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

time, and great clusters of maiden
hair fern grew in rich profusion.
How happy Ruth Barley had been
| then, IL the old days, before her lover
went awav-how stretched afterwards!
She pressed tie crumplcd bit OF
paper to her lips again and again.
ooh" she murmured to herself, Il
am the happiest woman in the world!
| What right have to expect a second
| poisoning time in my life? and yet il
| has come"
Half the girls at Applenook Semina-
~ had been let into the secret OF this
! excellent joke" and were watching
| Miss Barley from one vantage point or
another, as threw black Shetland
shaw over her head. and slipped out
of the house just when the hands
of the clock in the hall were nearing .
quarter to nine.
Il was still mild evening. with the
moon at full; one could almost hear
the gurgling Of the little brook out
side.
some laughed as the door closed
softly behind the English governess,
who fondly supposed herself to be I'M
n0FiGed; some whispered, one or two
locked grave.
Only the other teachers gossiping
around the fire, and Madame Apple
ton herself, writing letters in her own
sanctum, remained in ignorance of
what was going on.
Little Louis Belville started to her
iee-.
Girls" she cried, "it's too bad!
It's cruel-that's what it is! 1t shall
no: GO on! I'll run after her, and tell
her that the Whole thing is deceitw
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
as she was springing to open the door.
at too late, "She said. you couldn't
ovc;'take her now. And it is such a
splendid joke! just wait until you see
the expression of her face when she
comes back. We shall be avenged for
Barleycorn's viciousness now!"
Slowly the time-tarnished minute
hand of the venerable clock travelled
around the dial. Nine o'clock came,
Barley returned.
TIE governess on duty for that par
ticular evening, one Pugsley, with
eyes that looked different ways, rose
up with yawn at last.
Time for evening prayers and bed,
girls, said she.
"Oh, not yeti" pleaded the girls itt
one accord.
And each had some special reason
to give for desiring five minutes moro
delay.
"It's past hours already" said Mist
Pugslev, "and-"
just then the door opened: Miss
Barley came in.
But instead of a pale discounted
face, she wore a most radiant aspect.
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks
were crimsoned with an unusual glow.
She went up to Miss Pugsley (who was
a good soul, although not fair to look
upon), and Alice Fortescue could hear
her say in low tones;
Dear Harriet. congratulate me-
My lover has come back, and we are
70 be married next week. l have just
seen him down by Chapel Pond. I'll
tell you all about it by-and-by, 1 am
going to see the madame now"
Like wildfire the news spread
through the room. The girls looked
blankly at each other.
1T can't be possblew cried Leila
Wharton.
Il only know what I heard her
say" declared Alice, looking half
frightened.
Il am SO gladr' exclaimed Louise
Belville, joyously clapping her hands
ooh, SO gladp
While in madam's little sanctum,
Ruth Barley was telling the worthy
preceptress how john Bates had
travelled half around the world-how he
had been Il prisoner i'll the heart OF
Africa for months-how at last he had
established himself in good business
i'll South America. and had finally
come back to claim the promise Ruth
had given him long ago.
He has written again and again."
she said, land he can't understand
how it is that he never got any answer
But how could reply to letters that
never reached me?"
Madame kissed the fiuttering little
governess in her slow and stately way.
My dear, | congratulate you," she
said. ''Of course, deeply as | regret
losing good teacher, l shall not OBJ
ject to cancellung your engagement
with me, under the circumstances
And she smiled and nodded, and
looked preternaturally wise.
'.How did it happen?' said John
Bates.
why in the most natural way in
the world. | came in on the evening
stage, and when | got to the little
stone stile and footpath that led
down to the old spot, | told the driver
to leave my traps at the hotel, and I'd
take the 5 Ort cut through the woods,
seeing that it was such a fine night
and the moon at full. Just an excuse
you know to look at the remcmberep
haunt. Amt as | stood there, thinkiny
of the happy old times, who should
| come rigat into the glade but Ruthie
herself, just as if it were only yester-
day that we parted!'
But" cried Mss Barley--Mrs.
Bates she was now-''who could have
sent me that note? John declares he
didn't. How could he, when he didn't
even know that was teaching at the
seminary?'
"Why of course it was he!" said
everyone.
And deny it vehemently as he would,
no one believed him.
But the young ladies of the Apple
nook Seminary kept their own counsel.
And Alice Fortescue and Leila Whar-
! ton declare that they will play no
more practical jokes.
The Customs of Capri.