The Forrest City times., 1895-11-08

you, want you to treat him we'll Do you hearP" Yes" replied Winnie shortly, with a toss of her head indica- ting that she would consult her own in- clinations.
 So Bob called at the farmhouse to be received by the farmer with the utmost cordiality and by his daughter with the most freezing coldness. But, confident of his ultimate success, he kept up his unwelcome attentions.
 That winter, the little school in the valley was taught by young man named Ridley McKendriclk Ridley was an ambitious young fellow, striving to pay his way through college, after the fashion of so many successful men, by teaching. As Mir. Ford's house was nearest the school, Ridley boarded there.
 It was not long before he and Winnie became quite well acquainted. They discovered that their literary tastes were similar, and spent many of the long winter evenings reading and dis cussing some favorite novel or poem. Mr. Ford would sit by, and watch them sharply through his glasses. Often it occurred to him that it was not safe to allow this handsome young man to be with his daughter so much But, he treasured himself, no harm could possi- ply come of it, so long as he was pres ent, and their conversation did not wan der from the subject of books.
 An. Mir. Ford, you had forgotten that look may sometimes convey a meaning deeper than words, and that the young man could read the storied heros words with such feeling and in such tone that they became his own Bob, who often dropped in of an even- ing, realizing something of this as he sat and listened, wished that he ap- preciated poetry, and that that con- founded girl would be as agreeable to him as to the schoolmaster.
 Mir. Ford was not entirely blind, and at last spoke to Winnie, intending to reprimand her severely:
 Seems to me you and the school master are getting to be pretty good friends over your reading?"
 We are," said Winnie, raising such an innocent face to her fathers gaze eii"O IO iStS
 Well, it's all right, so long as it don't go any further. He's fine fel- low, and 1 like him, but he's poor. don't want you to get any foolish no tions into your head about him."
 Not long after this the pupils of Rid ley's school were challenged to d spell ing match by the pupils of an adjoin- district In n ;orh hood where little happens in the way of entertainment, an event of this kind is hailed with interest, especially by the young people. Bob Carr heard of it, and went immediately to ask Win nie to accompany him to the spelling match.
 In order to propitiate her father Winnie consented. Bob was lifted to state of perfect bliss, and he deter mined that that night should settle his fate. And it did
 On the appointed evening Bob made his appearance attired in a bran-new suit, and high collar that rasped his chin whenever he turned his head He waited in the parlor till Winnie com pleted her preparations. When she ap- peared he presented her with small bouquet of his mothers geraniums and bag of peppermint lozenges. Winnie accepted these offerings with smile that made BobS heart beat rap turously.
 Then they started for the school house. A little snow had fallen, cov- ering the brown fields, and powdering lightly the green foliage of pine and cedar; little patches of it clung to the bare boughs of other trees, as if to cover their wintry nakedness. The moon had not yet risen, but the light of the faded day seemed to finger over the landscape.
 Beautiful night, isn't it?" remarked Bob, holding open the gate for Winnie to pass through.
 'Yes," answered Winnie, carelessly.
 Don't the bushes look pretty, drifted with snow?" went on Bob.
 These remarks were something unu- sual from Bob, who, as a rule, main tained strict silence till Winnie, in desperation, made some comment on the weather. Bob was evidently work ing himself up into sentimental mood, and there was no telling to what it would lead.
 How ghostly Indian hill looks," "sug- gested Winnie, glancing toward the haunted spot, white and desolate in the twilight.
 Bob looked toward the place and shivered involuntarily, as the many stories concerning it recurred to him.
 Did you ever see the Indian chief that haunts the hill?" continued Win nie, wickedly.
 No. 1 never did but lots of aannla