The Courier. (Genoa, Nev.) 1899-1904, 1901-12-06

see who the stranger was. But for a
wonder Sally Ann didn't know, though
! she GUESSED the boss was one of the
last Chicopee livery"
Hes talkin' to Liddy Knight" said
she, at the same time holding back the
curtain and stepping aside SO as not to
be visible herself
Try ii you can hear what he's sayin',"
whispered Mrs. Perkins, but class of
boys in the school house just then struck
into the multiplication table, thus effec-
tually drowning anything which Sally
! Ann might otherwise have heard.
Il know them children will split their
throats. Can't they hold up a minute
exclaimed Mrs. Perkins, greatly annoyed
at being thus prevented from oyerhearing
a conversation the nature of which she
| could not even guess.
| The stranger was at that moment smil-
ingy saying: Tell me more about her.
Does she ever scold, or has she too
pretty a mouth for thatp'
mo, she never scolds," said Della
Frost, "and she's got the incest white
teeth, and | guess she knows it, too, for
she shows them a great DEAL"
She's real white, too," rejoined Lydia
Knight, Though pa says she used to be
| yaller as saffron"
Here there was gentle rap upon the
window, and the girls, starting off, ex-
claimed: There, we must go in."
May | go, too?'' asked the stranger,
following them to the door. Introduce
me as Mr.. Stuart"
! Lydia had never introduced anybody in
her life, and, following her companions to
- II lofk T. 4. l..
the doorway. With her usual politeness,
Mary came forward and received the
stranger, who gave his name as Mr.. Stu
art, saying she felt much interested in
common schools, and therefore had ven
| tured to call"
! Offering the seat of honor, Mary re-
| sumad her usual duties, occasionally
casting 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 attired in light pink muslin dress,
the short sleeves Of which showed to good
advantage her round, white arms. A mar
row velvet ribbon confined by a small
| brooch. and a black silk apron, completed
her toilet, with the exception of a 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 if to ascertain whether
it were really locket or a watch, he ask
ed "if Miss Howard could tell him the
hour?'
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 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 it, 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 n cnder when she saw the young
man walking down the road with Mary.
Arrived at Mrs. Mason's, 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 he had learned of Mary's in
tention to attend the academy in Will
! braham the next autumn.
| Finally he said goodnight, leaving
! nd Al.
one what he came there for, and the 9TH
er whether he would ever come again
The widow, too, wondered and fidgeted
| as the sun went, down behind the long
hill.
''It beats all mater what's kept him so
long," said she, when he at last appear
ed and, unfastening his horse, drove off
at furious rate; ''but II | live I'll know
all about it to-morrow;" 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 a letter which
bore the Boston postmark. Passing it to
Mary, ne winked at Mrs. Mason, saying,
81 kinder guess how all this writin'
works will end; but hain't there been a
young chap to see the schoolT
Eyes; how did you know it?' returned
Mrs. Mason, while Mary flushed more
deeply than she did when Billy's letter
was handed her.
"Why, you see," answered Mr.. Knight,
II was about at the foot of the Blanch-
| ard hill, when see buggy coming like
Jehu. Just as it got agin me 1t 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 rs
from Rice Corner he said he'd been into