The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-07-05
THEY MET BY CHANCE

She didn't ask him in and after paus-
ing moment he said a regretful "Good-
night" and went on down the road.
She stood at the gate watching his re-
treating figure. The walk home had
not been lively, for how could Olive
chat cheerily as usual, with her cheeks
burning and her heart beating indig-
nantly at the recollection of the scrap
of gossip. She was standing in the
vestibule waiting for him at his request
when the words reached her ears:
$50, schoolmarm's after the minister
now?'
"La, yes, and she's got the inside
track. Goes home from meeting with
him regular, and they do say he's down
there ev'ry week"
That was all, but it meant that she
was being watched and talked about,
and so she I'd there thinking. The
moonlight seemed to mock her. Every
object in the landscape was visible in
its brilliant rays, yet there was nothing
in it of warmth or vitality. 1t struck
her that her sense of duty illuminated
her path in life with similar cold pale
rays. She shivered in the fresh spring
scented air and turned TO go in, but the
chill and sting of her new resolve went
with her and drove sleep away.
She had been so innOeently happy.
Why could not prying eyes and gossip
ing tongues have turned elsewhere for
employment?
OF course, he came home with her.
Any gentleman would. He went her
way and knew that Mr.. and Mrs. Hop
per never came out nights. As for the
weekly visits, they were nothing but
psychology lessons. A progressive
schoolma' am, of course, must know it,
and he had offered to assist. And she
must give it all up when she needed il
so? She set her lips firmly. She must
keep her position and couldn't afford to
be talked about. 1t made no difference
if neither had ever had thought be
yond the lessons, and no matter how
hard il was to give them up.
ats always well to stop before one
gets too fond of anything" she reason
ed, '.and I'n give it all up and never
sneak to him again.
She had no idea how she had de
pended on the lessons until there were
no more to which 10 look forward.
'sWe'n talk it over at the psychology
lesson" had grown to be her habit Of
meeting schoolroom puzzles, and now
that there was to be no such way oi
solving them, there wtre more puzzles
to meet. The following day was hard
one. Her own sad and distraught man
ner was not without its effect upon the
children. A full half-hour of the noon
recess the school spent as prisoners be
cause it was found that some one hac
broken off the knob of the door, anC
it could only be opened from the out
side. And they were compelled to wal
until some one passing released them
-Four o'clock brought welcome relief
s'Irs the embarrassment of writing Il
the minister that ails me,n she told
herself; ''if | get that off my mind u
be all right and forget about it."
And diligently she set to work, bu
each attempt was more unsatisfactory
than the last. The old folks had retir
ed and the clock struck $50 just as sh'
signed and sealed the letter, and theI
suddenly she remembered that thu
school report must be made to the com
missioner on the morrow, and the rol
books were at school.
"IIl have to get them to night" sh'
said TO herself, "late as it is. Serve
me right for being so careless"
Going to the kitchen shed she tool
down the lantern only to find it empty
Supplying herself with matches, sh
peered cautiously out upon the moon
| lit road and then ran swiftly the shor
distance to the schooI-house, not seeing
the gathering clouds behind her. b.
the light of the moon she unlocked tn
outer door, and, in order not to repea
the experience of the morning, she tool
up a block Of wood from the supply il
the anteroom and carefully placed it il
front Of the inner door to keep it from
shutting.
The dingy lamp above her desk CAV
scanty light, and the task lengthene'
itself out until muttering of thunde
and dash of rain upon the roof start
led her. Olive was not timid, as be
trip to an empty school-house in th
dark would prove, but to be alone in
thunderstorm was the one thing tina
unnerved her. Hastily rising, she loos
ed up at the lamp. II was nearly empty
IL would be safe TO leave 1t TO burn ou
of itself, and she cluld more easily fin'
her way TO the door, bat as she reaehe
il she came into violent collision wit
the minister. He had come in hurr
edly. tripped upon the block in tn
doorway. kicking it out Of his way
and the door slammed shut behind hin
Olive stepped back and stood tren
bling. She was astonished, glad an
sorry at his appearance, but more tina
all was she dismayed at the predics
ment in which he had placed her, an
under the impulse of these confiictin
emotions she bIrst forth angril,
There, now, you've shut the doc
What brought you here. anyway?
said | would never speak to ycu again.
The minister stared at her in amaz'
! mans