Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-19
HER LOVER CAME BACK.

and her head in her hands. I've been
watching her, and she hasn't stirred
for five minutes,
''What on earth do you suppose she
is thinking about?" said Alice Fortes-
cue.
1t was on a cherries October after
noon, and the last dull rays of dav-
light were Illuminating the deserted
schoolroom. where Miss Barley-nick-
named by the giddy girls of Apple
nook Seminary ''Barleycorn," simply
because in a schoolgirl atmosphere it
is absolutely necessary that every
one should have anickname-satt there
all alone.
Leila and Alice had been out to get
autumn leaves. and now in the dusk
they were nattening their fresh young
,ng her on the sly.
shudder. and so old, too! Why,
she's eight-and-t-enty if she's dayw
THAT at least!' declared Alice in
whisper.
To these fifteen and sixteen year old
''slips" cight-and-twenty summers re-
present quite venerable old age.
Il do wonder, Leila, what she is
thinking about?'
"Her lover, suppose" said little
Miss Wharton with grimace.
Il don't believe she ever had such
thing in her life" cried Alice. "She,
indeed! With such crooked nose.
and eyes just the color of a green
CloUded marble!'
"She had, though" said Leila; 81
know, because old Mrs. Blackmore
told me. And he went away some
where and never came back. Or else
he forgot all about her-l don't really
recollect which it was. He must
have been perfect gorilla, or he never
would have fancied her! And his name
was John Bates! Think of that
John Batcs:'
Everybody can't have three sylla-
bled names, observed Alice. ''And-
oh, how cold the wild wind sweeps up
from the lake! Let's go in"
And rouse Barleycorn?"
''She can't sit there bordering all
night"
The lamps were lighted, the sound of
the Changing tea-beil summoned the
hungry young swarm of damsels to
repast of freshly-baked brown-bread,
apple-sauce, and mugs of milk.
Miss Barley looked up from her desk
as Alice and Leila came by, arm-in-
arm, with clusters of scarlet leaves in
their hats.
Miss Fortescue, said she quietly,
'these French exercise are disgraceful.
You will have to do them over again
before bedtime"
Alice Fortescue's pretty brown
brows knit themselves together petu-
lantly.
Before bedtime? But | can't, Miss
Barley. I'm to sew bows on my new
silk dress tonight. | shall want IL.
wear it at the fortnightly reception to
morrow"
The French exercises must be at
tended to first"
"Mustr impatiently cried out Alice.
''Yes, must But remember, Mis-
Fortescue,' the teacher gently added.
'the rules are not of my making, aat
| have my orders To see that they are
enforced"
Alice brushed by without a word OF
reply her fair brow clOudeG over, heI
rosebud lips twisted into pout.
Gross old thingw she muttered to
Leila; Ito spoil my evening SOL"
Its just what she likes to do" said
Leila, full of sympathy; "but I'll tell
you how you can manage, Alice.
Cleora Field will do the exercises Tor
you if you give her some of those
cream chocolates you bought to-day,
and yon and | will play 4 lovely trick
on old Barleycorn."
The cloud vanished from Alice
Fortescue's forehead; the lips became
perfect Cupid's bow of coral once
more.
'We'll write her a note," whispered
Leila; well make her think that her
lover wants to see her again. Fancy
old Barleycorn vending her way to
the Chapel Pond by moonlight. tc
meet somebody who isn't there!
Fancy her disappointment! And oh,
Alice, only think what a capital story
it will make for the girls!
And the two malicious young con-
soirators giggled together in an ecstasy
of glee.
1t was cruel plot. but Alice and
Leila were very young, and had never
known the enyenomed pangS of hope
deferred. That was their only excuse.
Miss Barley had finished her share
of the daily treadmill of lessons, a day
or so afterwards, and had gone out to
get breath of fresh air in the dreary
poplar walk at the north end of the
house, when u rough-looking little boy,
with frost-nipped fingers and toes. and
great black eyes, like those of a gypsy,
sided up to her and slipped folded
hit of mai into har honJ
"Iwas told to give it to you, miss"
said he, and vanished like human
squirrel into the strawberries.
Ruth Barley looked after him in
surprise, and then she opened the note.
In it were printed, in rude imitation
of Roman letters, the words:
IN the old place beside the Chapel
Pond at nine tonight. John Bates
has returned.
Miss Barley grew very pale; then the
blood rushed in n scalding torrent
through every vein in her body.
John Bates Was she dreaming?
Or was the thread of that sweet old
love-story to be taken up again at the
old place, just where it had been
broken off seven long years ago?
Rnth's heart beat, her breath came
quickly, and a sense of wild exultation
filled all her soul. For it never once
occurred to her that all this might be
only hoax.
Chapel Pond was a deep glIttering
sheet of water lying in the heart of
the woods abort quarter of a mile