The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-15

tremes in age, she found almost every
variety of taste and disposition. realiz-
ing that she had entered on fertile
field of usefulness and enjoyment She
wrote to her sister q very cOmicat &C
count of her experiment, laughing
aloud as she pictured the disgust OF her
lady mother, INDUCED in the widest
dreams of an independent career. and.
in few weeks, had become convinced
that there was really great deal in life
worth living for.
1t was little Harley Jones' turn that
week to Grid up the school-house. as
he termed it, and Mildred wondered
for two successive days at the cluster of
flowers which she found on her desk.
The great double geraniums seemed to
fash their scarlet glory all over the
room; and heliotrope too. her favorite
flower, in masses of purple beauty.
filed the air with its fragrance. A spray
of it, with few delicate ferns. another
of her delights, was laid upon the Bible
opened at the chapter with which she
began the days exercises. Harley
Jones had certainly taste and appre-
citation for which she had never given
him credit.
Hewas vigorously cleaning the black
board one morning. as she came in just
in time to see the last few words as he
erased them. The writing struck her
peculiarly.
What did you rub out, Harley?"
she asked, hanging up her hat in the
corner.
"Somethink you writ yesterday, Miss
Carpenter. I was writin' it over" She
smiled st the name. He never could
get it right, but she corrected the other
slips in his speech.
"You mean something, Harley, and
you should say I wrote it. Can you re-
member?''
"He jest done it hisself," piped up a
voice behind them. 81 seen him when
I come in"
ooh, Johnnie Mackr' was the teach
you so many times" Yet no possible
mutilation of verbs seemed to affect her
love for the offenders. or to diminish
her patience with them, and in the
course of the day she noticed that Har-
ley Jones had really made vast improve
ment in his copybook. But she had oc-
casion to reprove Maggie Wetherbee as
they walked home together that night.
81 saw you talking with man this
morning. Maggie, when came across
the lot. Is it possible you meet any
one in that way outside your fathers
house?''
"But 'twasn't him." stammered
Maggie, growing red.
Him! who?''
"Why, Bill, that told you about.
didn't expect to meet him." she added,
growing redder with the consciousness
of how easily the stranger could make
her false to Bill. Hes boarding
somewhere round, and just asked me
how soon school would be out. He's
drawing picture of our school house
and that's all. He had lots of pictures
in big fiat book"
A strolling artist, Mildred thought.
She knew nothing about artists, but
had an idea they were rather inoffens-
i've people. Still she determined to
watch Maggie. She must not drift into
any danger.
Mildred went earlier to school the
next morning, earlier even than Harley
Jones. Fresh flowers were on the desk
again, but with great start she saw
the figure of man at the blackboard
writing. Il am here" were the words
he was rapidly tracing with the chalk,
land must see you if" Just then he
turned, conscious of presence,-but
not before she had recovered her self
possession.
''Good morning. she said, quietly,
extending her hand, and with smile
glanced from his face to the blackboard.
He caught her hand and held it.
mildred, are you ready to forgive
me yet?''
She drew her hand away and stepped
back.
Il have nothing to forgive in you,
Oscar. I was angry when I saw you
last, but was the one to blame. For
give me-"
He looked at her in astonishment;
she seemed so utterly unlike herself.
"And have you got over your love as
well as your anger, Mildred?"
The quick color flashed all over her
face. She looked like herself once more,
as she answered.:
''That question is in poor taste, Oscar
Brant. l have not congratulated you
on your engagement to your cousin Ell
la. l do SO heartily" she went on,
plunging along into chaos of words,
lest She should break down utterly;
''she is good and gentle and-and ev-
erything that 1 am not. She" her
voice failed her after all.
"Why Mildred, what in this world are
you talking aboutp' His arms were
around her. She was sobbing on his
shoulder. 'Where did you hear such
a ridiculous story?''
Maurie Wetherhee entered breath.