Year: 1877

| 1t was by no means singular that Grace
Wynne received by acclamation the sobrique
of "the village belle" She was just one OF
those bright-faced, merry maidens who take
mems hearts by storm-one moment bringing
them to her feet by q single smile from hel
blue eyes, the next torturing them by cold re-
serve The way she queoned it over the village
bcaux was scandalous in the eyes of all sensi-
bic women.


Well, there were half score who paid atten-
tons, but we cannot stop to give the history of
their wooing 1t is enough to say that among
them all, Grace had not found one for whom
she would give up her gay, girlish freedom. Be-
sides, she was quite too young to think of mar
rage. Aunt Patty and her mother called her
"child" and "baby," and wondered that any
man in his senses should think of such thing
as marrying n girl who could neither make n
shirt nor bake a loaf of bread.


"Now there's jane" Aunt Patty would say,
whenever the subject was broachcd "there Is
Jane--a real smart, capable.girl, thirty years
old, and good wholesome looking girl, too,
if she aint so very handsome. Why don't the
foolish critters ask her?"


Not one was able to answer that question, al
though Grace once ventured to say:


"She's too stiff and digniied and proper
she is waiting for some good old minister. He
must be widower, with seven or eight mother
less infants to be trained up in the way they
should CO."


But Grace was cut sho t in the midst of her
description of James future prospects by the in
dignant Aunt Patty.


"You vain, silly and wicked girl You'd
oughter to be ashamed of yourself for making
such an unchristian speech as that James
just as likely to get married as you be-and
think more of pretty looks than they do of
smartness and capableness."


Grace Wynne was just entering her eighteenth
year, when the following advertisement ap-
peared on the first page of the Cherrytown
Banner:


"SELEcT School FOR YoUNa LAD1Es.-Henry
Barnard, A. b., will open select school for
young ladies in the hall over Jabez Grants
warehouse, on Tuesday, the twentieth day of
August. English branches, - per term of
twelve weeks Languages, 50 extra"


Then followed n list of references for the
benefit of those who might wish to inquire
into the moral character and abilities of Mr..
Barnard.


Punctualy at nine o'clock, on Tuesday morn
ing, the new teacher called his pupils to order
He was quite young man, not over one and
twenty, with very pleasing face, profusion
of dark waving hair, bright brown eyes and
merry smile. In short, he would have been
just right for hero of romance, had it not
been for All unfortunate lameness which some
what marred the effect of his fine face and
compelled him to walk with cane. Some of
the young ladies declared that this only made
Mr.. Barnard more interesting, and added to,
rather than detracted from, his beauty. But
Grace Wynne stoutly insisted he was horrid
and looked as cross as a bear. The discussion
took place after school, and was finished by
Grace, who, swinging her hat over her head,
just as she turned down the lane that led to
her home, cried with a light laugh:


~ will resign all claim to Mr.. Barnard.
don't like him at all-and chant think Of such
a thing as flirting with him ~


Unfortunate Grace The words were no
sooner uttered than her eyes fell upon the |
figure of the gentleman himself.


Twas inst on my way to your house, Miss