The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-05-19

lion Of scholarliness. Directly, how
ever. she lays the weary pen aside.
and straightens the litter Of books and
paper that are strewn all over the
table.
Then. she turns out the light and
with sigh Of exhaustion, sinks into
big chair near theopen window, where
she MAY rest, and let the cool night
air ..fan her brows and blow the fever
from her checks AS the teacher
leans her elbows on the window Sill.
and looks thonghtfulIy, out on the
roofs OF houses and the sloping hills
around the college. her mind rcverts
to all of the scenes of her past life.
First to her solitary. orphaned chiid-
hood, when, she lvied with married
cousin in Kentucky village, and was
in quiet, old sort of way very happy.
She remembers the pleasure she used
to have with young friend OF her
cousins husband. He was a grown
man then, but. some how he never
seemed to her much like other fine
young gentlemen He was always
willing to go to different parts of the
woods with her. and to get her the
prettiest wild flowers, and the finest
nuts. Then, he took such an interest
in her little pleasures, and never
laughed at her ANAL worries.
But the vision of brief childhood
soon fades away, and she thinks
of her first years at the college,
of how lonely she used to feel at
Christmas time, when all the girls got
boxes and letters from home, and I'll
seemed no one in all the big world
cared about her, or remembered her,
that is, no one except Mr.. Baxter who
always sent her pretty book. Then,
the school days picture also grows,
and she sees herself as teacher. Her
eyes become dim at the memoryof the
tiresome struggleso Of the past five years
How hard it was to her to step from
the pupils desk upon the instructors
platform. How she had hoped. to
have had little of that period OF
! gayety and sunshine, called young
ladyhood and how she had been de-
prived of it all.
However. her mind rests with
satisfaction on the memory of the last
session. She had taken such an in
terest In the graduating class, and
B they had all profited wonderfully by
her teaching. A prayer Of thanks
i givin grests in her heart. as she realizes
that God has rewarded her struggles,
by enabling her to be worthy Of sus-
! tanning and comforting Others. But,
, what is the use of tracing her thoughts'
They were truly those of a woman early
!, lold, that had paused moment from life:
stern duties in order to interpret the
( meaning of life's dear mystery
: The next morning. the school is in |
great state of excitement. The senior
J class is to graduate at 10 O'Clock, ant
! the old building rings with the happ.
> voices of the girls.
i Nal Brigham and her best frien'
are already dressed in their dainty
; white silks. They are gong to Mis-
Westbrook's room. and ask her to cur
q their bangs and tie their ribbons TO
them. As soon as they knock a
i the door, 1t is opened by another elias
: mate, who says in very doleful tone
h ..Do come in, girls. and try to comfor
e me. am mad enough to chew brick
!. Miss Laura was just getting ready t
8 help me dress. when somebody had
come and tell her there was viste
q down stairs that wanted to see her.
$ wish people had the sense not to ca
d this time of the day, don't youpv
d II wonder if the visitor is lady G
u pentleman?" thought, Nal. "Oh,
n never thought about that. lets find out
n replies the senior, and so with Oh
Y common impulse of curiosity they a
K leave the room to investigate the ma
ID ter.
ina little while, they hear it is
l. gentleman. and, so of couse. instant
r begin weaving all sorts ofromanccs +
- their teacher. But even so interestlr
pr a topic as this is soon dropped, and
+ half past eleven, they are all on Il
n stage of the opera house, receiving the
n diplomas and listening to addresses
al different important ministers OF t
a. state. and friends of the school.
After the exercises are over, and t
IN graduates file from the stage, each o.
~ Is met behind the scenes by Lau
If Westbrook. who kisses her affectio
he atelv, and bids her farewell. Tn
n have all given her that enthusiasts
e. worship which school girls are SO TO
es of bestowing, and this little attenti
tn on her part is to them, the crowns
ad bliss of the day
mr. A few hours after the comment
81 ment is over, the school is entirely d
cd integrated. Dozens of pupils ha
nd left on the afternoon train. lamo
I'M them Nal Brigham and her mother a
f. father) and the two or three remain
i. girls are visiting friends in town.
4. The elder teachers are packing tn
an, trunks, or discussing the success OF
ief session, financial and educational, q
no are planning improvements for the
on Lowing terms. because, altho' the nj
r. building of the college is outwardly
VS. same as it was 25 years ago. still,
he side it is kept well furnished with all
modern apparatus, books etc., ana
ike .thoroughly abreast of the times.
ok Well, then, tits about 6 o'clok IN
zen evening of this rare day in June t
Laura Westbrook and Richard Bax
re- 1.-THE visiting gentlemanl are talk