Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-05-02
HER LOVER CAME BACK.


Watching her, and she hasn't stirred
for five minutes"
"What on earth do you suppose she
is thinking aboutP" said Alice Fortes-
cue.
1t was on cherries October after
noon, and the last dull rays of day
light were illuminating the deserted
schoolroom, here Miss Barley-nick-
named by the gisldy girls of Apple
nook Seminary ''BArleycorn,' simply
because in u schoolgirl atmosphere it
is absolutely necessary that every
one should have anickname-sat there
all alone.
Leila and Alice had been out to get
autumn leaves. and now in tie dusk
they we're fattening their fresh young
faces against the window glass, watch
ing her on the sly.
isn't she plain?' SAID Leila, with a
shudder. And SO Old, too! Why,
sha's eight-ana-twenty if she's day!"
That at leasl!' declared Alice in a
whisper.
To these fifteen and sixteen year old
'slips" eight-and-twentv summers re-
present quite a venerable old age.
~ do wonder, Leila, what she is
thinking about?' -"
"Her lover, I suppose" said little
Miss Wharton with a grimace.
Il don't believe she ever had such a
thing in her life!" cried Alice. "She.
indeed! With such a 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
here and never came back. Or else
he forgot all about her---l don't really
recollcct 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 Bites
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-bell summoned the
hungry young swarm of damsels to a
repast of freshly-baked brown bread,
apple-sauce, and mugs of milk.
Miss Barley looked up from her desk
arm, with clusters of scarlet leaves in
their hats.
''Miss Fortescue," said she quietly,
''thesc French exercise are disgraceful.
You will nave to do them over again
before bedtime"
Alice Fortescue's pretty brown
brows knit themselves together petu-
lantly.
Before bedtime? But l can't, Miss
Barley. Pm to sew bows on my new
silk dress tonight. | shall want to
wear it at the fortnightly reception to-
morrow"
The French exercises must be at
tended to first"
'Must! impatently cried out Alice.
Eyes, must. But remember, Miss
Fortescue,' the teacher gently added,
''the rules are not of my making, and
l have my orders to see that they are
enforced"
Alice brushed by without a word of
reply. her lair brow clouded over, her
rosebud lips tx listed into pout.
"Cross old thing!" she muttered to
Leila; ''to spoil my evening SOP
''lts 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 for
you if you give her some of those
cream chocolates you bought to-day,
and you and l will play a lovely trick
on old Barleycorn.
The cloud vanished from Alice
Fortescues forehead; the lips became
a 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, to
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-
spirators giggled together in an ecstasy
of glee.
1t was cruel plot, but Alice and
Leila were very young, and had never
known the envenomed pangs of hope
deferred. That was their ONLY excuse
Miss Barley had finished her share
of the daily treadmill of lessons, day
or SO afterwards, and had gone out to
get a breath of fresh air in the dreary
poplar walk at the north end of the
house, when a rough-looking little boy,
with frost-nipped fingers and toes. and
great black eyes, like those of gypsy,
sided up to her and slipped folded
bit of paper into her hand.
'Iwas told to give it to you, MISS"
said he, and vanished like a 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:
Sin the old place beside the Chapel
Pond at nine tonight. John Bates
has returned"
Miss Barley grew very pale; then the
blood rushed in scalding torrent
through every vein in her body.
John Bates! Was she dreamingp
Or was the thread of that sweet old