Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-06-23

for the shady cedar-woods, where she
still sat arranging ferns around the
ribbon Of her hat.
"There's no use trying to run
away" thought she. Il may as well
stay where am. And after all, why
should bs afraid of Mr.. Barthorne?"
Mr.. BARITONE checked his rein as he
saw the pretty young school teacher
there under the cedar. He nodded
pleasantly.
"Fine day, Miss Alicel" said he,
wiping his brow with the identical
yellow siM pocket handkerchief which
had but now served as duster for his
boots.
eyes," said Alice, standing like
some fair wood nymph beside the
spring. "Please, Mr.. Barthorne, what
did she say?"
"What did who sayp" said the mid
dle-aged gentleman, turning scarlet.
"Miss Negley. Don't think me in
trusive," she added: "but 1 know all
about it"
"The deuce you dol" said Mr. Bar
thorne "Why, she wouldn't let me
get in word edgewise-that's what
she said. Perhaps, however, I've had
a lucky escaper'
"But you must own that it is hard"
said Alice, earnestly.
"Hard? ?" 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 it! Miss Alice, what would
you say if were to ask you to be my
wife?'
Alice Hopkins looked at him in
amazement.
81, Mr.. Barthornel" she exclaimed.
"You are young enough to be my
daughter, sure enough" said the
worthy man, not without some bitter.
ness. "But I'm not so very old, either
and I've good home to offer any
woman who will take pity upon my
loneliness"
LONELINESS ?"
Alice looked at Mr.. Barthorne ir
surprise. 1t had never occurred tt
her little innocent heart that Mr.. Bar
thorne, in the big white house, will
the pair of horses and the clos,
carriage, could ever be lonely. AM
perhaps there was something in tn
dewy brightness of her eyes, as sh
raised them to Mr.. Barthorne's face
that emboldened him to plead hi
cause with more energy.
II should love you very dearly
Alice" he said, with tremble in hi
voice. II would be very good to you
Won't you answer me, Alice?"
Her head dropped; there was an in
slant 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 it, my lass" sal
he. "And you're the very girl I woul
have picked out of a thousand. II
glad, now, that Miss Negley wouldn
listen to me-"
Alice started.
"Oh, Mr.. Barthorne," said she, "ws
that your errand?"
"Of course it was" said Barthorn
"Dr. Smiley said she was the ver
woman needed to regulate my hous
hold. But the moment I limited at til
subject, she as good as ordered me o
the premises. Not that I'm sorry fl
it. She has face like man, and
figure like Prussian grenadierp
Alice broke out laughing. 81
could fancy exactly how Miss Negle
had looked. There was comfort in tt
reflection that Miss Negley woul
never lecture her more.
Miss Negley battled with the con
mittee next day, but in vain. II
ruthless trustees reduced her salary on
! half, and when it transpired, in son
, unaccountable way, that she hi
! actually refused Mr.. Barthorne (wit
out being asked) she felt that life w
indeed failure. And the arrival
Alice Hopkins wedding-cards did n
better matters.
"Oh, dear, oh, dearP she said,
spoke too soon. Why didn't L wait
hear what Mr.. Barthorne had to 81
before / answered in such hurr.
My tongue always was my besettir