The Schoolmaster of Hessville (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII JUST as it had seemed to Minnie impossible that a man like John could love a girl like Irene, so it had seemed to John that Irene, whom of course he idealized, could not possibly care for a brute like Hen Maus. Therefore, while he had suffered some bitter moments from Irene's open friendliness with Henry, he had not been seriously concerned about it. His discovery, however, of Minnie's love for himself had made him ready to credit any other unexpected development of his own thoughtlessness; so that Irene's written statement that Henry was her "Choise" and that to try to win her away from him would be wasted effort, fell upon John's stunned heart with the finality of death. Incomprehensible as it was that a splendid creature like Irene could so lower herself, he could neither doubt it nor fight it. Had it not been for Minnie he would have fought it--would have taken his chances and pitched in--to the death; but the thought of the mortal hurt he would inflict upon Minnie stayed him. He simply could not, on a mere fighting chance, wound that tender young heart that trusted him so absolutely. She deserved better at his hands. It was a very bitter struggle that he waged with himself before he finally renounced all hope of ever realizing in this world the ecstasy and fullness of love, and accepted in its place the dull and meagre satisfaction of mere friendship. For he was convinced that with his loss of Irene happiness for him was eternally dead; that hereafter he must walk in shadow; the hunger of his heart and body always, always unsatisfied. A door of his soul was closed and locked, never to be opened; for the key was in the keeping of the girl he had lost. But with all the strength of his will he resolved that never while he lived should Minnie...