purposely sung out of tune, once in a while, so as to be personally
addressed by the teacher.

And she--pure, modest, prudent, and refined--saw it all, and enjoyed it
intensely. Of course, it could never go any further, for though there
was in Middle Bethany no moneyed aristocracy, the best families scorned
alliances with any who were undegenerate, and would not be unequally
yoked with those who drank, swore, and gambled--let alone the fearful
suspicion of murder, which Miss Brown's imagination affixed to every man
at the Flat.

But the boys themselves--considering the unspeakable contempt which had
been manifested in the camp for the profession of teaching, and for all
who practiced it--the boys exhibited a condescension truly Christian.
They vied with each other in manifesting it, and though the means were
not always the most appropriate, the honesty of the sentiment could not
be doubted.

One by one the greater part of the boys, after adoring and hoping, saw
for themselves that Miss Brown could never be expected to change her
name at their solicitation. Sadder but better men, they retired from the
contest, and solaced themselves by betting on the chances of those still
"on the track," as an ex-jockey tersely expressed the situation.

There was no talk of "false hearted" or "fair temptress," such as men
often hear in society; for not only had all the tenderness emanated from
manly breasts alone, but it had never taken form of words.

Soon the hopeful ones were reduced to half a dozen of these. Yankee Sam
was the favorite among the betting men, for Sam, knowing the habits of