Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-02-24
CHAPTER VI.

Very slowly passed the days of my
second week, FOR my mind was constantly
dwelling upon the important Thursday,
which came a. last, and, with more than
usual care, dressed myself for school,
sporting a pale blue-a nd-white muslin,
which mother said | must wear only On
great occasions. | at noon went down to
clear spring i'll the woods. and there
gave a few smoothing touches to my tot
let. On my return 10 the school house
requested one of the larger girls to sweep
the floor as clean as she possibly could,
while two or three of the boys were sent
after some green boughs to hang over the
windows.
'I'll bet we are going to have COM
pany; l thought so this morning when l
see the schoolma'am all dressed up"
whispered one to another.
In few minutes the fact that Doctor
Clayton was coming was known both in
doors and out, and when l saw how fast
John Thompson took himself home after
learning the news. involuntarily felt as
If some evil were IMPENDING PRESENT.
ment which proved correct for not long
after school commenced there came a
gentle rap at the outer door, which caus-
co great strulSuteHinS up Among lHe
scholars, and brought me instantly to my
feet. for | supposed, of course, he had
come. What, then, was my surprise
when, instead of him, l met naughty
looking young lady, who, frowning ma
jestically upon me. introduced herself as
Miss Thompson" saying she had come
to visit the school.
had never before had so good view
of her. and now. when 1 saw how digni-
fled she appeared, and that there really
was in her manner something elegant
and refined, l not only felt myself greatly
her inferior, but | fancied that Doctor
Clayton would also observe the differ
ence between us when be saw us togeth-
er. After offering her the seat of honor
the -bottomed chair proceed
ed with my duties as composedly as pos
sible. When l cast a wistful glance over
the long HILL she said: you seem TO be
constantly on the sookout Are you ex-
pecting any one?'
Involuntarily my eyes sought hers,
but l quailed beneath their quizzical ex-
preston, and scarcely knowing what l
said. replied, mo, ma'am," repenting the
] falsehood the moment it was uttered, and
half resolving to confess the truth, when
she rejained, "Oh, l thought you were,
while at the same moment a little girl,
who had been asleep. rolled from her
seat. humping her head, and raising such
an cutlery that for a time l forgot what
had said. and when it again required to
me | thought it was too late TO rectify
il. Slowly the afternoon dragged on,
but it brought NO Doctor Clayton; and
when, at q quarter of four. l called NJ
my class of Abecedarians TO read. what
with the lie and the disappointment. my
heart was so full that | could not force
back all the tears which struggled SO
| hercely for egress: and when 1t came
Willie Randall's turn to read. two or
| three large drops fell upon his chubby
hand, and, looking in my face, he called
out in a loud. distinct voice. You're
cryin', you be!'
This, of course. brought q laugh from,
all the scholars in which I was fain to
join. although felt greatly chagrined
that l should have betrayed so much
weakness before Och Thompson. who, ir
referring to it when school was out. said
''she supposed / wanted to see my moth
er-or somebody"
That night Mrs. Ross called at Mrs
Randall's, and after sitting awhile, ask
ed me ITO walk a little piece with her
/ saw there was something on her mind
and conjecturing that il might have some
connection with me. l obeyed willingly
Twitching my sleeve when we were out
side the gate. Mrs. Ross asked II II
were true that I cried because Doctor
Clayton didn't come as he promised.
why, what do you meany' said. TC
which she replied by telling me that sh'
Just ran into Cap'n Thompsou's minute
or two. when. who should she find Their
but Doctor Clayton. and when Dell told
him she'd been TO visit the school, h
said, All, indeed; was intending to d.
so myself this afternoon, but | was nee
essarily detained by a very sick patient
A" THAT explains why she cried so,
said Deli. and then" continued. Mrs
Ross. ''she went on 10 tell him how yo'
loked out of the winder. and when sh'
asked you if you expected anybody, yoi