The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-26

shouldn't wonder if she left of being
school-mistress and went to live at the
parsonage before long, for our minister is
paying very particular attention to her,
says l, and 1 shouldn't wonder if she
likes him, too. She's good enough for a
minister's lady, anyhow, says J"
"Oh, Mrs. Jones! how could you say
such things to stranger, or to anyoneY'
exclaimed Miss Linda, looking really
distressed. "What must the gentleman
have thought?
ooh! you know must talk when |
once get started" said Mrs. Jones, "and
don't suppose he thought anything
about it. He started pretty soon after
that, and l thought he was going to visit
the school, for he went straight towards
it."
The remembrance of the man who had
frightened little Lilly rushed across my
mind, and I turned my steps homeward
after bidding goodbye to Miss Linda,
who kissed me with very, very grave
face.
"Who could that man with the black
beard be-" thought as tripped along.
"Why did he frighten Lilly, and why
did he ask questions about our school
and Miss Lindap The old fairy
tales I had conned upon winter evenings,
arose to my mind, and l thought of the
ogres and giants, who all had black
boards and propensity to devour little
girls and carry young ladies away by
their hong tresses
"What hair Miss Linda had for the
purpose! How giant would rejoice in
those great golden waves!" thought;
just then, raising my eyes, they encount-
cred, to my horror, the very person of
whom I had been dreaming-the tall
man with the long black beard, himself.
l uttered scream of terror, and the tall
man put his hand on my shoulder"
"Don't be frightened. little one" he
said. "Pm very fond of the little girls"
"Does he mean he likes to eat themT
/ thought, and | looked up into his face,
expecting to meet sardonic ogre grin,
| but instead encountered such a sweet
smile that | gained confidence in a
moment, and stood quietly beside him.
$ "Sit down here" said the stranger, 81
7 want to talk to you. Look here is some
thing NICE" and he drew a handful of
. confectloneries from his pocket. "Eat it
, while talk to you"
l held my little pinafore to receive
the gift and sat down, and the man with
: the black beard sat down beside me.
"How old are youT he said.
I
"And where do you go to schoolT he
asked.
"On the hill, at Miss Linda's,' I ans
wered.
"Have you nice teacher? Do you
love herW inquired the stranger.
every much," Ianswered, "very much,
indeed"
And, to my great amazement, the
| gentleman with the dark beard covered
5 his face with his hands, and calculated
"God bless her! Who could help iti
Do you think she is happy? he went on
: "Does she smile and laugh, or does she
f feel sad? Tel me, little opo.'
81 think Miss Linda is very happy"
answered. "I never saw her cry"
e The tall gentleman arose and paced tt
f and fro, and heard him mutter:
"Happy! Is she happy? My selishnes,
!, shall never break in upon her quiet;
n will never arouse the sleeping past tc
grieve the happy present"
/, The heart under my pinafore bea
{; wildly with alarm, and my confection
erv was forgotten. In few moments h,
n turned to me.
o "Good-by, little one" he said. cru
t home now, and never tell your teache
that have been talking about her; ant
y you would never do that l know"
7, l gave ready promise and ran JOY
d fully away; and as the weeks passed b.
and I saw no more of the gentlema
v with the black beard, soon almost fol
II got that such a being existed. And still
v "our minister" visited the school, an
Is looked at the teacher, and still the go'
d siping tongues of the village foretol
d that Miss Linda would be the minister
l lady yet.
h One day-a bright cool autumn afte1
ID noon, it was-Miss Linda and | wei
le alone in the school-house. I was practi'
sr ing the scales ON a piano in the inne
" room-for it was the day on which | a
ID ways took my music lesson-and Mi
n! Linda was writing at her desk in IL
ID outer-room. There was no sound say
as the monotonous zone, two, three" whic
I uttered, until quick step fell upo
ne the grass without, and raising my eyes
Id saw the young minister pass the windo
ng and enter the school-room. He ha
I'd scarcely done so, when another shade
n fell upon my music book, and | saw tt
he tall gentleman with the black beal
ia glide after him and stand motionless
to the shadow Of the school-house porch.
u. played on still, but very softly, ar
~ my eyes were turned toward tt
other room. The young minister al
~ Miss Linda stood in the center of Il
he apartment, and he was speaking passio
he ately, but softly. Then he strove to ella
an her hand in his, but she drew it aw;
er- and stood further from him, nearer
Ter the doorway. Then | heard his voice