The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-30

lnat ne WIS ODscINtu Allh6 Dy MISS
Negley from her post of authority
on the school room dais, and little
Alice Hopkins by the spring in the
woods, paused to dust his boots with
his yellow silk pocket handkerchief,
and to adjust his thick dark locks
before he raped on the door.
"I'm glad I'm not there" said
Alice Hopkins, with long sigh of
reliet.
And then, having cooled her face
and hands in the transparent spring
she sat down to think.
To her, reduction of her scanty
salary meant nothing less than star
vation. AS things were, she could
scarcely pay her board and other
expenses.
And sitting there in the shifting
shadows of the wind-blown branch
es, she cried little, to think how
solitary and friendless she was in the
world.
Miss Negley, however was in a
very different mood.
Come in," she had answered
briskly, to his knock at the door,
without taking the trouble to move
from her seat.
And when Mr.. Barthorne entered
he espied her sitting stiff, silent and
straight.
Good afternoon, Miss Negley,"
said the trustee depositing his hat on
the nearest shelf, and venturing on
an apelogetic bow.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Barthorne,
Miss Negley answered, with just
about as much warmth as an icicls
in her address.
Il hope l do not intrude," said he
ciwily.
"Oh, no. not at ALL" said Miss
Ne gley.
"A-bem," said the trust-e, evi-
IDENTITY i'll at ease. at amt easy tu
broach the business I've come on,
Miss Negley."
81 should think not" replied the
lady.
But / called Just at this hour
when | expected to find you all
alone"
-'Oh, yes, l haven; any doubt that
you did, Miss Negley Interrupted
him in accents of fine sarcasm
Even you, Squire Barthorne, would
be ashamed to hint at such thing
before the dear poor school chill.
dren."
"Eh ?" said Mr.. Barthorne, in.
stinctively retreating a pace or two
for there was something pythoness.
like in Miss Negley's attitude, a.
she rose and darted her read for.
ward at him, to emphasize hel
words.
Il know what you are going tc
say said Miss Nealey, and | won't
listen to word of it-not one word
No one but a set of narrow-mindsc
misers would have thought of it. I'll
leave Wyndale school firstp
well, Well, no harm DONE" SAID
Mr.. Barthorne, clutching at his hat
IF I'd have known that you'd taken
things as hard as this"
How did you suppose l was 60
ing to take 'em ?" said Miss Negley
with a scornful laugh: ''did you
mistake me for the dust under your
feet?'
II assure you, ma am, that moth,
ing of the sort was in my mind,
humbly uttered Mr.. Barthorne, Il
wish you good afternoon.
He hurried out, rsmounted his
gray s.eed. which, poor beast, was
just composing itself for a comfort
able doze in the sunshine, and rode
off, making, to Alice Hopkins in
tense dismay, straight for the shady
woods. where she still sat arranging
ferns around the ribbon of her sum-
mer hat.
There is no use trying to run
away" thought she, Il may as well
stay where I am. And after all why
should | be afraid of Mr.. Bar
thorne ?"
Mr.. Bartherne checked his rein as
he saw the beautiful young school
teacher there under the trees. He
nodded pleasantly.
Fine day, Miss Alice" said he,
wiping bis brow with the identical
yellow silk handkerchief which had
Just now served as a duster to his
boots
Yes" said Alice, standing like
some fairy wood-nymph beside the
spring please Mr.. Barthorne, what
did she say ?"
What did who say ?" said the
middle aged gentleman, turning
scarlet.
Miss Negley. Don't think me
intrusive" she added but know
all about it.
The deuce you do!'' said Mr..
Barthorne. "Whv, she wouldn't let
me get in word edgewise-that's
what she said. Perhaps, however, l
hada lucky escape
"But you must own that it is
hard" said Alice, earnestly.
Hard ?" echoed Mr.. Barihorne
II should have supposed it would
hsve suited her exactly. But, a
new idea burst atnwart 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.. Barthorne," she exelaim-
ed
"You are young enough to be my
daughter, sure enough" said the
worthy man, not without some bit
terness, ''but I'm not SO very old,
either, and I've a good home to Of
fer any woman who will take pity on
my loneliness"
"Loneliness?"
Alice looked at Mr.. Bartborne in
amazement.
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.