Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1883-09-21
ONLY 4. MINER.

even the inhabitants are, to all appear
: ances,as rough and stony as their native
rocks. But underneath those siaty fields
lie the rich veins of metal, and in those
rough hearts is vein OF human feeling
and Christian charity far, far purer than
much that passes as such in the fashion
able worlds. where tinkling bells daily
summon rich doWagers to church in
their gorgeous chariots.
The children of fremont were tripping
lightly to school after heir holidays,
along the hard slaty paths. 1t was, in
deed, with no "creeping like snail UNI
willingness to SCHOOL, kind of motion on
this occasion, as all were full OF expecta-
ton, almost ofjoy, for they were to have
that day d new mistress, one whom they
all knew, and who bad, in fact, been
one of themselves.
Margaret Powell had been born in
fremont, where she had attended the
school, irst as pupil, then as pupiI-teach-
er. Thence she had gone to college,
and vacancy having occurred, she had
been appointed mistress down their in
Der own native village. Her tather had
worked there, man and boy. in the
mines for upwards Of forty years, and
he still continued to follow this same &C.
eupationo. The children, therefore, all
knew Margaret. Their memories of
her were pleasant, and hence they
tripped joyously to school, where they
admired their new mistress, who, in
their eyes, WAS certainly as learned be-
sides being as pretty as a princess.
When they, therefore, returned home
at midday, many were the excIamations
Of "lsn't she pretty" "Isn't she nice!'
and so on. among the Youngsters.
Many others besides the school chill
dren were in love with Margaret, for
she had buded into womanhood since
she had left fremont, and now her
beauty had taken the young men by sur
prise. For some time Margaret found
it far from agreeable to have so many
admirers. but by dint Of good manage
ment, by the falling off of those who
felt they had "no chance" and through
avowed adorers became reduced to
two--Joseph Tregear and Tom Pol
glaze.
Both Of these young men were receiv.
ing good wages IL the mines, and had
opportunities of rising to higher posi-.
tons as inspectors, and so forth; both,
too, were steady, and bad saved a little
money. 1t was long, however, before
Margaret herself made it known which
Of them she preferred; in fact, so far as
that goes, neither could for long time
boast Of the smallest favor. Other girls
called Margaret a flirt, but in this they
wronged her. The simple fact vas that
Margaret, not yet tird of being her own
mistress, endeavored SO to order her
ways that neither Joseph Tregear, Tom
Polglaze, nor any other suitor might
have the slightest reason to be jealous of
q rival.
Tregear, however, HAD the good sense
nearly so well educated rs Margaret
anu lie we'll understood that it is a bad
omen when the husband has to look up
to the wife in the matter Of learning. He
accordingly bought books and became
an earnest midnight student. In fact,
he tried in every way to render himself
Margaret PowePs equal.
Tom PolglaZe. however, loved the fair
teacher not q whit less than.his rival, but
he was tor.ued in rougher mould. He
scarcely noticed tie change in Tregear;
but, il he did not, Margaret Powell did,
and she was highly grati6ed by it.
''Joseph,' said she to him one even
ing when he came to ask her to take
walk. "you seem much changed lately;
you are as little like a native OF fremont
as myself
"In what way, Margaret?:'
"You have lost that twang, and YOU
seem to know Something about the great
world. Do you study"
"I es; sit up every night to read, or
to work mathematics -
"Why? What do you want to be? A
clerk?"
''Margaret, l study only to be more
like you; love you-will you"
There, Joseph Tregear, you study to
be like me? lam sure never set you
the example OF talking such rubbish.
An, ah!-GoodbveH'
So saying, of she tripped into the
house, to has intense discontinue.
But was Margaret any the more happy
$lan the lover she had left so disconso-
late in the street? That evening her
parents noticed g. great change in her,
did not talk, nor take any food, but
soon retired to her own little room,
complaining of a headache.
''Do love him?" she muttered when
alone. Poor fellow! he studies hard
for my sake--to be more worthy Of me,
J. suppose he calls it. All, Joseph! why
did l leave you SO abruptly? What gid
dy, worthless thing I amp That night
she could not sleep until she bad de-
cided upon 8 future course Of action.
The next day, being Saturday, Marga-
ret spent at home in household cares,
which she shared with her mother, but
she scarcely spoke word all day. In
the evening she went to the Diapers
and bought a few ribbons and other lit
tie articles, for there was some Object
now in being pretty.
On Sunday she appeared in church
dresse moro than her usual care,
and she may be forgiven if-she was not
quite go attentive to the sermon as she
should have been, for there at a dis
lance sat Joseph Tregar, looking at her
with his great blue eyes, making her
blush, and inspiring her with the desire
Of sinking throl gh the floor.
On leaving the porch, after dismissing
her flock, Margaret found Joseph Ire
gear and Tom Polglaze pretending to
read the inscriptions on the tombs. At
the sound of her step Tom raised his
head and advanced with friendly nod,
while Joseph remained still, but fixed
those great blue eyes on her.
Good morning, Tom" said she indif-
erently;a" how are you%'
Polgla1e was replying as they neared
Iregear,l when Margaret stopped. Ire
gear still held back, trembling in his
heart and apprehensive of his rival.
Margaret, however, was SO apparently
calm that he was beginning to think her
heart as hard as her native rocks, when
nodding an adieu to Pclglaze, she very
naturally and very quietly put her hand
on Tregear' arm and said:
Lam very sorryI kept you waiting;
can now only spare yon half an hour for
d walk.
I. TT was the first time she had ever
shown . preference, and Polglaze now
knew that he too was Cont Of the race ~