The Lamar register., 1901-07-03

children together. It W. a favorIte
walk OF CeciPs. for he liked to see the
futtering colored aprons and gowns OF
the children over the green sward and
the trim form Of the Little
Teacher. She had smooth brown
hair and blue eyes, cheeks red
as roses and she wore print gowns
such as Cecil Van Vliet had never seen
before. When she sang with the chill
dren 1t was in such a sweet ana hap
by voice that it thrilled the heart like
wild birds song. That was the rea-
son he liked to stay where he could
hear it-and he SO often sat on the
bench under the beech trees that the
teacher. as well as the children, came
to know him.
To them. as to his cottage housewife.
he was medical student, living cheap
over the summer. Even that made the
people somewhat in awe of him.
The Little Teacher lived in the
brown farm house that had survived
the tidal wave of progress. After
time Cecil walked home with her and
sat with her under the low brown
porch. The martins built in boxes
nailed there for them. Rosea that
seemed to hold the perfume as well as
all the wealth of color in the air and
sunshine nodded from bushes that
were rooted deep and strong. The old
life was a dream, but Cecil lived in
dream.
All that he had written of sup
positions suburban life had long since
been burned. What he wrote to re-
place it was alive and human-it was
what he saw, what he felt. what was
and is. The Little Teachers simple
existence, the Joy. the sorrow OF every
day was painted with the zest ind in
terest and charm of novelty.
There came a day when he closed
the last chapter and. his heart beating
with enthusiasm, tied up the Package
and sent it into the great city from
which he had been over four months
an alien. 1t was the end of summer.
The orchards were fruit-laden, the red
rose hips scarlet on the bushes. The
wheat fields had been shorn and were
becoming green again. The years work
was being completed also. 1t was har-
vest time.
1t would be two weeks before he
could expect to hear from Mr.. Morris.
How should he employ this time? Ihe
old ways, the sweet ways with rest and
peace. Then the armor must be girded
on for the work of the world.
But first, first, he must go to see the
Little Teacher, :.
"I cannot take my eyes from you,'
declared Lawyer Morris. you are an
other man in every way. And the
book. Shake hands-you have made
me shed the first tears ever shed over
a novel;
Van Vliet's eyes shone.
"You are sure?"
"Sure! Yes, / am! l don't mind tell
ing you that have let a, publisher
have a peep at 1t. It's big thing, the
ovel of the year. Well, I'm glad, I'm
glad! I've some news for you also.
Gwendolen refused Deb King point
olnnk. The Astranhams are on the
way home. Now are you happy"
"Well-that don't make me any hap
er-because-because o, hang 1t all.
Morris, l want to introduce you to
so--.e one that's waiting for me! Don't
go away"
He was back in five minutes. nerv-
GUS and radiant. With him was the
neatest of gray-clad small females.
red-cheeked. blue-eyed and blushing
like shy child.
I'm very glad about the book" reit-
Grated Cecil. but it isn't the book or
the girl this time. 1t is the girl first
and then the book and both are sue
cesses. I'm sure you will say, Mr.. Nor
ris."