The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-03-08
there, meekIy balanced on three legs,

glance.
"He's curious about us. thought
+ she. ''Well that's natural"
And she answered cOmDlacently.
"Well, there Georgia she's tN entv-
two. And sne's engaged to all officer
in the army, although she thinks |
don't know it, And Kate is tAenty,
and she's going to set her cap for tie
new principal of the school. At least
she says so. She's tired of making
over old gowns, and dyeing old rib
bon. and keeping genteel boarders.
don't envy the principal of the school,
Chrissy added, giving old jerks an
admonitory touch with the whip, as
he showed an undue inclination to
sidle towards Bowery-lane. Kate
has got an awful temper. She flew
into passion and boxed my ears just
before | started"
Boxed your ears!" repeated the
stranger, repressing a strong inclina-
ton to laugh. why, how old are
+ youP"
''Tm fifteen and half" said Chrissy,
almost wishing she had not told the
incident, as the crimson flush rose mp
to the very roots of her hair. And
she oughtn't to treat me like a child!
wish she would get married and go
away. l should be deal happier with
out her. Oh, oh! there comes a load of
barrelsi Old jerks is awfully afraid
of load of barrels. He always SHES
when he sees one"
Let me take the reins," suggested
her passenger.
And presently, under his charge, old
jerks, who, to do him justice, had
evinced no particular emotion of any
sort. was engineered safely past the
fearful object.
And then Chrissy pointed out the
various localities to him, told him
about the ghost that was said to walk
in old Squire Hart's deserted house,
showed him the place where a fox was
caught in the spring, and confided to
him where to 90 if he wanted to find
the finest nutting copses of the yicin-
ity.
Aud while she was enlarging on
these subjects. old jerks stopped
| sleepily at the front gate of the pretty
Blessiugton cottage.
All the Moretield heads were at the
window - Mrs. Morefield, Jannette
Moretield, Susanna Morefeld, and the
married Miss Moretield, whose present
name was Mrs. Josiah Stubbs.
"Bless mel" said Mrs. Stubbs in a
stage whisper, ''what a very genteel
young man?"
Its the city boarder," explained
Mrs. Blessington, between the twinges
of her neuralgia. Doctor Buffer
recommended him here for pure coun-
try air. He's just up from malarial
fever, and needs change, and Doctor
Buffer-dear, good man-knew how
we were situated. and that we had Il
nice front room to spare"
''Humph!" commented Mrs. More
field. ''He don't look much like
sick mani"
While Kate ran out to open the door,
all smiles and freshly-tinted pink rib
bons.
''Is it Mr.. Dorrance?" she said Il
am Miss Blessington'-w her most
engaging air of welcome. please
walk in. l hope you haven't been very
much tried by the journey"
''1t's Kate, whispered Chrissy, sud-
denly overcome by pangs of compunc-
ton. Don't let her know told you
about her temper"
I'm afraid there is some mistake"
said the gentleman, pausing in the
very act of taking his valise out of the
wagon. My name is not Dorrance.
And l was going to Mr.. Falkner's
place, where l have engaged board for
the winter. l am John Wilder, the
principal of the school,"
Chrissy dropped the reins, jumped
out of the wagon and ran to hide her.
self in the hay-mows of the barn.
The Moretields stared harder than
ever. Kate Blessington looked infini-
tely puzzled.
.'Dear mel! she said; '.its one of
Christine's blunders. We we're yerv
foolish to have trusted her. Do
come in, Mr.. Wilder"-with a still
more winsome smile-''and rest YOUR
self. and have some tea. We are all
anxiety to become acquainted with our
new principal. Pete! PeteI don't un-
harness the horse! Go straight back
to the station. Mr.. Dorrance must be
waiting there yet~
But Mr.. Wilder, with peculiar ex-
preston of the mouth and eyes, de-
clined Miss Blessington's invitation.
He would go Immediately TO Mr..
Falkner's, he said, if they would be
good enough to tell him in which di-
rection it was.
And so he bowed himself away.
An hour or two afterwards, the sta
tion-trap from Smilebridge, the next
station above, brought Mr.. Dorrance,
withered little old man, who wore a
wig and walked with gold-headed
cane.
There wasn't any one at the lower
station to meet me" said he; land
was told could get hack at Smile
bridge, two miles further on; and Pm
no walker, so just stepped back into
the train; so here / am! And I'd like
my tea at six o'clock, if you please,
and milk, bread and baked apples with
it; for haven't got back my digestion
vet, and the doctor is very particular
about my diet"
Chrissy Blessington was very silent
and dispirited when she made her ap-
pearance in the Graduating Glass of
the school at the opening of the term,
and she scarcely ventured to look at
Mr.. Wilder, as he entered her name at
the head of the list.
At recess she fingered little, as if
there were something on her mind.
"Well?" said the principal, kindly.
! I'm so sorry that l said those fool
ish things!" burst out Chrissy, with
tears sparkling in her eyes. THAT
day, you know, that l took you for the
city gentleman, and drove you to our
house-please, please forget them!
Kate and Georgia are always telling
me that | shall get into mischief with
my tongue-and now know that they
are r-r-right!"
And poor Cnrissy broke into a sob;
in spite of all her self-control.
my child, do not fret yourself.
said Mr.. Wilder: Il will remember
nothing that you would have me for
get"
At the end of the year, when the
Christmas SHOWS lay white on the hill
tops, Mr.. Dorrance was still boarding
at the Blessington cottage, and tor
menting everybody on the subject of
his "diet."
Georgia was getting ready for her
marriage to tine army officer, Kate was
lamenting her solitary blessedness,
\