Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-07-09
A PRACTICAL JOKE.

aid Leila wharton. Look at her with
Scr elbows on the desk and her head in her
sands I've been watching her, and she
hasn't stirred fer five minutes"
Tho last dull rays of daylight were IL
Illuminating tho deserted schoolroom where
Miss Bar lcy-nicknamed by the giddy
girls of AppIcnook seminary Barlcycorn,
simply because in "A schoolgirl atmosphere
It was absolutely necessary that every one
should have u nickname-sat there all
alone.
Isn't she plain?" said Leila, with a
shudder And so old tool Why, she's
eight and twenty if she's day"
"That at least" declared Alice in
whisper.
Il wonder, Leila, what she is thinking
shout"
Her lover, I suppose, said little Miss
Wharton with grimace.
Il don't believe she ever had such n
thing in her life, " cried Alice.
"She had, though" said Leila. Il
know, because old Mrs Backmore told
me. And he went away somewhere and
never came back. And his name was
John Bates. Think of that, John Bates ~
The lamps were lighted; the sound OF
the changing tea bell summoned the hun
CRY dam~pls to u rcpast OF freshly baked
brown bread, apple sauce and mugs OF
milk.
Miss Barley looked up from her desk as
Alice and Leila came by, arm in arm, with
clusters OF scarlet leaves in their hats.
Miss Fortesoue," said she quietly,
these French exercises are disgracetul
You VIII have to do them over again before
bodtime.'
Before bedtime? But l can't, Miss
Barley. I'm to sew bows on my new silk
dress tonight. I shall want to wear it at
a fortnightly reception tomorrow.
The French exercises must be attended
to first"
Must" impaticntly cried out Alice.
Yes must. But remember, Miss For
tcscue," the teacher gently added, ,the
rules are not of my making and l have
my orders to see that they are enforced.
Gross old thing" she muttered to
Leila, ''to spoil my evening SOL
IT'S just what she likes to do" 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 today, and you and will play
lovely trick on old Barleycorn."
well write her q note" whispered
Leila Well 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 therep'
Miss Barley had finished her share OF
the daily treadmll of lessons day or so
afterward, and had gone out to get a breath
of fresh air, when rough looking little
boy with frost nipped fingers and toes
slipped a folded bit of a paper into her hand
Ruth's heart beat, her breath eame quick
with surprise and then she opened the note.
In it were printed in rude imitation of Ro-
man letters the words:
I'm tho old place. beside the Chapel
pond, at 8 tonight. John Bates has re-
turned"
A sense of wild cxultation filled her
soul For 1t never once occurred to her
that all this might he only hoax.
Chapel pond was deep, glittering sheet
Of water lying in the heart Of the woods
nbout n quarter of mile away. Steep
rocks walled it on three sides. on the
fourth side tho woods fringed the shore
and close by WAS - secluded dell.
oh, She uurnured to herself 4 am
tho happiu,t woman In the world"
Half the girls Mt Applcnook seminary
had been let into the secret of this 'cxcel-
lent joke" and were watching Miss Barley
from one vantage point or another, as she
threw blnc', shawl over her head and
slipped out o. tho house.
Little Louise aolvillo started to her feet.
"Girls," She cried, tits too bad Its
cruel-that' $ what it IS! 1t shall not 60
5nl III run after her and tell her the
whole thin, is leceit."
But Leila Wharton pulled her back rs
size was Sprinens to open the door.
1T 5 too late" said She You couldn't
oycrtake her now. And it is such spIen-
did j.. g.. Just wait until you see the cx-
II. --aai If ltr face wlei size comes back.
Ne ~.lau brsVeus-d for alluf EArlcycurn )
15ri.at~ar-S lew"
\.a=a-e.. : came 9;3J-lG still no
Nil, is1rr.. . returned