Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-08-15

closed the first day of the "Green county
teachers institute" and in the morning
brought sick-headache for Sallie and dis
appointment for Tom. Would disasters
never cease?
To be sure Jane brought him up after
the morning session, but Sallie only
raised her heavy head long enough to
ask him, 'do you think l will get GER
tlfcate ?" 81 don't know or care" re-
piled the unsympathetic Tom. However
| know that Sallie would have gone
stark mad if there had not come a
change. During her vigils with Sallie,
Jane had copied into the notebooks the
constitution of New York State, and
few scattered hints and remarks, and
they felt now that they were getting the
examination down fine. Wednesday
morning found them there bright and
early, responding to ''99" and "94" and
bravely joining in "The Little Busy
Bee." of which the singing had much
improved during their absence.
The appearance of things had under
gone a mighty change and the general
tone was different, there were two occu-
pants to seat instead of one; Tom was
thawing his frosty heart in the smiles of
the belle of Muttonville, and Sallie's
quondam admirer was consoling Toms
neglected victim. Although the interest
seemed brisker the noise was louder.
Prof. Peeler having exhausted his store
of wit and his power of oratory, he
was pitching from side to side with
spasmodic jerks, splitting out his words
with thrill pathos that went straig ght
to Sallle's heart, and Prof. Davis was
acting as guard to preserve decent
show of order; any one could see at a
glance that the institute was drawing to
a close. By one of those circumstances
commonly called fate, the close of the
next session found Sallie and Tom sit
ting directly opposite and there was
nothing now that could interpose be-
tween them and happiness. NOtwith-
standing the belle of Muttonville flank
ed Tom on the right, and an unknown
accompanied by bag of peanuts flank
ed Sally on the left. when next the
weakened accents of Prof. Peeler uttered
the we'll known Teachers of Green
county, will you give me your attention" :"
it affected only momentary stay of
their flying pencils. 1t was blissful
day, and Tom cursed himself for month
afterward that he let it pass so unheed-
ed; but there was none so miserable as
he who was about to be happy, and Tom
proved it.
There was lecture that evening, and
what if the hall was crowded to over
flowing and the air redolent with hair
oil? What if they were crowded into a
seat with five inquisitive females and
flanked on the right by the representa-.
tive of Union Center in velvet coat ?
What if the lecture was long and dry,
and the peanut boys did hiss and shrek
in the rear? 1t was a moment of bliss
to Sallie, and grand triumph for Tom.
for Tom was in love. Every freshman
is more or less, and how his reason reel
ed and sank as he imagined himself in
the picturesque attitude of a pleader.
But he was startled out of his happy
dreams by rude reality, and once more
cruel fate interposed to snap off golden
thread in his life and shut out the
glimpse of happiness beyond. AS they
were threading their perilous way down
the crowded stair case, overcome with
oil and paint and peanuts. Sallie tainted
tainted dead in his arms But he
had her there and he meant to seize the
romantic moment of her revival to make
known his feelings. "How calm he was
under all this pressure What sensa.
tion it world create upon his return tc
college! How Powers eyes would stick
out, Powers. who thought himself such
a smasher, when he heard that Tom was
engaged to the prettiest girl in the
world" went wildly chasing through
his brain. But he might have spared
himself the exultation and relieved his
forced calmness. for Sallie did not recov-
er sufficiently that night for sentiment
and he was obliged to postpone indefn.
itely his attitudes, his humiliation and
his demonstration of the process called
osculatory.
The morning admitted only brief in.
quiry after her health, and hurried
arrangement to 60 home together on the
Saturday morning train, for Sallie had
dim presentlment that Phil might by
this time have scented her whereabouts
and might appear upon the scene of ac-
tion. 1t seemed too dreadful to be true,
still it might happen, and she guarded
; against it-wisely.
The customary closing exercises Of
the institute were duly listened to. and
the farewell speeches of the Professors
resolutions read and the business ar
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