Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-01-22
ON A BLACKBOARD.

P61I1Ol, OO1oil1S hOA LOU 1AAP"OAOAo1J I'll
the striped rag carpet. Two neighbors
had dropped in to see her aunt, and the
three ladies, with their knitting work
and occasional resort to their black
papier-mache snuff boxes, were discuss
ing the probable fate of a disagreeable
farmer in the vicinity, whose theft of ga
yearling" was the chief topic of con-
versation in all the farm houses within
radius of dozen miles.
Miss Mildred caught up her hat and
sauntered out of the front door. Only a
few rods away were the pine woods
cool, still and fragrant.
A wagon came rafting along the
crooked, sandy road. Her uncle was
returning from trip to the village, and,
as he drove into the shed, he called out
to her:
"Letters, darter."
It YVES always his name for her--she
was 80 Like daughter he had lost. She
waited for the letters, not very irnpa-
tiently. There were only two Of them.
The one from her sister she opened first.
"And Mr.. Elson came yesterday"
ran one of the paragraphs. "We told
him of your fancy to bury yourself all
summer in the rural districts, but as
sured him you would join him for a
week, at least, before we returned to
New York. Of course that is the only
thing that prevents him from leaving
the Springs at once. By the way, he
heard before he came up that it is all
over between you and Oscar, who is en-
gagged to that cousin of his, Ella Hunt,
who was always held up as a model Of
all the virtues. I don't doubt that she
is exactly suited to him. Mamma is de-
lighted that Mr.. Elson is going to stay
with us. You know, Milly, what she
has set her heart on, and of course you
won't disappoint us ALL"
Yes, Mildred reflected, she was alto
gether the proper person for Oscar
Brant, and with a queer little laugh she
thought of the hopeless difference be-
tween herself and this most admirable
woman. But the laugh was so near
akin to sob that she dared not trust
herself to go on thinking. She caught
up the other letter, from young lady
sojourning at Saratoga. It was addressed
in large, dashing hand, covering the
whole envelope. "Why will she use
violet ink?" was Mildred's thought as
she opened it. It was as dashing inside
as out.
"You are certainly gay deceiver, my
dear. To think that your health re-
quired rest and mountain air, SO that
you could neither give your family nor
me the pleasure of your society. ! un-
derstand it all now, and really I can't
blame you. Oscar Brant is more enter
tanning than hotel full of people and
handsomer than ever. I saw him for
just moment en- route for Champlain
with his party. Camping out must be
such fun. And to think you have an
uncle SO conveniently near. Of course
you see Oscar every day or two."
'sMore news! !" How little her Sara
toga friend guessed at the truth in the
case. And Oscar Brant was only four
miles away. She could not help it now
if the tears came. Why could they not
let her alone, she thought. She had
come up to the New England hills to
gain some of the strength and peace she
had lost after she and Oscar Brant had
parted. She must try for it harder than
ever now that the time drew near for
her return to the city.
Her mother ard sisters would wait for
her at the Springs. Mr.. Elson would
wait, too-Mr. Elson, worth half a mill
ion, 80 years old, his head bald and
shiny short, fat, fussy man, who had
"grown little stouter." Ugh They
would all go home together, to the fall
fashions and dinner parties and formal
calls.
She went back to the house presently.
She would conquer this foolishness, so
she told herself, as she had kept saying
over and over again the whole summer
long. She would conquer her temper,
too; grow humble and docile and pa
tient.
Supper was nearly ready when she
came in; beautiful appeal to an artistic
eye, with its heap of snow white biscuits,
deep golden butter and purple grape
jelly, but the flowers with which she
always decked the table she had forgot
ten that afternoon. She went at once
into the garden, meeting her uncle as
he passed by with the foaming milk
pals.
"Don't forget my hollyhock, dalter,"
he called out as he passed along. Hol-
lyhocks were a standing joke between
them.
When she came again her uncle was
carrying on spasmodic conversation
with his wife, who, out of sight in the
buttery, was straining the milk.
cam if they can't find some one to
take the school," he was saying, =" it'll
hev to be shut up awhile"
"What SCHOOL," Mildred asked, car
ing less for the answer than fol: the
effect Of great pansy she wins setting
among the china asters.
sHere in our own deestrict. Teachers
sick, an they can't seem to find no one
to take her place"
Chow many scholars are there?' she
asked, a sudden impulse taking posses
sion of her.
"Not more'n twenty, I reckon. It's
summer school, 'tain'tnever very large"
"Uncle, would they let me take it2"
"You, dartef I"
eyes. I believe I should enjoy it and
it would do me- good, beside giving the