The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-04-07
a Practical Joke; or, Loves Devio MS
Ways.

l
room at their French teacher. Miss
Barley, who had fallen asleep on her
| desk. IT wonder If she is dreaming
| about her old lover?,
| "Nonse.se!' exclaimed her friend.
VI don't believe the poor thing ever
had any, .
ooh, yes, she did, and his name Was
John Bates, and he went away %.lt,
never came back to his long-lost loves
with a giggle.
SWELL, she's mean old thing, any
way,' said Miss Fortesque, who had
been set at o disagreeable task by Miss
Barley. II have an idea how we can
get square with her." They put their
| heads together and evolved scheme we
| shall know more about later on.
That night Miss Barley had a note
handed to her by q ragged little boy
which read:
SIN. the, old place at tho Chapel Pond
at 8 to night. John Bates has return
| ed.n
Gould she believe her eyes2 Was it
indeed true that tho old love story
broken Off seven years ago was to be
resumed2 She lost no time in repairing
to the place mentioned, and half the
girls OF the seminary warned Of the af-
fair were aware Of the alleged .Dke
when Miss Barley slipped out Of tie
classroom that evening with suspi-
cious blush OH her face.
Only the other TEACHERS gossiping
around tho fire, and Nine. Appleton
herself, writing letters in her own sane
tum, remained in ignorance of what
was going OH.
Little Louise Bolvllle started to her
feet.
"Girls," she cried. s.It's too badl
It's cruel.-that's what it isl 1t shall
not 60 onl III run after her and tell
her the whole thing is deceitI''
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
as she was springing to open the door.
cts too late." said she. "You
couldn't overtake her now. And it's
such splendid jokel Just wait until
you SEQ the expression of her face when
she comes back. We shall be avenged
for all Of Barleycorn's viciousness,
nowl"
Slowly the timc-tarnished minute
hand Of the venerable clock travelled
around the dial. Nine o'clock came,
half past 80. Still no Miss Barley
returned.
|. The goVerpess on duty for, that par
ticular evening, one Miss Pugsley, with
eyes that looked different ways. rose In
with a yawn at last.
''Time for evening prayers and bed,
girls" said she.
''Oh, not yet!p pleaded the girls with
one accord.
And each had some special reason to
give for desiring five minutes more
delay.
"lt's past hours already" said Miss
Pugsley, 'sand'-
just then the door opened: Miss
Barley came in.
But instead or pale, discounted
face, she wore a most radiant aspect.
Her eyes sparkled, her cheeks were
crimsoned with an unusual glow. She
went up to Miss Pugsley (who was a
good soul, though not fair to look upon,
and Alice Fortesque could hear her say
in low tones:
"Dear Harriet, congratulate me. My
lover has come back,,&nd we are to be
married noX5 week. T have just seen
MIN down by Chapel Pond. I'll tell
you all about it by and by. I am 60
ing in to see Madame now.''
LikesswildflIe the news spread through
the room. The girls looked blankly at
each other.
''It can't be possiblel'' cried Leila
Wharton.
IT only know what heard her say. -
declared Alice, looking half frightened.
II am so glad!' exclaimed Louise
Belville, joyously clapping her hands
''oh, so glad!"
While in Madame's. little sanctum,
Ruth Barley was telling the worthy
preceptress how John Bates had travel
led half round the wOrld-how he had
been Il prisoner in the heart OF Africa
FOR months-how at last he had estab-
lished himself IN good business In
South America, and had finally como
back to claim the promise Ruth had
given him long ago.
"lIe has written again and again."
she said, "and he can't understand how
it is that he never got any answer.
But how could I reply to letters that
never reached me?''
Madame kissed the .fluttering little
governess In her slow, stately way.
"My dear, L congratulate YOU" said
she. "Of course, deeply as regret los
ing good teacher, I Shall not object to
cancolling your engagement with me,
under the circulnstances!'
And she smiled and nodded and look
ed preter-naturally wise.
"'tlow did it happen2" said John
Bates.
why, in the most natural way in
the world. I came In on the evening
stage, and when I got to the little stone
stile and tho footpath that led down to
the old spot told the driver to leave
my traps at the hotel and I'd take the
short cut through the woods, seeing
that it was such q fine night and the
moon at full. just an excuse, You
know, to look at the remembered haunt.
AS | stood there, thinking OF the happy
old times, who should come right into
the moonlight but the woman 1 have
never ceased to love- and he clasped