The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1881-10-20

. pie and straightforward for the young
5 pair as L III my ignorance had thought
7 But | had no excuse to say any
more. 1t was no business Of mine, a:
) people say. | settled that Ellen was
/, to come at a certain hour next day
which was all that remained to be
done. When [ glanced around the
room again as [ left, it had changed
its aspect to me, and looked like 6
prison. Was the poor girl bound
there, and unable to get free? As
the mother opened the door for me
the sound of an imperious voice call
ing her came down stairs. She called
back, Il am coming, James, I am
coming:' then let me out hurriedly.
And | went home feeling as il | had
torn the covering from a mystery,
and as if the house in Pleasant Place,
so tranquil, so commonplace, was the
scene Of some tragic story, to end one
could not tell how. But there was no
mystery at all about it. When Miss
HarwOod' was announced to me next
day, [ was quite startled by the name,
not associating it with any one; but
the moment the little music-mistress
appeared, with her little roll in her
hand, her trim figure. her smiling
face, and fresh look of health and
happiness, my suspicious disappeared
like the groundless fancies they were.
She was delighted to have new pu-
pil, and one SO neac, whom it would
be mo trouble" to attend; and so
pleased when | (';t!l much timidity,
confess) ventured to tell her how long
l had known her, and how | had
watched for her at my window, and
all the observations | had made. She
frightened, and laughed, and blushed,
and declared it was very kind of me
to take such an interest; then huug
her head for moment, and laughed
and blushed still more, when my con-
fessions went the length Of the faith
ful lover. But this was nothing but
a becoming girlish shyness, for next
minute she looked me frankly in the
face, with the prettiest color dyeing
her round cheek. Il think he knows
you too" she said. "We met you
once out walking, and he told me,
There is the lady who lives in the
road, whom | always see at the win
dow We hoped you were better to
see you out" And then it was my
turn to feel gratifed, which I did un-
feignedly, [ had gone through
great deal Of trouble, cheered by my
spectatorship Of life out-of-doors from
that window. And I was pleased that
they had taken some friendly notice
Of me too.
And [ suppose" I said, returning
to my theme, that it will not be long
now before you reward his faithful
ness. Must Chatty leave you then? or
will you go on, do you think, taking
pupils after"
She gave me little bewildered look. !
4 dom think I know what you mean"
''After you are married." [ said
p'umply. THAT must be coming
soon now
Then she burst out with genial
pretty laugh, blushing and shaking
her head. "Oh, no; we do not think
Of such a thing! Not yet. They
couldn't spare me at home John-I |
mean Mr. Ridgway-knows that. My
father has been i'll so long; he wants
attendance night and day, and | don't
know what mother would do without
me. Oh dear, no; we are very happy
as we are. We don't even think of
that"
''But you must think Of it some
time, surely, in justice to him." [ said,
half indignant for my faithful John
ny's sake.
Yes, l suppose so, some time" she
SAID with a momentary gravity steal
ing over her face-grayity and per-
pleXity too; and little pucker came
into her forehead. How to do it? \
doubt, question, seemed to enter her
mind for moment Then she gave
her head a shake, dismissing the cloud
from her cheerful armament, and with
a smiling decision set down Chatty to
the piano. Chatty had fallen in love
with Miss Harwood, her own particu-
lar music-mistress in whom no one
else had any share, on the spot.
And after while we all fell in love,
one after another, with Miss Ellen.
She was one Of those cheerful people
who never make fuss about anything,
never are put out, or make small
troubles into great ones. We tried
her III every way, as IS not unusual
with large, somewhat careless family,
i'll whose minds. it was a settled prin-
ciple that, 50 long as you did thing
some time OF other, it did not at al!
matter when you did it-and that
times and seasons were Of no particu-
lar Importance to any one but trauleln
Stimme. She, OF course-our natural
disorderliness had to give way to her;
but | am afraid it very soon came to
be said in the house, ELLEN will not
mind" And Ellen did not mind; If
twelve o'clock proved inconvenient
for the lesson, she only smiled and
said, ut is no matter; | will come III
at three" And if at three Frauleln
Stimme's clutches upon Chatty were
still unclosed, she would do anything
that happened to be needed-gather
the little ones round The piano and
teach them songs. or go out with my
eldest daughter for her walk, Or talk
to me. How many talks we had upon
every subject imaginable! Ellen was
not what is called clever. She had .
read very few hooks. My eldest .
daughter aforesaid despised her some
what on this account, and spoke con-
descendingly of this or that as what /
Ellen SAYS" But it was astonishing. .
after all. how often what Ellen says
was quoted. There were many things
which Ellen had not thought anything
about. and on these points she was
quite ignorant; for she had not read
what other people had thought about
them, and was unprepared with an
,..,....--... !, q r,, l:-.at !, Il