Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-05-03
Capturing a Wife.


had been-to use we'll worn adage- /
teaching the young idea how to shoot. !"
His present task was that of writing a
letter to a chum in his city home.
mo doubt" he wrote, 'you imagine
| am dwelling in sort of rural Area
dia, and, just as far as physical nature
goes am for there can be nothing
more green than the hills, nothing more
clear, cool or limpid, or musical, than
the brooks that everywhere ribbon the
valleys.
ga sort of gypsy encampment is To-
Gated near an isolated nook among the
hills. Among the tribe is an old for
tune-teller, and of course the pretty
heads of my female scholars are COM
pletely turned, and have not only laid
down the law against visiting the camp.
but fixed penalty thereto.
"Now l know you will raise your
hands in horror when l tell you that,
after exhausting every other form of
punishment, from the dunce-cap to writ
ing long compositions the bitter abor-
renee of every feminine hearD, and all
to no purpose, l have, in this instance
resorted to the old-fashioned on,-the
ferule. And so help me, Fate, l will
carry it out to the bitter end, and make
every little hand smart whose owner
disobeys, or my name is not Paul Chen
ey."
The school-house where our hero pre-
sided was situated some distance from
the village where he boarded, and the
walk, though pleasant, was lonely and
passing graveyard; and of late weird
tales had been told of ghosts who walk
ed in this burial-place by moonlight,
and in one or two instances, when the
schoolmaster had been belated, he had
observed an object clothed in white fit
at distance before him and in his very
path. Though trife startled, he had
no doubt that it was riddle that time
would unravel. Therefore, upon the
night when he had remained writing to
the city friend, as he hurried homeward
to be in time for supper, he gave them
no thought, and had reached the bound
airy of the graveyard when he was con-
fronted by the white-robed apparition
approaching him with extended arms.
The suggestions natural to its appear
anee were the reverse of plcasane, yet he
never dreamed the gliding visitant was
-------- 0SrV"ry, quIcKened his
pace to meet it, but to his astonishment
it disappeared as quickly and entirely
as if swallowed by the earth. Not
little startled and puzzled, he fastened
home, but kept his own counsel.
The next morning he proceeded to
school earlier than usual and spent some
time In reconnoitering the walk of the
ghost, and evidently to his satisfaction
for the broad smile that illuminated his
face as he entered the school-room ap-
peared to assure the pupils that their
teacher was in the best humor, and they
would receive many indulgences.
At recess a number of pretty heads
were in close consultation, and Sue Sal
mon, black-eyed beauty, said with a
pout -
Wasn't it mean of Mr.. Cheney to
threatened to whip any one who went
up to the gypsy encampment Just as
if he dared to do it!
81 would like to see him ferule my
hand, chimed Mary Ellis.
"Or mine, either ?" exclaimed Kitty
Dalton. whats the use of being such
cowardly ninnies, girls ? Let us 90 in
spite of him."
81 will pay for any girl who will go
with me to-day to have her fortune told"
laughed Sue Salmon merrily.
"Will you? Then we'll all 60 even if
we have to submit to the punishment"
answered May.
1t was decided to run the risk, and
accordingly when school closed at noon
they marched off boldly to learn the
mystery of the future.
sit must be half-past one o'clock at
least" exclaimed one of the number. as
they were fastening back from their
visit to the gypsy camp, all repentant
and anxious to know what would be the
result of their breaking the law.
81 wish we hadn't gone" sighed Kit
ty ruefully. ''It was all your fault.
Sue"
81 know it." returned that young
lady with merry laugh sand l am
ready not only to take my share of the
punishment, but yours as WE'LL
'-lt is all very we'll to talk" said
May, "but you are sure to get off with
che lightest penalty, and that you can
do anything you please with Paul
Cheney"
"Can | p? Well, then I'lE shield you
for your disobedience. So cheer up and
be brave. Here we are and school has
commenced"
They marched in and took their seats
and lifted their guilty eyes to eneeaater
Ahn ;nl;unnn4l.. QAAL. r IL