Year: 1860

cused from remaining to- night to take my


1eruiing, promising to come early tomorrow
morning.


Mr.. Stone bowed and said, every well, -


though the words almost choked him. He
| secretly wished DR.. Barker and his new sleigh


IN China, and himself free from the vocation


OF school teaching. He thought as he stood


moodily by his desk watching Anna Hawkes.


PIN her plaid shawl closely about her throat,


and tie under her chin the blue ribbons of her


quilted hood, preparatory to her drive with


DR.. Barker, that he was the most miserable


man in existence, and that he would purchase


farm, work at shoveling the railroad,
would do anything rather than teach another


school. He had engaged already to take charge


OF the village academy the following spring,


but now he resolved that he would not do it
| he would throw up the engagement at once.
"N doubt she thinks me very brute,'' he


said to himself, as the gay equipage went


dashing down the street. Perhaps after all,
she had not meditated that ruthless attack up
on his dignity and patience. Indeed now he
thought of it again, the whisper was more like


sudden exclamation than anything else.
Yet he had not given her the slightest chance
Tor an explanation, but like the executioner
who loved his occupation, hurried her forward
to the punishment-the dolt that he called


himself He had very poor opinion of Ar
thur Stone just at that moment. He was sure
that he would like to horsewhip him.
fair counterpart of the pupils thoughts
Were those of the teacher. 1t was n dull.
dreary drive that Anna Hawkes. took with DR..
Barker. She hadn't the heart to~enjoy it after


the folly OF the afternoon.


ssHe thinks that do not care for nor respect
him. was the thought uppermost in her mind
whichever way she turned. sand this is the
return am making him for his kindnes to me
all the interest lie has taken in my studies,


both in and out of school. o, if he conld
but know the TRUTH


s'The truth ~ the young girl startled herself
by these words. And what was the truth
She buried her burning face in her hands as
she asked herself the question. 1t was this
She loved Arthur Stone loved him better
than lite itself A cry of pain went from her


lips, as the knowledge settled down upon her


heart. But what proof had she given of this
What proof that she was any other than vain,
selfish thing None, alas, none Like any
woman who is conscious of her power, she
gloried in hers over Arthur Stone. But how
was he to know that it was any but the glory
of tickle, heartless coquette, rather than that
OF a strong, loving, true-hearted woman, who
! makes her power a golden chain about the
heart Of the man she loves, by which she
draws him tenderly towards her (? How, O,
how was he to know this The thought was
'agonizing to her. s-3h


She resolved at last to go to him in the
morning and confess her fault, humbling as it
was. He should know, at least, that she held
his feelings too sacred to wound them wantou-
ly. But in the morning she was sick and fe-
verish, scarcely able to lift her head from the
pillow. She could not see Arthur that day,
and so she must contentedly wait for the next.
Against her wishes DIR. Barker was summoned,
who croaked obviously OF fever hanginga-
bout her. She must be careful, be very quiet
and follow his directions. he said, and he
would come again in the afternoon to learn
how she was getting along. He came in the
afternoon, but at an unlucky hour. Anna sat
back in the rocking chair by the window,
looking eagerly UP the street. But while he
paraded learnedly by her side, he saw rapid
red stain through the whiteness on her cheek,
and an eager light break out from the clear
blue of her eyes. Arthur Stone was passing
by the house, and viewing with a scornful
curl of the lip the handsome equpage of DR..
Barker. He did not look beyond it to the pale
face bent SO eagerly towards him, but turned
his eyes coldly away and walked haughtily
down the street. while Anna sank back with a
sigh into the softly cushioned chair.


Next morning she refused to remain away
from school another day. Arthur Stone would
say she was cowardly, that she feared the fe-
ruling, that she absented herself purposely,
because of the misunderstanding on Tuesday
afternoon, which she was too guilty to face
again. She would go to the school though
she dropped fainting on the way. She could
not rest until her mind was unburdened of
this heavy load. So she went pale and tremb- |
ling at an early hour to the school house.


"How he scorns mellow he hates me 20
she thought as Mr.. Stone quietly raised his |
eyes to her face and bowed silent good morn
ing she entered the room. How could she
ever face that stern, cold gaze, and make ex-
cuses for not keeping her appointment of the
previous morning


ssI was too i'll to come yesterday morning."
she said, in trembling voice, ssor should
hnxya a..
ing do as well ?''


Mr.. Stone glanced keenly into her face.
The blanched cheeks and white quivering lips |
testified to the truths of what she said.


ssAre you able to be here now ?'' he asked |
in tone Of voice that had more of tender
ness than aught else running through it.


ssHardly. You can fer-ferule me, and l
will 60 home,'' she said, while her cheeks |
crimsoned with shame.


Mr.. Stone bit his lips to keep back reply |
which rose involuntarily to them. Again was
that tender, white hand before him waiting |
meek1y for its punishment, now weak and |
trembling from illness. Did she think him a
brute Quite evidently from her action.


ell regret that wounded your feelings on |
Tuesday" she said, raising her eyes to his |
face. 81 am thoughtless, hope not heart
less. Will you pardon me ?'' The question |
was asked in low. quivering voice, hlaf chok-
ed with tears.


ssPardon you?'' Mr.. Stone repeated the
words slowly, in a clear, emphatic tone.


els it too much to ask !? You will not re- I
fuse me-you could not refuse me if you |
knew-''


ssWhat ?''


ssHow utterly miserable I am. cannot |
stay here-here's my hand-be quick-let me |
go home!''


With quick rapid movement, the teacher |
grasped the little, feverish hand that was out I
stretched to him, covered it over and over |