The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-09-04

OAAN va 's''
Hei mother, it was rumored, was
lady of refinement and culture, but very
proud and reserved in her demeanor for
person who was obliged to teach mu-
sic for a living. Mrs. Lagrange, at any
rate, was young handsome, and recently
widowed-at least the length and new
ness of her veil indicated to observing
feminine eyes that the bereavement was
recent, and that is all the gossips kne W
about her.
The Summer term brought Adelina
again to the old red school house, but so
changed outwards that we hardly knew
her for the somber 'backbird" of the
previous Winter She futtered in one
morning dressed in white, with sash and
shoulder-knots Of cherry ribbons--the
loveliest creature | ever saw.
At noon she came to me and said, very
gravely
"After to-day 1 am not coming any
more"
"WhyY
81 am going to the city to live; but
you were kind to me the first day came,
and l tell you for that reason, and be-
cause you didn't mind untying my hood
for me-"
l felt her going so keenly that could
not study, try AS | would, and in con-
sequence my grammar lesson was a de-
cided failure. | went home from sch DOL
her way that day, taking care that the
other scholars should not suspect my
motives.
When l came in sight of her she was
standing motionless by the roadside, at
tentively watching yellow jacket buzz
ing for sweets in the downy heart Of a
white Canada thistle.
Years after, when miles and miles
away from that spot, l could shut my
eyes of hazy October afternoon, with
five o'clock sun dipping toward the tree
tops, and see little girl, lovely as the
blush of the sunset, gazing pensively at
bee upon common roadside flower
Did it sting your l asked, assuming
very sympathetic air.
"No; bees never sting me, and I've
watched them dance ON the thistle-heads
all Summer"
Il did not know that you loved them.
Most girls are afraid of bees"
Eyes; but am not"
She turned from the rank patch Of
thistles, and slowly resumed her walk
homeward.
When we came to the lane where our
paths separated, she put up her little
arms to be taken and kissed, before leav
ing me, as she said, "to cone back no
more.
"Be good to yourself, Eddie; and next
Winter, ii any little lonely Adelinas
come cold and frightened to the old red
school house yonder, be kind to them as
you were to me-.
Something choked in my throat, and l
could not say word; but l kissed her
more than once; and after she had slipped
from my arms and was twenty rods
away, l sat down and cried like baby,
because l was never to see Adelina again.
It was not long before the rumor was
rife in the neighborhood that Mrs. La
grange had married a middle-aged city
millionaire, and that the young widow
and her child had found new protector
in the place of the one death had taken
from them.
Years fitted BY was twenty-four;
l had fought through the great rebellion
entered the army "a private and came
out of it captain, shattered in health,
and utterly depleted in pocket, to find
myself at home again, i'll and altogether
distrustful of fortunes smile.
In my frequent walks to the village
post office, often passed by the old red
school house, and never without sigh
Ct regret for the many happy, care-free
days spent within its battered walls.
Among the letters handed to me ore
morning was one post-marked New York
which informed me of the agreeable fact
that, through the instrumentality of
friend of mine, whom he was anxious to
serve, the undersigned, Mr.. Maxwell.
had been induced to extend to me a CON-
mercial opening at the liberal salary of
two thousand year, to be increased if
merited There was fortune for me in
the offer, and l accepted Of it with
alacrity.
Mr.. Maxwell, a rich New York mer-
chant, from the first took lively inter-
est in my advancement. The unknown