The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-07-15
Cbe Cost Of a Kiss.
By PHILIP GIBBS.

SJdl hiCd q ioA 5ShiS IL sAN
bright sunshine. The hunters opened
their mouths and drank in the keen
morning air as they dashed after the
beagles, past farm and homestead, over
hedge and ditch, up hill and down dale.
The fox was a gallant fellow. and fled
like the wind before his pursuing foes,
who followed the scent with nose to the
ground and tail erect. After a dashing
chase, in which many horseman was
left behind, Sir Reynard slackened
speed at last, and in another moment
Lord Wilowbrook shouted the view
halloo!" By this time they had formed
n semi-circle, and were half way back
to Willowbrools village. On the crest
OF the hill stood little stone-built
house covered with jasmine and Vir-
ginia creeper. 1t was the little school
of Willowbrook, and the singing of chill
dren came through the open door and
mingled with the faint baying of the
weary beagles, who painted up the hill
after their tired victim. They were
close upon him now, and in another
moment his fate would have been
sealed. when suddenly there was a cry
of astonishment from Lord Willow
brook, who was the foremost hunts
man.
"By Jove, the animal has run into the
schoolhouse!" 1t was fact; the poor
tired beast had seen the open door, and
had dashed in to escape the fangs Of
the hounds behind him. The children
in the school set up frightful shrek.
and the school door was rapidly banged
to in the face of the hungry beagles,
who ran to and fro, baying and
whimpering in frantic excitement.
"Well, this is certainly a rum CO." said
Lord Willowbrook, as the other hunts
men struggled up. "What shall we
do?"
Call off the hounds and get inside
said Frank Cowley. the parsons mad
cap son.
After some consultation this was
finally agreed upon. The school door
had been locked and nobody opened 1t
after repeated knocking, so with very
little ceremony, Frank Crowley put his
shoulder to the door and attempted to
burst it open. 1t was a solid piece of
what singular arrangement, only used
when the place was empty. The lock
resisted all his attempts; but, when
half a dozen stalwart fellows hurled
themselves against it, it yielded. The
dozen or so young huntsmen entered
pell-mell into the school room, but
pulled themselves up suddenly when
they realized their situation.
At the end Of the large room, on a
little raised dais, upon which was a
school desk, stood young girl, sur
round by group of little children who
were clinging to her skirts in terror at
the sudden invasion. She was slim,
fair girl. in plain. tight-fitting black
dress, with a mass Of sunny golden
hair; and, as she stood by her desk.
with flushed cheeks and an angry light
in her blue eyes she looked very pretty
and naughty.
what is the meaning Of this unwar-
rantable intrusion, gentlemen?" she
said, in a clear silvery voice.
The young huntsmen touched their
caps but could not find anything to
say.
"Gadzooks, what pretty gait" whis-
pered the irrepressible Frank Cowley.
Lord Willowbrook was the first to
speak.
MADAM" he said, in that deep, mu-
steal voice of his which caused such a
thrill to the hearts of the female in
habitants of Willowbrook, 'we sin
cerely ask your pardon, but-but we
are rough huntsmep, our fox took
refuge in your school, and in the ardor
of our sport, we have, perhaps, forgot
ten our manners"
II think that is the case" said the
schoolmistress with a faint suspicion
of smile. However, gentlemen, you
will not find your fox here, because it
has gone up the chimney, where you
are at perfect liberty to follow it."
The huntsmen burst into a merry
laugh which put them at their ease.
The young lord of the manor sat
down on the foremost bench and looked
round curiously at the little school
room, fitted with rows of wooden desks,
and decorated with colored maps and
charts. Then his eyes returned to the
pretty schoolmistress, with the golden
hair, and to the little group of village
children who had recovered from their
fright, aud were peeping behind her
skirts.
"Really, this Is quite charming!" said
the young man, pleasantly, as If to open
conversation.
Reminds one of ones youth, doesn't
it?" said Mr.. Frank Cowley, sitting
down on another bench, and taking up
one of the children's states.
II say, schoolmistress," said Tom
Hardy, one of the neighboring squires,
more renowned for his good temper
than for his brilliant wit, "s'pose you
give us lesson?"
The proposition was received with
general burst OF applause from the
huntsmen, who sat down with much
clatter and jingle of spurs in the chill
dren's benches, and possessed them
selves with states and pencils. The
! school children, who were beginning to
think the whole scene fine fun, clapped
their hands at the idea of SCHOOL
mistress" teaching 10 big huntsmen In
scarlet jackets.
"A lesson! A lesson!" cried the hunts
men.
Certainly" said the schoolmistress,
with mischievoHs twinkle in her blue