Year: 1859

Indeed l cannot stand this. You'll
drive me quite crazy with your buzz,
buzz, buzzing l must and will have
silence. I find that plain, pleasant per-
suasion will not do; / shall be forced to
resort to harsher method. Now, listen
one and all, while l assure you that the
fist scholar, old or young, miss or master,
young gentleman or lady, whom shall
see whispering without leave, will fer
ulep


The teacher, Mr.. Arthur Stone, closed
his bearded lips firmly, and glanceaabeut
the old-fashioned school-room with de-
termined expression, as he ceased speak
ing. He evidently meant just what he
said-means it in the faces of the stout,
stalwart young gentlemen, and the pref
ty, witching, bright-eyed girls about him.
For a moment there was a dead silence
upon all, while every eye was fixed upon
the handsome, resolute face of the teach
er. But in the little crowd OF eager,
upturned faces, there was but one which
his eye sought intuitively drawn as 1t
were. by some strange, mesmeric power.
One face, and one at that moment which
was a pretty picture of piquant beauty
with its saucy, inquisitive blue eyes, which
met his own fully and daringly its
strawberry red mouth pursed up by the
most provoking and daring of smiles,
that said as plainly as words could have
said it You won't ferule me, Arthur
Stone, if whisper ever so much !


A sudden flush of anger Redeemed up
into the cheeks of the young man, and
shot from the depths of his fine angry
eyes, as he said, determinedly, in answer
to the smile of the red mouth and blue
eyes, and the toss of the dainty head
repeat it I will furule the first scholar
whom l see whispering without leave ?


This time there was no mistaking IT
there was perceptible motion Of Anna
Hawkes. pretty head, an unmlstakable
light in her eyes, and whole, unbroker
sentence wreathed about the curve o
her lips as she turned carelessly to hel
books You can ferule me if you choose,
she said mutely, not believing that hf
would venture to do it.


And I certainly WILL was the silen
reply of the young man, confident th'
while that she would not allow him al
opportunity of putting his threat in ex
ecution. But he was i'll at ease as ht
turned moodily to the arithmetic clas
from which his attention had been draw
by the unusual confusion. Affairs ha
taken disagreeable turn, an unexpect
ed course, and whatever he might do, h
could not better them. There was bu
one way for him. He must put sterr
face upon the matter. He must main
tain his dignity as teacher, even if h
was obliged to thrust roughly aside hi
own wishes and inclinations. Ann
Hawkes., pleasant, witching, graceful Al
na-the one bright star that threw s
much light upon his arduous, tiresom
duties the warm-hearted girl who ha
grown nearer and dearer to him as I'll
dull, wintry days went by, till he dare
hope, silently, yet earnestly, that som
time he might be more to her than an
one else in the world, even she, if 81
came between him and his duties, mu
be sacrificed. 1t was miserable thong
and he greeted it with long, deep-drav
sigh.


Not once during that forenoon did ]
venture to look towards Annals seat,
allow himself to pause anywhere in h
vicinity, for fear his ears might be gree
ed by provoking, odious whisper. n
once, l say, but must except the lol
recess, during which he watched her e
gerly, as she bent over her slate, wor
ing out her algebraic problems, apppa
emily lost to everything about her. II
or three times he half started from
seat to 90 to her assistance, as she kI
her white brows perplexedly, but
strange feeling, like pride, kept h
back. He thought he had never Sc
her lock half as pretty or loveable


then, as she sat there bending thong
fully over her book, with one white ha
running rapidly and gracefully over
slate. Her dress Of dark crimson clio
with its full sleeves confined at the wri
by black velvet bands, fashioned high


the neck, but in such a manner as to
play her full, white throat, was strang
becoming to her. He had never thou,
of it before, but there was certain ref


ment in her taste that was truly pleasi


1t was visible in everything she wore