schoolhouse, the few who rushed to the spot found that Uncle Ben had
already disappeared. Whether the appearance of the children was too
inconsistent with his ghostly mission, or whether his heart failed him
at the last moment, the master could not determine. Yet, distasteful
as the impending interview promised to be, the master was vaguely and
irritatingly disappointed.

A few hours later, when school was being dismissed, the master
found Octavia Dean lingering near his desk. Looking into the girl's
mischievous eyes, he good-humoredly answered their expectation by
referring to her morning's news. "I thought Miss McKinstry had been
married by this time," he said carelessly.

Octavia, swinging her satchel like a censer, as if she were performing
some act of thurification over her completed tasks, replied demurely:
"Oh no! dear no--not THAT."

"So it would seem," said the master.

"I reckon she never kalkilated to, either," continued Octavia, slyly
looking up from the corner of her lashes.

"Indeed!"

"No--she was just funning with Seth Davis--that's all."

"Funning with him?"

"Yes, sir. Kinder foolin' him, you know."