The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-07-25


that they formed, and introduced her
name In all their SONGS She entered into
the spirit Of the amusemenisas if she were
again child, and none laughed more
heartily than she. But the games were
suddenly stopped, and graveyard silence
succeeded the merry noise. Some of the
children looked frightened, others dis
pleased, and all remained silent. The
teacher looked around to discover the
cause of the interruption, and her eyes
rested upon Herbert Drew. the mysterious
occupant of the old castle He was stand
ing close to tall tree, his dark eyes were
fixed upon her, and his pale, thoughtful
face wore an expression of intense pleas
ure never before seen on it.. The teacher
had never seen him before, but she had
heard many queer stories bout him. She
was more pleased than displeased at his
appearance, however, for she did not
believe any of the stories, but supposed
that the only crime of which he was
guilty was a love for solitude. He adj
vanced toward her, and gracefully lifting
bis bat, said:
Pardon me miss for thus interrupting
your entertainment | was passing along
the road and hearing voices became curl
Gus TO see the visitors, for I thought that
| was the only one who ever visited this
lonely region. My appearance, though,
seems to have put damper on the spirits
of the children.
This was said in rich, full voice and
IN smiling and pleasant manner. His
face did not have any gloomy expression;
his eye did not have the vacant stare al
ways before seen there; his whole man
ner seemed TO have changed and the
children seeing that he was not actually
dangerous continued their pastimes aud
soon forgot the awful presence of the
stranger in the noisy enjoyments of their
sports.
Frances Austin and Herbert Drew an
tered into an entertaining conversation
touching on various subjects, and in a
short time they became very friendly and
evidently mutually pleased with each
others society. The young teacher forgot
the children who had wandered off into
different parts of the weeds. She secretly
admired the recluse and she loved to watch
his sincere manner as he grew enthusiastic
on .ubject. Sometimes he would pur-
sue subject as though he were sollloquiz-
ing and she would imagine that he for
got that she was present; but at such
times he would look up suddenly to ask
lGI d QucSt1OH anu WOuAQ uulL uCL CJES
fixed upon him in wonder. 1t was very
plain that he had made deep impress
sion upon her.
II suppose" he remarked when they
were returning home from the woods,
syou too have shared the popular opin-
ion as to my motive in coming to this vii
lage. l admit that my conduct might,
with reason, have appeared strange, but
looked at in my ewn light there was moth
ing mysterious about it. | sought this
place for the seclusion, the solitude it
offered, and because it is place where 1
can prosecute my labors without inter-
rupsion
He then informed her of what the la
bors referred to consisted. He was a
writer for some literary periodicals and
wrote under a certain snom de plume"
which he mentioned.
The announcement of Herbert DEew's
literary pseudonym startled the school
teacher. He was the last person she ever
expected to meet, and she could hardly
believe that she was by his side aud that
she bad been converSDg with him the
greater part of the day. She was reader
of his works and had often expressed de-
sire to see him, but never dreamed that
her wish would be realized under such
peculiar and pleasant circumstances.
They met each other frequently after
wards which set gossiping lounges in ac-
ton. The villagers could not conceive
how so great change could be produced
10 Herbert Drew As he walked along
with Frances Austin by his side he would
chat and laugh as naturally as other men
and the simple villagers would open their
eyes and their mouths in amazement But
it soon became v.ry plain TO every one
that the recluse and the school teacher
| sought each others company with appar-
ent pleasure, and the villagers concluded
without much deep thinking or argument
that Herbert Drew loved the handsome
! school teacher.
Days and months passed aud Frances
Austin attended daily at the little school
house. Nothing occurred to disturb the
peaceful and happy life of the villagers,
until one morning Frances Austin an
nounced 10 her pupils her intention Of
soon leaving them. II became known
also that she had sent her resignation to
| the School Trustees which that body ac-
cepted with much n greet. It was not
| great surprise to any one, for the villagers
| felt certain that some day Herbert Drew
| would ask the school teacher TO become
| bis wife. Yet it was material for talk
and Herbert Drew and Frances Austin
became the cynosure Of all eyes and the
subject of general conversation.
Well, the villagers were correct, for
| one beautiful evening Herbert Drew, in
his manly way, asked Frances Austin's
| band in marriage, and the solemn cere-
mony which was performed shortly after
wards in the little village church an
| noanced to the world her answer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Drew left the quiet VIII
lage where they had spent SO many pleas
ant days, and the villagers showered on
| them blessings and wishes for a happy
| life. WA. l..