The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-06-21

her life, and, following her companions TO
her seat, she left Mr.. Stuart standing In
the doorway. With her usual polteness,
Mary came forward and received the
stranger, who gave his name as Mr.. stu
art, saying "he felt much interested in
common schools, and therefore had ven
tured to call"
Offering the seat OF honor, Mary re-
sumed her usual duties, occasionally |
casting a look Of curiosity at the stranger
whose eyes seemed constantly upon her. |
1t was rather warm that day, and when
Mary returned from her dinner Widow
Perkins was greatly shocked at seeing
her attlred In a light pink muslin dress,
the short sleeves of which showed to good
advantage her reund, white arms. mar
row velvet ribbon confined by a small
brooch and black silk apron, completed
her toilet, with the exception of tiny
locket, which was suspended from her
neck by slender gold chain. This last
ornament Immediately riveted Mr.. Stu
arts attention, and from some strange
cause sent the color quickly to his face.
After a time, as IL to ascertain whether
II were really locket or watch, he ask
ed "if Miss Howard could tell him the
hourT
certainly, sir" said she, and stepping
to the desk and consulting a silver time
piece about the size Of a dining plate,
she told him that 1t was half-past three.
When school was out Mr.. Stuart, who
seemed in no haste whatever, entered in
to q lively discussion with Mary concern
ing schools and books, adroitly managing
to draw her out upon all the leading top
les Of the day. At last the conversation
turned upon flowers; and when Mary
CHANGED to mention Mrs. Mason's beauti-
full garden he instantly expressed great
desire to see 1t, and finally offered to ac-
company Mary home, provided she had
no objections. She could not, OF course,
say no, and the Widow Perkins came
very near letting her buttermilk biscuit
burn to cinder when she saw the young
man walking down the road with Mary
Arrived at Mrs. Masons. the stranger
managed to make himself so agreeable
that Mrs. Mason invited him to stay to
tea. Whoever he was, he seemed to un-
derstand exactly how to find out what
ever he wished to know; and before tea
was over be had learned Of Mary's in
tention to attend the academy In Will
braham the next autumn.
Finally he said goodnight, leaving
Mary and Mrs. Mason to wonder-the
one what he came there for, and the 9th
er whether he would ever come again.
The widow, too, wondered and fdgeted
as the sun went down behind the long
hill.
ut beats all mater what's kept him so
! long," said she, when he at last appear
ed and, unfastening his horse, drove off
| at a furious rate; "but IL live I'll know
all about 1t tomorrow" and with this
consolatory remark she returned to the
best room and for the .emainder of the
evening devoted herself to the entertain
ment of Uncle Jim and his wife, Aunt
Dolly.
That evening Mr.. Knight, who had
been to the postoffice, called at Mrs. Ma
sons, bringing with him letter which
bore the Boston postmark Passing it to
Mary, he winked at Mrs. Mason, saying,
II kinder guess how all this writin'
works will end; but hain't there been a
young chap to see the schoolY
Eyes; how did you know it2" returned
Mrs. Mason, while Mary flushed more
deeply than she did when Billy's letter
was handed her
"Why, you see," answered Mr.. Knight,
81 was about at the foot Of the Blanch-
ard hill, when | see buggy coming like
Jehu. Just as 1t got agin me it kinder
slackened and the fore wheel ran off
smack and scissors"
"Was he hurt?" quickly asked Mary.
"Not bit ont" said Mr.. Knight, "but
he was scared some | guess. | got out
and helped him, and when he heard is
from Rice Corner he said he'd been into
school. Then he asked forty-'leven ques-
tions about you, and jest as | was settin
, you up high, who should come a-canterin
up, with their long-taied gowns, and hats
. like men, but Ella Campbell and a great
white-eyed pucker, that came home with
her from school? Either, Elias horse was
scary or she did it a purpose for the
, mint she got near it began to rare, an(
she would have fell off if that man hadn'
{ catched it by the bit and held her or
with t'other hand. | allus was the mos
> sanguinary of men, and | was building
castles about him and our little school
marin, when Ella came along, and | gir
: 1t up, for | see that he was took, ant
she did look handsome, with her curls
/ hyin' Wall, as | wasn't OF no more use
' | whipped up old Charlotte and come on.
when did Ella return?" asked Mary
' who had not before heard of her sister
g arrival.
II don't know" said Mr.. Knight. 9TH,
first | see Of her was cuttin' through
; the streets on the dead run; but mustn'
+, stay here gabbini so goodnight, Mis-
I Mason goodnight, Mary-hope you'v
!. got good news in that ar letter"
The moment he was gone Mary ran u
!, to her room to read her letter, from
: which we give the following extract
! you must have forgotten George More
! land, or you would have mentioned hin
? to me. | like him very much, indeed, ant
. yet could not help feeling little jealou
q when he manifested so much interest Il
you. Sometimes, Mary, think that TO
h a brother, | am getting too selfish, and
o do not wish anyone to like you excep
myself but | surely need not feel so to
4 ward George, the best friend | have i
q AOotOH' AAe 40 very hluus iShulhB III
n books, and has even offered to use his in
huence in getting me a situation in on
,, of the best law offices in the city"
# After reading this letter Mary sat fo
!, a long time thinking of George Morelan
= of the time when she first knew him
V of all that William Bender had been
her since-snd wondering, as girls some
If times will, which she liked the best. Bill
/" unquestionably had the strongest claiT
d to her love, but could he have know
2 how much satisfaction she felt in thinl
e ing that George still remembered and feI
interested in her he would have had som
/ reason for fearing, as he occasionally die
r. that she would never be to him augh
10 save a sister.
IA CHAPTER Mi.
.e The summer was drawing to a clos,
,r and with it Mary's school. She had su,
ceeded in giving satisfaction to the Ell