The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-03-10
ELIZA.


not the handsomest by any means, not
the best loved, but she was the wlttiest
and cruelest OF the class. We, her class
mates, paid her every attention, fol if
we failed ia the least that way we were
sure for shower Of arrows equal to a
half dozen charges from pigmv regi-
ment. In the main we Jared very well.
Eliza was witty, and she was strong
willed too. Tonight the sun had set
well in the sky, and. only a few glims
were left to brighten the old east school
room, when we persuaded ourselves to
part with EliZa's eloquence, and wendell
our way home. We were the class of
'7O-five boys and five girls. Next
week was commencement and we thought
we had reached the apex Of learning be-
caEse we were about to receive our di-
plomas, and could translate the Latin
class motto given us by oar teacher.
We each had d ring, with the words in
scribed on the inside | look at mine
nov and laugh at the puff balls of con-
eeit we ali were. Our feet were on the
first round of the ladder. but we thought
we had reached the top. An, me! how
much we learned in four years.
Elizl's description OF the reception,
to be given at her home, commence
meut night was what kept us so late IN
the old school room that night. Her
description OF II struck us as grand and
fortunate for Us was it that study DAYS
were over, else we could not have helped
making lgnomlnious failures we were so
excited. OF the ten graduates there are
but three Of whom shall make mention,
Eliza, her cousin Margie, and Joel Sales.
Ehzas sweetheart. These three were
inseparable; IN school and out. They
went to school together; they walked
home together; they took moonlight
strolls; together they scanned the city
by day, and studied astronomy from the
same lofty spot by night. Eliza was
homely, but Joel was considered the
Adonis Of the class. He was inclined TO
foPpishness; thought some of his white,
ringed hands and smooth black hair. but
still he was passable, and had his good
points. We liked him better than her,
and Margle, the dearest girl, better than
either. But II was patent to all that
Eliza loved Joel and Joel loved Eliza,
aDd when that is the case there Is bound
TO be a wedding, or so we argued. and X
rather looked for the band to play
Come haste to the wedding, at the II
ception, for Eliza bad solemnly ASSURED
us she would take the cars the day after
for New York, and thence take the ship
for Europe, 9 to visit my mothers PEG
ple-fOr am English, you know, 81
and want to 80 home before | dIe-iust
once. E" The grandly, pathetic air Eliza
assumed was too absurd, and we
smoled. 20 use her expression :. broad
smo'e. she used slang very often, and
WIS sure 1t ought TO be Incorporated
with the English language; it was SO
stirring and forcible. 1t might as wen
be for aught l can see; It's use is SO gen
eral
Commencement came, and we girls
one by one, glided onto the stage spread
our trails, read our ESSAYS, made our
bows according to orr several abilities,
then vanished. The boys having done
the same, minus the trail spreading, we
were all marched III again and formed IN
to figure like a half moon, while we
were urged to push forward III the path
we were Just beginning to tread, ETC..
finally receiving pOndeTous paper tied
up with blue ribbon, with which We filed
oil the stage for the last time. drawing
free breaths and cpngratuiating our
selves that we were each one of ten as
bright luminaries as the world DOS
sessed. The best part of the night was
yet to come. So far it had been a thai,
but the rest was to be pleasure-the
reception and may hap 3 wedding. We
went Such blaze Of lights, such
sweet music, such perfumed air, such
refreshments. All, they are to be long
remembered. Here We formed another
half moon with our school officers iut q
ceuterplece, and received the congratu-
latlonS OF friends upon our achieve
menfs. We waited lmpatiently for signs
OF the wedding, but the evening passed
amt at It's close Eliza babe US gooJ-by,
and that was an. She really sent to
New York next day and thence to Eu-
rope. Joel stuid at home, studied med
lei e, and seemed perfectly happy the
while. They correspondent, certainly.
Eliza was gone SIX months. and then
came home, just the same old gml-
neither better nor worse for the tour.
don't know that [ said before, but Eli
za's Wit was her one very strong point,
and she was not a brilliant scholar. Joel
wasn't either, although they might both
have been, II they had studied. They
were well suited, and it was said to Ee a
match made IN heaven. Of course. we
looked for the wedding again, for they
took up their old ways of walking, talk
ing, aud being forever together. But
nothing came of It, and after a time we
gave up thinking OF il; still we were
quite undisturbed when III our once ia
vorlte spot, the old school room, where
we bad congTegated again lust for fun.
Eliza said rehectively:
Girls, graduating class Is family.
IN which no secrets are kept nor none
betrayed. L have broken the faith. but
tonight III make amends, and Won shall
hear secret. 1t WON'T 90 outside of
this old east room, sine continued posi-
lively, for tho walls have ears and
walls tell tales. these walls are safe, tor
| have tested them many time"
We tried to promise secrecy, but she
snapped us Off immediately: "Oh.
snuff the candle | know You all, and /
trust You all. You are no traitors. The
secret isl am going to be married. :"
She stopped expectautIy, but that was
too old, and we showed no surprise.
8 Are you struck dumb, girls? % she de-
manded, after pause. ANY ques-
lions y yes, o yes, Elizs, " / an
swered, rather coolly. Shall we be of
the wedding guests 2" "No; YOU won't
any OF you be wedding guests" and, a
little ruttied, she walked TO the lobby,
Where our wraps were hanging. AS we
donned them, she asked. curiously:
And have you no desire to know who
IS the happy go lucky with me in
June %, joel, Of course" we an
swered; joel always-Joel ever.
An, yes, she murmured, - Joel al
ways gel ever. Hes the man, friends;
don't forget, ana she ran lightly out