Year: 1859

IChTcicSSiy 10 ncV uOoh'


"You can ferrule mo if you choose
she said mutely, not believing that he
would venture to do it," "


"And ! certainly will" was the 81
lent reply Of the young man, confident
the while that she would not allow
him an opportunity of putting his
threat into execution. But he was i'll
at ease as he turned moodily around
to the arithmetic class, from which
his attention had been drawn by the
unusual confusion. Affairs had taken
a disagreeable turn, an unexpected
course, and whatever he might do
could not better it. There was but
one way for him. He must maintain
his dignity as a teacher, even if he
was obliged to thrust roughly aside
his own wishes and inclinations. An.
ma Hawkes., pleasant witchful and
graceful Anna, the one bright star
that threw so much light upon his ar,
duous' tiresome duties; the warm.
hearted girl who had grown nearer
and dearer to hlm as the dull wintery
days went by, till he had dared hope,
silently yet earnestly, that sometime
he might be more to her than any one
else in the world even she, if she
came between him and his duties,
must be sacrificed. 1t was a misera-
BILE thought, and he greeted it with
long deep.drawn sigh.


Not once during the afternoon did
he venture to look towards Annals
seat, or allow himself to pause any
where in her vicinity, for fear his ear
might be greeted by provoking,
odious whisper. Not once, say, but
| must except the long recess during
which he addressed her eagerly as she
bent over her slate, working out her
algebraic problems, apparently lost to
everything about her. Two or three
times he halt.started from his seat to
60 to her assistance, as she knit her
white brow perpexedly, but strange
new feeling, like pride, kept him back.
He thought he had never seen her
look half as pretty or loveable as then
as she sat there, bending thoughtfully
over her book, with one white hand
running rapidly and gracefully over
her slate. Her dress, of dark crimson
cloth, with full sleeves, confined at the
wrists, by black velvet bands, fash.
ioned high upon the neck, but in such
manner as to display her full, white
throat, was strangely becoming to
her. He had never thought of it be-
fore, but there was certain refine
mcnt in her taste that was truly pleas
ing. 1t was visible in everything she
wore-the dainty cambria collar con.
fined at the throat by small cameo
breast-pin the knots of black velvet
ribbon fastened about her luxuriant
brown braids ; the petite black, full
silk apron, with its girdle of silk cord,
and even the slender, shining little
kid boots, that peeped daringly out
from the folds of her ample skirt. In
all his life Arthur Stone had never
looked on face or figure so pleasant
or captivating. But be watched her
as she raised her eyes to his face. In
moment the pretty seriousness that
had rested SO becomingly upon her
features was gone. A provoking
smile curled upon her rosy mouth,
and went with a sudden rush of
triumph over her whole face, dilating
her finely curved nostrils and sweep
ing like very sunshine over the blue
of her eyes, making such rare dimples
about her chin, as one might have
supposed to have boen fitted by the
cunning forelinger of Cupid himself.


Arthur Stone was vexed, but he
was too much of a man of the world
to allow the young girl to know how
much she was capable of annoying
him, and so after the first flame of
petty anger had died out from his
cheeks and forehead, he said in a
voice, the GOODNESS of which surprised
even himself:


"Can be of assistance to you Miss
Hawkes. ST.


"None, sir, thank you. ! have
quite conquered my exercises alone to
day."


Foolish fellow The very GOODNESS
of his manner betrayed the secret
which he strove to hide. There was
little need of covers if there was moth
ing to conceal. And so it was that
the forenoon slipped pleasantly away,
and the afternoon came in its stead
The teachers rule so far was a goot
one. The school was remarkable fol
its quietude. II Anna Hawkes. had
NJ Il I