The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-07
A PRACTICAL JOKE.

I "Rarlsyocrn b insbrown study ssain,
eaid Leila Wharton. Look at her wit
her elbows On the desk and her head in be
hands. Two been watching har, and sh
hasn't stirred for Eve minutes"
The last dull rays Of daylight were Il
Illuminating tho deserted sohoolroom wher
Miss Barloy-nioknamed by tho gidd
girls OF Applenook seminary Barleyoorn
simply because in q schoolgirl atmospher
1t was absolutely necessary that every on
should have o niokname--sat there al
alone.
/ Isn't she plainp' said Leila, with
shudder. And SO old tool Why, She
eight and twenty If she's dayp'
| "That at least" declared Alice in
whisper.
II wonder, Leila, what she Is thinking
about9"
Her lover, I suppose" said little Mis-.
Wharton, with grimace.
II don't believe she ever had such Q
thing In her life, b" cried Alice.
"She had, though" said Leila. "a
know, because old Mrs. Blaokmore told
me. And he went away somewhere and
never camo back. And bis name was
John Bates. Think Of that, John Bates!'
| The lamps were lighted; the sound Of
the changing tea bell summoned the hun.
CRY damsels to repast 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.
tMiaa Eortao0r,o ~ onta ho 1piakly
"these French exercises are disgraoeful.
You will have to do them over again before
bedtime"
Before bedtimep But can't, Miss
Barley. I'm to SOW bows on my now elk
dress tonight. shall want to wear 1t at
fortnightly reception tomorrow.
"The French exercises must be attended
to first"
"Mustr' impatiently cried out Alice.
Yes, must. But remem Der, Miss For
tescue," the teacher gently added, 1.-THE
rules arc not of my making, and / have
my orders to see that they are enforced"
Gross old thing" she muttered to
Leila, ITO spoil my evening sop'
"Its just what she likes to do" said
Leila, full Of sympathy, but III tell you
how you can manage, Alice. Clera Field
will do the exercises for you II you give
her some Of those cream chocolates you
bought today, and you and will play
lovely trick on Old Barleyoorp."
We'll write her q note," whispered
Leila. "We'll make her think that her
lover wants to see her again. Fancy old
Barloyoorn vending her way to tho Chapel
pond by moonlight to meet somebody who
Isn't therol''
Miss Barley had finished her share Of
the daily treadmill Of lessons day or so
afterward, and had gone out to get breath
of fresh air, when rough looking little
boy, with frost nipped fingers and toes,
slipped folded bit Of paper into her hand
Rnth's heart beat, her breath came quick
with surprise and then she opened the note.
In 1t were printed in rude imitation of Ro-
man letters the words:
I'm the old place, beside the Chapel
pond, at tonight. John Bates has re.
turned"
A sense Of wild exultation filled her
soul. For 1t never once occurred to her
that all this might be only hoax,
Chapel pond was Deep glittering sheet
OF water lying In the heart Of the woods
about a quarter Of mile away. Steep
rocks walled 1t on three sides. On the
fourth side the woods fringed tho shore
and close by was secluded dell.
"Oh, she murmurcd to herself IT am
the happiost woman In the worldr
Half the girls at Applenook seminary
had been lot into the secret Of this excel
lent joke" and were watching Miss Barley
from one vantage point or another, as she
a haru
slipped out Of the house.
Little Louise Delville started to her feet.
"Glrls," she cried, Its too bad It's
oruol-that's what 1t Is! 1t shall not go
on! I'll run after her and toll her the
whole thing is deceitl"
But Leila Wharton pulled her back as
she was springing to open the door.
It's too late, said she. "You couldn't
overtake her now. And 1t Is such SPLEEN
did jokel Just wait until you see the ex-
preston of her faco when she comes back
We shall be avenged for all Of Barleycorn's
viciousness now"
Nine O'Clock came, 9:3O-10. Still no
Miss Barley returned.
Tho governess on duty for that partiou-
lar evening, ono Miss Pugsley, with eyes
that looked different ways, rose up with o
yawn ct last.
Time for evening prayer and bed,
girls" said sho.
ooh, not yeti" pleaded the girls with
one accord.
Just then the door opened. Miss Barley
came in.
But instead Of pale, discounted face
her eyes sparklod, her checks wcro Grim
sonod with M unusual glow She went
up to Miss Pugsley, and Alice Fortescuo
could hear nor say In low tones:
Dear Harriet, congratulate me- My |
lover has come back, and We are to be
married next week. have just seen him
down by Chapel pond, I'll tell you all |
about 1t by and by. lam going in to sec
madam now"
While in madam's little sanctum Ruth
Barley was telling the worthy preceptress
how John Bates had travelled half around |
tho world; how he had been prisoner in
tho heart of Africa for months; how OF last |
he had established himself In good bust
ness In South America and had finally
come back to claim the promise Ruth had
given him long ago.
He had written again and again," she
said, land he can't understand how 1t is
That he never got any answer, but how
could reply to letters that never reached
mef"
How did 1t happenf" said John Bates.
why In tho most natural way in the
world. l came in on the evening stage,
md when got to the little stone stle and
the footpath that led down to the old spot
l told the driver to leave my traps at the
hotel, and I'd take the short cut through
the woods, seeing that 1t was such fine
night and the moon full. And as I stood
there thinking of the happy old times, who
comes right into the glade but Ruthie hor-
self, just IA if 1t were only yesterday that
We partedf'
The young laties of the Applerook SEM
mary Kept their own counsel, and Alice
Fortescue and Leila Wharton declare they
Will play no moro practical jokos.-Cin-
cinnati Tribune