The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-09-21
A SERIOUS MISTAKE.


Hose and fine as velvet, the scent of
khite glover filed the air, and small,
he-sl 1Eled house, painted the dull color
which would now be called Venetian
led" nestled beneath the boughs of
Monster black walnut tree. "Only
here's no village worth mentioning, un-
ess you choose to Gail the stage station
Inc. Upon the whole, this portion of
be world seems to be still in its print
I've condition"
Mr.. Moreau had been fishing all day.
is creel was we'll filed, his lunch-ba
BIT empty, his India-rubber boots be-
FLASHED with mud, his countenance
Ironzed with fine, healthy sunburn.
e was tired out, with joints aching,
lose blistered, face swollen with the un-
lhtermitting attacks of the black-fies AMI
Mosquitoes. And yet he called this
|capital SPORT"
Hello, you, sirl" said Moreau, to a
~, white headed little urchin who was
Nbming down the hill with pail. "What
in that pail?"
"Nothin', SIR" was the answer.
"What are you doing with it?"
"Goin' after water"
us there spring hereabouts?"
Eyes, sir"
4 Moreau nodded his head.
"Goodr' said he. "Show me where
} is and I'll give you penny
A The little lad nothing 10th, ran lightly
ID ipS advance, until he reached the
bot Beneath huge gray rock, where
\ tiny stream of water dubbed into
rude stone basin, worn by its continued
drip.
Here it is, mister" said he, "and
here's gourd shell to drink outen."
And Mr.. Moreau drank deep, long
draught.
"Sweeter as champagne, he said, land
colder than iceT'
And he flung the penny to the expect
ant lad, who, having secured his largess,
speedily filed his pail and trudged up
the hill once more.
"Johnnyl Johnny! what keeps you SO
long?"
It was o sweet, bell-like voice, and
Moreau listened to it with a sort of
dreamy satisfaction, as he lay among
the ferns. staring at the sky.
"The schoolma am, in all probability, J"
he remarked to himself, and turned
halfway around, among the green
chart tongues" to see what manner OF
female she. was.
Round, and dimpled, and rosy, with
hair like braided sunshine, big blue eyes
"a cheeks pinker than even the wild
,ses now scattering their petals over
I e face. Mark quietly raised himself on
Mis- elbows.
"S2e's beauty" he said, half aloud
q wildAower of the wilderness. And
hot bit like the ideal district school
tsacher. I'll get acquainted with that
girl or I'll know the reason why"
He left his creel and rod among the
grass and wildfiowers, by the clear little
spring and walked slowly up the steep
path.
The beauty in the pink calico dress
did not turn and flee, az he had half sus.
pected she would, but stood awaiting
him, with the calm oomposure OF city
belle.
"Pardon me, said Mr.. Moreau, in
venting the first fragrant lie that he could
think Of, "but am one of the trustees
of the Andover district"
The schoolma' am courtesied.
I'm deeply interested in elementary
he went on, "and-
"I'm SO sorry" said the pretty girl,
Psbut it is past three O'Clock, and am
lust going TO dismiss the children. Per.
haps Won would call TO. morrow. il you
are staying in the neighborhoOd."
"Oh. certainly said Mr.. Moreau,
With : vague idea that he was being
6afied by the dimpled .daisy-faced thing,
Who could not have been day over
bighteen. Certainly! Perhaps you are
Walking down in the direction OF the
hotsl3,
"Nk said the blonde. calmly-"I go
Dnp toward Deems Lake"
BsfIied again. But Mr.. Mark Moreau
allowed no cloud to dim the bland
OF his visage.
s:Ahp said he. "Then I will bid you
Rood.bye, hoping that l may have
Ehe pleasure Of meeting you again.
Tue pretty schoolma am smiled, colored
md courtesied once again. and then
|ehut the schoolhouse door.
Mr.. Moreau walked composedly down
the hill.
s'She IL . little jewel, said he to him
|sslf: land she knows her value. I'll
|and out who she is and what she is.
Upon my word. ! haven't seen such q
lace in ! year. 1 should like to paint
Der - Hebe, peeping out from bower
pf roses; or Perssphone, With both arms
}ull OF flowers. I've always fancied the
idea OF wife who should differ from
Ahe rank aud file OF smiling. simPering.
Fashionable women. She's little dis.
pose.i to keep me ct arms length, bat l
Aont like her the less for thatf'
Il ~1s.~ - H. Ekx1o