The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-11-29


enjoyable.
AZ. Charlton was very dignifed-
stern Ct times-and prided himself on
the strict discipline enforced In his
school. But Fanny Burns, with her
black eyes, irrepresslble love Of fun
and ready wit, was almost too much
for him.
Fanny were very good friends.
used 70 draw her home on my sled,
run races with her, give her dainty
mOrsels out Of my dinner basket, and
perform several other gallantries
suited to our juvenile iieas Of such
things And when we were 4 little
older, I walked home with her in
stead Of drawing her, and made pur-
chases Oforanges In lieu Of bestoWing
on her taFts sud ballgd apples. IL was
about this time that the mania for
writing notes took possession Ct a.
Although we saw each other before
school, ct recess, At noon, and after
school, o invariably happened thar
duriag sthdy hOurs, matters Of sud
den and vital Importance would arise,
demanding eplatolaFg communication
baAWesn us. Notes would be written
and passed from hand 10 hand, until
they reached their proper destinations
FOR there was mutual agreement be-
tween the pupils 60 perform such OF.
bees secretly and faithfully. Some
timee, indeed, we would sit near 10
gether--O1 opposite side % an aisle,
for insthnce-so that we could deliver
our misslves directly TO each other.
This practice Of writing notes was
Of course strongly condemned. and
strictly forbidden BY our teacher and
~ Fanny and were esDeoial and IRE
quent offenders IN this particular, he
managed 20 glance towards her many
times in the course OF a day. We
were generally successful, however,
In elnding his waichfulness, and man
aged 60 exchange great numbers Of
small bits Of paper. on which mes
sages were scrlbbled.
But one day our hour Of grief came
or 81 least 30 thought FOR the time
being Fanny had handed me several
notes, TO which for some reason, / had
neglected replying. And soon came
another, neatly folded, which she
reached over 10 me with considerable
exertiOn. Accompanying u was q
lead pencil, though for what purpose
] could not imagine. was Just reach
ing over 10 receive Il from her hand.
when loud, stern voice paralyzed us
both Tor an instant.
There! Miss Burns! have caught
you at Il at last 20
Fanny's bright eyes dllated with
fright. shrank back In my seat,
leaving the note still IN her hand.
"HOu will please step forward, Miss
Burns, and bring that note with you"
Fanny Obeyed with q subdued air.
though not without first turning up
her nose furtively. / trembled with
apprehension, more for her sake than
my own.
''stand up there on the siage,n said
Mr.. Charlton sternly. He took the
note from her.
81 have often spoken OF this de-
spicable practice Of writing notes" he
said, turning 30 as 10 view Fanny aud
the whole school simultaneously, "Of
its WrOngfulness and bad influence.
/ have given warning repeatedly that
10 must not be done, and have threat
ened 70 visit with severe punishment,
the first Offense Of the kind coming
within my knowledge. The silly and
baneful love trash with which they
are filed, should never pass between
young people. In fact, persons OF
your ages, should never say TO each
other, By IWOndsOF letter, what you
would not be willing the whole world
should hear. cannot say am sur
pFised Miss Burns, but I am deeply
Rrieyed, that you should disObey me
in this instance, as you doubtless
have ln many Others. ItbecOmes my
duty Ia make an example Of you,
which I shall do by mOrtifying you
] presume yUu would dislike exceed
ingly 10 have me read this note aloud
10 The school"
Fanny started violently and seemed
about 10 speak, but checked herself.
Mr.. Charlton paused. but she was ST.
lent I, who was watching intently,
noticed n curious expression on her
face.
as there anything written in this
note that YOU would be ashamed 10
have the pupils hear?''
"No, sir. she faltered.
81 presume mott" said Mr.. Charl- |
ton. saFeastically.
Was Il possible. thought that |
Fanny's apparent difficulty In speak /
ing was caused by suppressed merri- /
ment? Her face certainly Indicated /
q, for while she bit her lips, her /
shoulders moved convulsively, there 4
was on unmistakable sparkle IN her /
black, dancing eyes. / watched the /
proceedings with Intense interest.
81 shall read Il aloud" said Mr.. /
Charlton, relentlessly. and evidently
somewhat excited with the prospect
Of making such an impression as he
expected To, land hope IL will prove
q lasting lesson 10 you"
He unfolded the paper with pomp-
Gus air, and held it before his face.
The attention Of the pupils was al
most breathless, and the hush Of eX
pectatiOn was profound.
But instead Of reading the note, Mr.
Charlton looked at it with an express
ion Of utter astOnishment. PerpleX
ity, dlsmay, and anger fitted by turns
aorOss his face, which was finally
overspread by violent red flush. He
turned to Fanny furiOusly.
"Was this done on purpose 10 en-
trap me, Miss Burns p"
mo, sir"
The establishment Of all knew no
bounds now. The scene was inexplic-
able TO all, except the two chief actors
10 t.
"What does this blank piece Of pa
pea mean ?n
An audible litter suddenly arose,
like the first pattering ola summer
shower. The true state Of the case
began % dawn upon our minds.
Fanny was using all her energies
IN endeavOring 10 retain 3 sober and
respectful air toward our questiOner.
He didn't answer my note" she
said, "and 20 was going to hand
him that piece OF paper and q pencil
tO-tO-as-a-sOrt OF hint ~
The litter now sweiled into a roar,
and Ga an instant every boy and girl
Ga she school room laughed uncOntFOl-
lably Fanny hurled her face iu her
handkerchief, and also laughed viO-
lently, but silently. Peas and cheers
arose. and Il WIS simply impossible On
pursue further a seriOns treatment ~
the subject.
Mr.. Charlton himself was obliged 10
smile, In the midst Of his wrath and
discontinue. He handed the paper
hack 10 Fanny, and said a few words
IN her which none Of us could hear In
the aprOaF. and she bowing, went 10
her seat.
The funny scene ended, and all was
siudiOus enough for the remainder gf
the day, and indeed Tor many days
thereafter
will remember when we went up
10 the next grade. AFR Charlton was
talking % the teacher Whuse depart
ment we were about tn enter.