Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-05

a thing before the poor dear children"
"Eh?" said Mr.. Barthorne, instinctlvely
retreating pace or two, for there was some
thing pythoness-like in Miss Negley's atti-
tude, as she rose and darted her head for
ward at him to emphasize her words. -,
81 know what you're going to say, sald
Miss Negley; "and / won't listen to word
of it-n0t one word! No one but set of
narroW-minded misers could have thought
of it. I'll leave Wyndale school first"
"Well, well, no harm done," said MIR:
Barthorne, clutching at his hat. 'lf ia
have known that you'd taken things as
hard as this"
CHOW did you suppose l was going to
take 'em ?" said Miss Negley, with scorn-
full laugh. Did you mistake me for the
dust under your feet ~
81 assure you, ma'am, that nothing of
the sort was in my mind, humbly uttered
Mr.. Barthorne. 81 wish you good after
noon ~
He hurried out, remounted his gray
steed, which, poor beast, was JUST compos-
ing itself for comfortable doze IN , tne sun sun
shine, and rode off, making, to Alice Hop
kins' intense dismay;, straight for the shady
cedar-woods, where she still sat arranging
ferns around the ribbon of her hat.
"There's is no use trying to run away
thought she. 81 may as we'll stay where
am; And M after all, why should 1 be afraid
Mr.. Barthrone checked his rein as he saw
the pretty young school teacher there under
the cedar. He nodded pleasantly.
"Fine day, Miss Alice" said he, Wiplng
his brow with the identical yellow silk
pocket handkerchief which had but now
Served as a duster for his boots.
eyes," said Alice, standing like some
fair wood nymph beside the spring.
"Please, what did she say" .,,
"What did who say?" said the middle
aged gentleman, turning nnn{ searlft' taip mo intr
sive," She added; "tut 1 know all about it."
"The deuce you de-" said Mr.. Barthorne.
"Why, she wouldn't let me get in word
edgeWise-that's what she said. Perhaps,
however, had a lucky escape!"
"But you must own that it is hard" said
Alice, earnestly.
"Hard?o echoed Mr.. Barthorne. 81
should have supposed it would have suited
her exactly! But" new idea bursting
athwart his brain, there's as good fish IN
the sea as ever were caught out of Miss
Alice, what would you say if l were to ask
YOU to be my wife,"
Alice Hopkins looked at him in amaze
ment.
81, Mr.. Barthorne !" she exclaimed.
"You are young enough to be my daugh-
ter sure enough" said the worthy man, not
without some bitterness. "But Pm not so
very old, either, and Tve good home to
offer any woman who will take pity on my
loneliness"
"Loneliness?"
Alice looked at Mr.. Barthorne insurprise.
1t had never occurred to her little innocent
heart, that Mr.. Barthorne, in the big white
house, with the pair Of horses and the close
carriage, could ever be lonely. And per-
haps there was something in the deWy
brightness of her eyes, as she raised them
to Mr.. Barthorne's face, that emboldened
him to plead his cause with more energy.
81 should love you very dearly, Alice" he
said, with a tremble in his voice. 81 would
be very good to you. Won't you answer
me, Alice?"
Her head dropped; there was an instant
of silence, and then she said in low tone:
eyes. Mr.. Barthorne, I'll marry YOU"
He bent and kissed her forehead.
"YOu'll not regret ii, my lass" said he.
"And you're the very girl | would have
picked out of a thousand. Pm glad, now,
that Miss Negley wouldn't listen to me-"
Alice started.
ooh, Mr.. Barthorne," said she, "was that
your errand: ~ ,,.
III course IL WAS, Stlu Ittl lllOllc ~
Smiley said she was the very woman need
ed to regulate my household. But the mo-
ment limited at the subject, she as good as
ordered me off the premises. Not that Pm
sorry for it. She has face like man, and
figure like a Prussian grenadier !"
Alice broke out laughing. She could fam
cy exactly how Miss Negley had looked.
There was comfort in the reflection that
Miss Negley would never lecture her more.
Miss Negley battled with the committee
next day, but in vain. The ruthless trus-
tees reduced her salary one-half, and when
it transpired, in some unaccountable way,
that she had actually refused Mr.. Barthorne
without being askeD she felt that life was
indeed a failure. And the arrival of Alice
Hopkins wedding-cards did not better mat
ters.
ooh, dear, oh, dearn she said, 81 spoke
too soon. Why didn't wait to hear what
Mr.. Barthorne had to say before answered
in such Il hurry? My tongue always was
my besetting fault"