The Dickinson press., 1896-09-26

Her lover, l suppose" said little
Miss Wharton, With a grimace.
Il don't believe she ever had such a
thing in her life" cried Alice.
"She had, though" said Leila. II
know, because old Mrs. Blackmorc told
me. And he went away somewhere
and never came back. And his name
was John Bates. Think Of that, John
Batcs!"
The lamps were lighted; the sound Of
the changing tea bell summoned the
hungry damsels to a repast Of freshly
baked brown bread. apple and
mugs of milk.
Miss Barley looked up from her desk
us Alice and Leila came by, arm in
arm, with clusters Of scarlet leaves in
their hats.
Miss Tortescue," said she quietly,
these French exercises are disgrace
full. You will have tc do them over
again before bedtime"
Before bedtime? But 1 can't, Miss
Barley. I'm to sew bows on my new
silk dress tonight. l shall want to
wear it ut u fortnightly reception to-
morrow
1.-THE French exercises must be at
tended to first"
Must" impatiently cried out Alice.
Yes, must. But remember" Miss
Fortescuc," the teacher gently added,
1.-THE rules are not of my making, and
I have my orders to see that they are
enforced"
Gross old thing" she muttered to
Leila, Ito spoil my evening sou
Its just what she likes to d." said
Leila. full of sympathy, "but I'll tell
you how you can manage, Alice.
Clera Field will do the exercises for
you if you give her some Of those
cream chocolates you bought to-day,
and you and 1 will play a lovely trick
on old %Barleycorn."
We'll write her a note," whispered
Leila. "We'll 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!"
Miss Barley hadfinished her share
Of the daily treadmill Of lessons a day
or so a%fterward, and had gone out to
get 4 breath Of fresh air, when q rough
looking little boy, with frost nipped
fingers and toes slipped a folded bit
Of paper into her hand. Ruth's heart
beat, her breath came quick with sur
prise and then she opened the note.
In it We're printed in rude imitation Of
RomEl letters the words:
I'm the old place, beside the Chapel
pond, Mt 8 tonight. John Bates has
returned"
A sense Of wild exultation filled her
soul. For it never Once occurred to her
that all this might be only a hoax.
Chapel pond was a deep, glittering
sheet Of water lying in the heart Of
the woods about a quarter of a mile
away. Steep rocks walled it on three
sides. On the fourth side the woods
fringed the shore and close by was a
secluded dell.
"Oh," she murmured to herself, Il
am the hafpiest woman in the world"
Half the girls at Applenook semi
nary had been let into the secret of
this excellent joke and were watch
ing Miss Barley from one vantage
point or another, as she threw q black
shawl over her head and slipped out OF
the house.
1>llllC LOUISE DcxNllO SlAIleu I'D uCI
feet.
Girls" she cried, "it's too bad! It's
cruel-that's what it is! It shall not
20 OH! Ill run after her and tell her
the whole thing is a deceit!!
But Leila Wharton pulled her back
as she was springing to open the door
couldn't overtake her now. And it IL
such a splendid joke! Just wait until
you see the expression on her face
when she IN back. We shall bt
avenged for all of Barleycorn's vicious
ness now"
Nine o'clock came, 9:3O-1O. Still NJ
Miss Barley returned.
The g%overness IN duty for that parti
cular evening, one Miss Pugsley, will
eyes that looked different ways, rose VI
with a yawn at last.
"Time for evening prayer and bed
girls" said she.
"Oh, not yet" pleaded the girls will
n accord.
Just then the door opened. Mis-.
Barley came in.
But instead of a pale, discounted
face her eyes s%parkled, her cheeks wer
crimson with an unusual glow. Sh'
went up to Miss Pugsley, and Alic
Fortescue could hear her say in Low
tones:
Dear Harriet. congratulate me. NJ,
. lover has come back, and we are to b
married next week. I have just seel
him down by Chapel pond. I'll tel
> you all about it by and by. I am goini
, In to see madam now"
!. While in madam's little sanctur
!. Ruth Barley was telling the worth,
preceptress how John Bates had tray
, eled half around the world; how he ha,
. been a prisoner in the heart ofAfric
: for months chow at last he had estat
! lished himself in q good business /
South Africa and had finally come bac
, to claim the promise Ruth had give
: him long ago.
. "He had written again and again,
> she said, land he can't understan
Z how 1t is that he never got an answe
but how could I reply to letters ths
never reached me?"
How did it happen?" said Job
Bates. "Nhy, in the most natural WI
in the world. / came in on the evenir
o stage, and when I got to the little sto1
y stile a3d the footpath that led down
C the old spot 1 told the driver to lea,
;, my traps at the hotel. md I'd take IL
t. short cut through the woods, SEER
le that it was such a fine night, and Il
Il moon full. And as I stood there thin
II ing Of the happy old times, who com
&c right into the glade but Ruthie hersel
y, just as If it were only yesterday tn
10 we parted?"
ID The young ladies of the Appleno,
seminary kept their own counsel, NJ
Alice Fortescue and Leila Wharf
declare they will play no more Ara
teal jokes.-Cincinnati Tribune.
NJ SPANISH CITY ON A CRAo.
70 1t las a Bridge That 10 FanO
elr Among Artists.
'ct Then he went to Ronda, which Is
dream Of picturesqueness. There Is
~ congruity In the thought that you c