The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-10-18
--ADELINA.


It was the day after New Year's-s
cold, clear Tuesday morning that dis
eonso,ately wendell my way to school
wishing that holidays came oftener and
stayed longer, and regretting that out OF
fifty two there was only one week of UNI
interrupted pleasure
The old red school-house stood at the
functions of three roads, and as |
raised the little.hill just before reaching
il, / saw, coming from the opposite
direction, a little black-clad figure that
looked like moving blot on the I'M
broken whiteness of the snow-covered
landscape. 8E
Inevereould tell what actuated me to
linger on her movements as | did, or why
she so strongly attracted me, but from
the first ! think | must have loved the
child, even before | was old enough to
slightly understand the meaning of the
word.
We reached the worn old door-stone
together, and, being boy, not at all
afraid to speak to any one, much less a
timid little girl, | very coolly asked her if
this was her first day at school
Yes; and | dread it SO much
1t was the sweetest voice | had ever
heard or have ever heard since The
peculiar rising infection on the last
word was like the short clear, low notes
of a bird, and as purely natural
. Do you come every dayY
Havn't missed day this winter
e "0h | am so gladn
Why are you SO gladg'
Because you iare a good boy Won't
you please TO tell me yourname@
Edward Durand.p
-" like the name" she said sweetly,
I. i I IL. L
mortal ever came by such an angelic
smile All this time she had been try
ing to unite the round worsted strings of
her hood, but had only succeeded in
drawing them into harder knot
Won't you please unite it for me,
EddieYp
She held up her little chin, and with
out moments hesitation bent down
and did as she requested. 1t was such a
tender, contiding little face-who could
help loving it? patted encouragingly
the rose-red cheek turned toward me in
gentle truthfulness, and babe her not
to be afraid, for she had as good right
to come to school as any one"
Halo! where did that little black
bird come FROM cried kind-hearted
Ben Philips as we entered. Come along.
little girl, aud get warm, for you look
half frozen"
A general tittering and nudging fol-
lowed Ben's energetic seating ofsthe new
scholar, and one saucy little mink, not
understanding its significance, asked
pertly: llEr 4-
What are you looking SO like crow
for? | hate black dress"
Hush reproved an older girl, who
overheard the remark. Hush Sue ;
don't You see she is in mourning?'
The voice that had so charmed me in
the entry answered the question in a
strangely quiet way.
My father is deadp
A hush as of death fell upon the noisy
group gathered around the old cracked
stove. The unwonted silence was broken
by the entrance of the teacher, who rap
ped us to order, after which he briskly
called the new scholar.
What is your name@
Adefina'
Mr. Pike looked wise
Adelina Lagrange, | suppose; and
you are the daughter of the lady who
has recently taken the Baldwin cot
tage?"
Yes sirn
SWell, you may take this seat, point
ing to bench not far from where was
Adelina had passed through the trying
ordeal OF If first day" and was duly
counted one of MS
Her 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 music
for 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
knew about her
The summer term brought Adelina
again to the old red school-house but so
changed outwardly that we hardly knew
her for the somber "blackbird T" of the
previous winter. She futtered in one
morning dressed in white, with sash and
shoulderknots of cherry ribbons--the
loveliest ! ever saw
Atnoon she came to me and said, very
gravely:
After to-day am not coming any
more"
Whyg'
am going to the city to live; but
you were kind to me the first day I
came, and | tell you for that reason, and
because you didn't mind untying nv
hood for me-
felt her going SO keenly that | could
not study, try as / would, and in conse
quence my grammar lesson was decided
failure. | went home from school her
way that day, taking care that the
other scholars should not suspect any
motives.
When came in sight of her she was
standing motionless by the road, atten-
lively watching a yellow-jacket buzzing
for sweets in the downy heart Of white
Canada thistle
Years after when miles and miles
away from that spot, could shut my
eyes OF haxy October afternoon, With a
o'clock sun dipping toward the tree
tops, and see girl lovely as the blush