River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1884-12-11

the library, and politely offered it to
him. He noticed this, and tried to
make her more at ease in his presence
Miss Elise" he said one morning
let me entreat You not to sit so far OFF,
as If you were afraid of me. Come
over here and sit On this sofa by me, an6
/ give you my word for it, if you do go
a Little wrong, you viii sustain no NOR.
tai injury atmy hands.
Pray do not rush through your les
son, listening to my comments and cor
rectlons as the inevitable, and then hur-
ry ont of my presence as if / were an
ogre. 1t was expedient for me to be
strict and stern in my class at the In
stitute, but the relation as teacher and
pupil need no longer exist between us;
let me be your friend and helpmate. |
do not know why you appear to dislike
me, and are so constrained In my pre-
sence. | have often noticed that you
are never so frolicsome and gay when ]
am near. No need to put constraint
on your happy spirit on my account
child. Although the Joyous mirth oil
y
ever, it still gladly echoes the music of
other youthful hearts,"
Indeed, Prof Ingram, you misiudge
me. do not dislike you, and L know
you have always been just to me. 1
confess I was not always perfectly free
and at ease in your class. You always
looked at me as though you were criti-
Ching what said so severely in your
mind"
did /" said he, laughing "Well,
hear me swear, right here, by the shade
of old Tactitus that / will not do SC
again. And will you not, on your side.
promise not to look so solemn whenever
come near you?"
Elise promised, and it was not long
before she and her teacher were fully
enjoying each others society. They
often sat and conversed long after les
sons were over. Nor was their CONVEX
sation confined to Latin literature for
Elise was beginning to feel so free in
his presence that she could converse
with him as easily as with one of her
schoolmates. She would show him her
books, birds and flowers, and even let
him examine the collection of botanic
specimens she had made. She would
often go out for walk with him, and
as they wandered where the prospect OF
green, sloping hills, shady dells, spark
ling streams and distant, blue noun
tains was spread out in heavenly beauty
before them, the grave professor lost
many lesson that nature, in her silent
language, would have taught him, in
~ -
companion. Elise would go on with
her merry discourse, hardly realizing
that the dark face before her, which she
had come to think so handsome, WIS the
same that had often been turned upon
her with frowning expression IL the
dreary old recitation room at the Insti-
tute.
She often sang for him. and he seemed
never to tire of hearing her voice. One
evening when she had finished singing
kathleen Mavourneen, he said: "Do
you know that I once heard you sing
that song more beautifully than | ever
heard it sung by any musical artist of
either continent?"
"Why, no; did not know you adj
mired my voice enthusiastically. Please
tell me when / was SO fortunate as to
deserve such praise.
"Do you remember OF practicing in
the music room near my office the
hour after read Inc examination re-
port of my Latin class? / heard you
singing, and went out and sat down by
the window ald listened to your songs.
/ was there when Miss Hatton came in
and you told her how sorely disappoint-
ed you we g in not getting your d.
ploma. ] cannot tell how deeply I
svm pathized with you! 1t was then 1
determined that you should not be dis
appointed, in the end, if any assistance
/ could render you would be of avail.
ooh, you eavesdropper! and how
little dreamed then you were so sweet
and kind do not remember all | said
in my disappointment; maybe / said
something naughty about YOU" said
Elise, affectionately taking his hand
from the back of the chair, where it
was lying, and tenderly toying with the
fingers.
mo, you did not" he said, bending
his dark, handsome face close to hers;
"and my little darling, | have some
thing more to confess. Do You know
that, as heard you sing, 1 determined to
one day make that sweet voice and these
sunny curls and laughing blue eyes all
my own?"
But we will not listen to the words
he uttered as he told her the old, old
story that has kindled lovelight in the
eyes of happy maidens frosa time i'm
memorial; the Old, old story that en-
cIIanted Elise as no music had ever
done, and called forth from her
heart a confession of the love she
bore for nina love that "was founded
on a rock, " and was as pure as her spot
less life.
Ere another commencementda day rolled
around at the institute, the professor
had made her his bride, and when he
came to sign his name to the diploma
that Elise had so fondly desired, thrill
of happiness and pride ran through his
heart as he thought Of all it had helped
him to gain.