Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-10


so bashful she won't speak to nobody
won't let nobody get acquainted wit
: her, all | can say or do. Phebe, sh
called, 81 wish you'd hurry in and pou
the new schoolmaster's tea for him
whilst go down seller'n work over m
butter. Els got to be done afore dark
: you know"
Phebe appeared with a look of dir
distress on her lovely countenance, an,
did as she was hidden, and she did no
once lift her eyes during the whole tim
she was in the room.
'I'his bread is frst-rate, full as goot
as my mother makes, if not better.
should not wonder If ou made it your
self, now" said he, attempting to speal
with his usual jaunty, self-important air
But tor some reason or other, he felt
strange embarrassment, and was sur
prlset at himself. WHAT'S there about
this pesky girl that makes such fool OF
me 7" he thought, angrily.
The distress on Phehe's face deepened
to actual despair, as she gasped hardly
audible eyes" She wished with all her
heart that the bread was as heavy as it
had been yesterday, then, perhaps, he
might have kept silence.
YOU'RE going to be one of my schol-
ars, | hope" he proceeded, with glance
of open admiration, though given with
rather shame faced air. He did it to
assure himself that he dared do it, feel
ing unhappily like the old woman who
did not know whether she was herself
or no.
Phebc stammered, something which
sounded like ~ don't Know and NOV
ed as far from the table as possible.
"Bashful as partridge" he thought.
"Well, SO much the better; | don't like
forward women. She amt used to see
ing anybody but lumbermen an river
drivers and that sort Of clodhoppers, |
suppose, and is kinder illustrated at see
in me. But what do / care about her,
anyhow I've got such q start in the
world that ought to marry rich wo-
man. Rich widows are plenty every
now aud then. | don't imagine her
mother hes much of any property.
As soon as he had finished his meal,
Phebe hastily removed the dishes from
table and escaped into the kitchen, and
he saw nothing of her until the next
morning. She appeared then in celes-
tial blue, which harmonized wonderful
~ with the rich sunburn on her blonde
cheeks, and one of the other boarders, q
handsome stalwart young lumberman
who sat beside her at the table, regard
ed her with devotion and talked to her
IN low tones, so low that 10 one else |
was able to hear what he was saving.
Phebe seemed filed with confusion,
and beyond a blnshing "yes' or 'no,"
made no reply, but the schoolmaster be-
came instantly fired with jealousy, and
commenced to draw all attention to him
self by his boastful and pompous talk.
He talked both ofcommerce and learn
ng until the two young lumbermen
ooked properly subdued and became
silent.
''Speakin' ov books" said the land
ady, II bought one of ov peddler last
1t has got an orful purity
over, but there's poetry inside; per-
iapS you'd like to read that. | can't
ay as how enjoy such reading myself,
'us Phebe, she's all carried away with
&"
Il generally make my own poetry"
aid the schoolmaster, grandly.
An awed hush succeeded this an
and for the first time Phebe
fitted her eyes and looked the conse-
uentlal gentleman full in the face. 1t
vas shy, riefglance, but filled with
half-awed, half-admiring interest.
he schoolmaster startedl when he met
heir gaze as if he had received a blow,
nd from that moment he was changed ,
ian, so bound by the chains of love
hat his mind took no more ambitious {
lights so anxious with it's doubts and t
'ars that he lost his fippant manners t
nd became subdued and silent, SO hum ,
led by Its insight that he no longer
cid his head above his fellows, so soft I
ned and changed by its influence that
is mereenary projects all pent to moth J
lg.
At the end of the week it was voted |
the other boarders that the school
aster was a good Teller, awful diff +
rent from what he seemed at first"
t the end of the month be was called r
kinder grumpy" at the end of two