Evening star., 1928-05-01

was one of the earliest American
| Western frontier life about the middle of
| the nineteenth century. This story first
appeared in 1S44.)
Master William Horner came to the
village school when he was about ID
| years old. He spent two Winters in
| the place, passing his examinations
| both times, and so earned himself a
permanent position. At first he boarded
round from house to house, as was
the custom, but in his third year he be-
came a settled roomer at one house.
for which he paid one dollar every
week-out of his salary of $16a month.
1t was at spelling school" that Mas
ter Horner first met the educated eyes
of Miss Harriet Bangle, young lady
visiting in the neighborhood. She was
from the East and brought with her
a variety of city airs and graces. She
let 1t be known that her friends had
sent her out here to get her out of the
way of some desperate lover whom
| they did not like
Miss Bangles manner bespoke for
her that high consideration which she
felt TO be her due. Yet she condescend-
ed to be amused by the rustics and
their awkward attempts at gayety and
elegance,
At the spelling bee. an annual VIM
ter contest of neighboring communities,
Ellen Kingsbury, the only child OF a
substantial farmer, was one OF the last
to sit down. She blushed and smiled,
and bluShed again, but Spelt on, until
Mr.. Horners cheeks were crimson with
excitement and some touch of shame
that he should be baffled at his own
weapons. At length, either by accident
or design. Ellen missed word, and
sinking into her seat, was numbered
with the conquered.
Miss Bangle noticed that Mr.. Horner
said many gallant things to his fair
enemy in the general talk that followed,
and tried to get his attention-without
success. Mr.. Horner Quilted not the fair
Ellen until he had handed her into her
fathers sleigh. Then he wended his
way homewards, never thinking that
he ought to have escorted Miss Bangle
to her uncle's. though she certainly
waited little while for his return.
From these incidents Miss Bangle
| concocted plan for her own amuse-
ment. She secured the services of one
of the mischevious schoolboys and saw
to 1t that a note. apparently from Ellen
Kingshury, was left upon the school
masters desk. This note. only an ordi-
nary inquiry. was so worded as to sug-
gest that the writer took more than an
ordinary interest in the Schoolmaster.
A reply was urgently requested. which
was TO be left In a certain spot. Here
the agent Of Miss Bangle secured 1t and
brought 1t TO her.
Another letter and another, every
one more flattering and encouraging
than the last, almost turned the sober
head of the poor Schoolmaster. They
warmed up his heart so effectually that
he could scarcely attend to his busi-
ness. After time Miss Bangle began
| to be alarmed for the consequences OF
her malicious pleasantly. She perceived
| that Mr., Horner became more and more
| definite and 1t would be unlikely that
| he would accept any explanation with
| any grace at all. There was now some
| thing deeper than vanity In the feelings
with which the SchoolmaSter regarded
| Ellen Kingsbury.
For the encouragement which the
| schoolmaster supposed he had received
| threw down the barrier between him.
self and any one who possessed charms
enough to attract him. He did not
| criticize the mode of encouragement
but grasped eagerly the prodered good
without Scruple. He was as much In
love as a man can be and the serious
ness of real attachment gave both grace
and dignity to his once awkward letters.
Miss Bangle could not help noticing 1t,
and she had reason to be alarmed.
Then came the grand exhibition TO
close the school term. II was after
this that the prank of some boys left
| the harness OF Mr. Kingsbury's sleigh
in tatters and everything overturned
giving the SchoolmaSter an excuse to
borrow a neighbor's sleigh and take
the fair Ellen home in 1t. while Mr..
Kingsbury followed close behind.
Now was the time TO find out the
truth and to hear from warm, living
lips whether the letters were not lies
The time was short. for the sleighing
was but too fine. Mr.. KingSbury, hav-
Ing tied up his harness and collected
his scattered equipment. was driving so
close behind that there was no poSsi-
bility OF lingering for a moment. Yet
many moments we're lost before Mr.
Horner, very much in earnest and all
unused TO matters of this sort. could
find a word In which TO express his
new-found feelings.
| The horses seemed to fiy. The dis
tance was half passed. At length. In
absolute despair OF anything better. he
blurted out at once what he had de-
| termined to avoid--a direct reference
to the correspondence.
A game at cross-purposes ensued.
Exclamations and explanations and de-
| malls and apologies filled up the time
which was to have made Mr.. Horner
so happy. The light from the Kings
bury windows shone upon the path, and
the whole result Of this conference, so
longed for, was burst of tears from
the perplexed and mortified Ellen. who
{ ~ att 70
detain her. rushed into the house with
out giving him word of adieu. and
left him standing alone
Won't yo' light. Mr.. Horner?" asked
Mr.. Kingsbury.
Yes - no -- thank you good eve
ning." stammered poor Mr.. Horner, so
stupehed that the farmer thought him
"a dummy"
The horse took the sleigh against the