West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-05-02
THE STOLEN LETTER.
pY HELEN FoRREsr oRAyrs.

"You are very foolish TO think of IL al
all, >" said Miss Antonina Bioogstt.
Miss Blodgett was trimming her hat
with bunch of artificial honeysuckles.
The spring fashions were in, and Miss
Blodgett had no idea OF being called a
dowdy. She was handsome, high-col-
ored girl, with hair arranged in the very
latest style, rhinestones screwed into her
ears, and two or three different colored
rings on her plump fingers, and she
hummed the refrain OF the latest opera
bouffe as she sat there waiting for the tea.
bell to ring.
Madeline Murray had just come in from
school. The children had been unusually
troublesome that day. -Four obstinate.
bullet-headed little lads had stolidly re-
fused TO capitulate, on the subject of the
multiplication table, until four o'clock ;
and then there were the copy-books to
be gathered up, the object lessons for the
morrow to be glanced over, and the
weekly report 10 be carried in TO the vice
principal.
''l am afraid, Miss Murray, he had said
TO her, "that your dicipline is hardly
what il ought TO be. None of the other
teachers have trouble with their chill
dren."
'None Of the other teachers have such
a bad class as mine," instinctively re-
tOrted poor Madeline.
But the vice principal had only frowned.
and muttered something about "excuses
being convenient"
And Madeline had dragged herself
home, with headache that seemed like
red-hot needles tingling at the base OF
her brain, and heart full OF despond
ency, for she knew we'll that Mr. Double
day, the vice principal, had sister who
was eagerly awaiting the first vacancy to
become herself teacher.
At home she had found letter from
an old grand aunt awaiting her.
81 don't know whether you're tired OF try
ing that experiment of city life, wrote Aunt
Eunice, after peculiar orthography OF her
own, ''but should think you might be bv
this time. Lois Ann is married, and / need
somebody 20 help me with the homework IN
you choose 20 come back TO the farm, TN nav
dollar and half week, just the same as /
Pal9 LOS Ann: and give you a good home.
And IT Is an offer shall not make twice.
Madeline looked wistfully at the let
ter. Go back to the shrill sound of Aunt
Eunice's voice, the dreary drudgery Of
washing and ironing, baking, soft soap
making and cellar scrubbing-go back 10
the old existence from which she had
been 80 anxious 20 escapeG Would II
not be tacit admission that life for her
had been failure7
Yet, on the other hand, there was the
principals persistent disapprovaI-
the sister only waiting a chance to edge
herself in as a teacher-the headaches
and the utter disheartenment.
you'll never have a chance 10 get
married." said Miss BlodQett. iii Won
bury yourself alive in the country like
that. "
81 do not think shall ever marry. g"
said Madeline, sadly
"Why not7" said fair Antonina. "There
isn't much style about you, to be sure.
but there are always plenty Of opportuni-
ties in such place as this"
For Miss Blodgett's sister-in- lava
shrill-voiced widow, with tomahawk
shaped nose and a cap invariably slipped
to ono side kept the boarding house. and
Il was full Of eligible boarders; and not
gentleman sat down to the table for whom
Miss Antonina had not, at one time or
other, set her cap"
She was like a gaudy double tulip
Madeline Murray like one Of the slender
stemmed violets that only blossoms in the
shade, bat are ineifahly sweet.
~ am almost discouraged said Made
line, IN n low voice.
"Oh well, do as you please. said Miss
BlodRett, remembering, AZ she spoke. that
if blue-eyed Madeline were gone. she
would have no rival in the eyes Of Mr.
Avenol, the young lawyer, who sat Oh
Dosite them at table.
Madeline was very silent this evening
Miss Blodgett talked and laughed with
unusual volubility.
Mr.. AveDel, n black haired STRAIGHT
featured man, with pleasant hazel ewes.
watched them both with unusual taciturn
~.
"Shall I, he asked himself. as tho
shuiiling waiter muttorcd the various
items Of dessert into his ear, scr shall /
aotf Have ! known her long enough
Has she given me any right 70 hone for
nich a blessingl Shall ], or shall I notge
And 'he Tsitei brought hin, Ia de.