes do you
may have changed it."
Maud gazed at him with open eyes,
quite uncertain what he meant. Was he
going to offer her some other position?
1t was all one to her which she took.
"Ir may be asking you to give up a
good deal" he went on, without waiting
for her reply; "indeed, it strikes me as
rather impertinent on my part, knowing
how strongly you've set your heart on
this thing, but l must take my chance. I
want to ask you, Miss Maud, before you
conclude to settle down in life as a teacher
if YOU won't consider the idea of becom-
ing my wife"
Mr.. Denike did not get any further
than that. If he intended to, he was
summarily cut short. For Maud making
q vain effort to control herself, at length
gave way, and, leaning back against the
sofa, cried as though her heart would
break. Happily, Mrs. Pennyfeather was
out, and there was no risk of interruption.
John waited until the tears were
checked, very we'll persuaded as to their
meaning, and hardly certain what to
say.
II didn't mean to grieve you''-he be-
gan.
But she put xp her hand deprecatingly.
81 know know" she SAID in broken
voice
"Ofcourse it was impertinent in me, "
he went on. now savage with himself, II
ought to have known your character bet
ter. You arc not the kind OF girl to
change"
She covered her face with her hands
'Oh, am y she cried 81 am! You do
not know what my character is. There
isn't more vacillating girl in the world.
And I've lost every bit of interest in the
school,"
''Have you transferred it to me he de-
manded
But Maud did not speak, and he was
contented to take her silence for an an
swer.
After while, when she had regained
her composurc in a folerablc degree, a
thought came to her that sent the blood
all out Of her cheeks. How could she
have forgotten it, She drew away from
him and looked up into his face with a
frightened glance.
Luz hhI PiStoAN ShS
what pictures" in perplexed tone.
why the picture in your pocket
book
John Denike leaned back and laughed
You poor child" said he, have you
been making bugbear out of that
Why. it's only my sister Nellie. She's a
missionarys wife, and lives in the Fee
ice Islands. / was anxious about it, be-
cause it would be hard for me to get an
other one"
And 50 that cloud drifted away. And
if it had not been for Terry Mcclure
believe Maud would have been supreme
II happy. Somehow or other the boy
learned the news, and took upon himself
the task of reproaching his teacher.
u introduced you to i'm, he complain
ed, land now yer've went back On me-
Il Whether she had OF not, Maud could
not satisfactorily settle with herself. In
the contenfment Of her new experience,
this was almost the only disquieting ele-
ment.
you must have . dreadful poor opia-
ion of me- she said, plaintively, one day,
to Mr.. Denike.
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