The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-08-10

then for hearty laugh. The school
mistress cheeks were brightly flushed
and her eyes darted nlischievons def
ance at her pursuer. so that she looked
prettier than ever, and Lord Willow
brook vowed he would not giveu until
his object had been attained. Present.
ly there was a mutual truce.
al think you had better give up"
said the schoolmistress.
"NeverF' said Lord WiIlowbrook.
81 am hungry, my lord, and want to
get home to dinnern
"You can easily do So"
''How?'
'By letting me kiss you," said Lord
Willowbrock, calmy.
The schoolmistress thought for mo-
ment.
~ will let you do so. on one ccndi-
tion," she said, at last.
"What is that?" said Lord Willow
brook.
''If you will promise to remain here
until I've had time to get half way to
Willowbrook village.u
agreed" said Lord Willowbrook,
cheerfully.
The schoOlmistress came from be-
hind the blackboard and waited shyly
for the young man to approach her.
Lore Willowbrook stepped forward,
and, lifting up the girls head and
looking into her blue eyes he imprint
ed kiss on her lips.
''You shall pay dearly for this, my
lord~ she cried, with flushed cheeks
and an indignant frown.
Anything you please said Lord
Willowbrook, with perfect good humor.
$50 great a pleasure is worth any
price"
But he was not quite prepared for the
little schoolmistress' next move. Be
fore he could realize the situation she
had darted out Of the little house, the
great oak door was slammed to and the
bolts were thrust into their sockets.
The young man started up and ran
to the door.
Caught, by Jovep' he cried.
1t was true. The door was securely
fastened from without and resisted all
efforts to bulge, the little lattice win
windows were too small to admit of
egress, and he was imprisoned like
rat in a trap.
''I wish you good day, my lordr
cried the schoolmistress, with tri-
umphant peal Of silvery laughter, and
then the young man heard the sound
of her retreating footsteps. which grad
ually grew fainter and fainter, and
finally died away.
Taken prisoner he was. There was
not the slightest chance of escape, and
his only hope was that his eaptor
would rePenta and come b-sk 70 ilberste
him. But hour after hour passed and |
the sehoolmistress did not return. He |
examined the maps on the walls, the |
initials carved on the desk, the ink |
stains on the floor, and still she did not |
come. Hour after hour went by until |
the light began to fall and twilight |
crept in through the lattice windows,
and Lord Willowbrook became very
cold and hungry. Still he did not lose
his temper, or wish that he had not |
been so eager for kiss, and he paced |
up and down, holding imaginary con-
versation with the little school |
mistress, in which he expressed his un-
dying admiration for her trick, and |
offered her his hand and heart.
But the schoolmistress did not come |
to answer him, and at last the twilig.ss
deepened into darkness, and he realized
that he would have to spend the night |
in the little schoolhouse. At last he
fell into confused sleep, disturbed by |
dreams of the little schooImistress, and |
he awoke next morning feeling very |
cold and hungry.
1t was Sunday, and the church bells |
in Willowbrook village were ringing
for service. He could picture all his
friends trooping into the little church |
and wondering at his disappearance.
What fool he should look when the |
s ory became known! He, the lord Of the
man or, who had disdained the advances
of the combined female force of Viii |
lOwbroOk, to be caught in the tolls of a |
little sehoolmistress. He would ba the |
laughing stock of the country side. He |
wou Id not dare show his face outside of |
the manor house.
The day passed tediously for the
young man, and he was beginning TO
picture death by slow starvation,
when the sound of approaching voices,
the elatter Of horses hoofs and the
tramp of many feet sounded joyfully
in his ears
"At lastt' be cried, springing up
from bench on which he had been
reclining.
The sounds grew nearer, and pres
emily stopped before the little school,
and Lord WiIlowbrook blushed when
he heard the laughter of many voices.
Now for a nimble witr' Inuttered
the lord of the manor. "Help me, all
ye powers, to get out of this pretty
scrapev'
The bolts were drawn back, the door
was thrown open and disclosed to the
eyes of young Lord Willowbrook
half the population Of Willowbrook
village, foremost among whom was the
pretty schooImistress with the golden
hair, accompanied by Messrs. Frank
Cowley, Tom Hardy and William Ec-
cles, while the rear was brought up by
old Parson Cowley, in the threadbare
coat and white bands, with old DIR.
Featherfew and Mrs. Bodkin.
A burst of derisiye laugh ter greeted
the young man as he stepped out jaunt-
lily into the open and bow ed low before
the assembled company.
The pretty schoolmistress stepped
forward and courtesied to her former
prisoner.
my lord" she said, with pretty
Impudenee, az have had my revenge"
Lord Willowbrook bowed with
pleasant smile.
"'Tis true, madam" he said, Ia so