The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-05-10
roken off seven long years ago?

filed all her soul For it never once
occurred to her that all this might be
only q hoax.
Chapel Pond was a deep glIttering
sheet of water lying in the heart of
the woods about q quarter of a mile
away, and deriving its name from the
steep rocks which walled it in on three
sides, which were supposed to bear
some resemblance to the Gothic pillars
of chapel. On the fourth side the
woods fringed the shore, and close
by was a secluded dell where the
violets blossomed earliest in the spring
time, and great clusters of maiden
hair fern grew in rich profusion.
How happy Ruth Barley had been
then, in the old days, before her lover
went away-how wretched afterwards!
She pressed the crumpled bit of
paper to her lips again and again.
''Oh," she murmured to herself, 81
am the happiest woman in the world!
What right have l to expect a second
blossoming time in my lifeP and yet it
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 SIZE threw a black Shetland
shawl over her head. and slipped cut
of the house Just when the hands
of the clock in the hall were nearing a
quarter TO nine.
1t was a still mild evening, with the
moon at IA full; one could almost hear
NF ha 10
side.
Some laughed as the door closed
softly behind the English governess,
who iondly supposed herself to be un-
noticed; some whispered, one or two
looked 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 Belyille started to her
feet.
Girls" she cried, "it's too bad!
not 90 on! I'll run after her, and tell
her that the whole thing is deceit!
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
as she was springing to open the door.
"It's too late, "she said. "You couldn't
overtake 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,
half-past nineteen. Still no Miss
Barley returned.
The governess on duty for that par
ticular evening. one Pugsley, with
eyes that looked different ways, rose
up with a yawn at last.
"Time for evening prayers and bed,
girls" said she.
"Oh, not yeti! pleaded the girls with
one accord.
And each had some special reason
TO give for desiring five minutes more
delay.
Its past hours already" said Miss
Pugsley, "and-"
Just then the door opened: Miss
Barley came III.
But instead of q pale discounted
face, she wore a most radiant aspect.
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks
were crims0ned 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.
Ny lover has come back, and we are
to be married next week. | have just
seen him down by Chapel Pond. I'll
tell you all about it by-and-by, l am
going to see the madame now"
Like wildfire the news spread
through the room. The girls looked
blankly at each other.
lit can't be possible~ cried Leila
Wharton.
Il only know what l heard her
say" declared Alice, looking half
frightened.
Il am so gladm exclaimed Louise
Belville, joyously clapping her hands
.'oh, SO gladr'
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 a prisoner in the heart OF
Africa for monthS-hOw at last he had
established himself III a good business
in South America. and had finally
come back to claim the promise Ruth
had given him long ago.
He has written again ana again,
she said, land lie can't understand
how It is that he never got any answer.
But how could | reply to letters thai
never reached me?"
Madame kissed the fiuttering little
govern esS in her slow and stately way
My dear, l congratulate you," she
said. ''Of course, deeply as / regret
losing a good teacher, | shall not OBJ
ject to cancellng your engagement
with me, under the circumstances"
And she smiled and nodded, ant
looked preternaturally wise.
How did it happen?" said Johr
Bates.
why in the most natural way il
the world. came in on the evening
stage, and when ! got to the little
stone stile and footpath that lee
down to the old spot, l told the driver
to leave my traps at the hotel, and IL
take the short cut through the woods
seeing that it was such fine nigh
and the moon at full. Just an excuse
you know to look at the remembereI
haunt. And as | stood there, thinking
of the happy old times. who shouiC
come right into the glade but Ruthie
herself. just as if it were only yester.
day that we parted."
But" cried Miss Barley-Mrs
Bates she was now-''who could have
sent me that note? John declares ht
didn't. How could he, when he didn'
even know that was teaching at the
seminary?'
"Why of course it was he" sai(
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 n,
more practical jokes.
IL