The Red Cloud chief., 1901-01-18

* LOVE is BEST -
by Florence HodsUnson

by Florence HodSkjnson

front parlor; while the room on the
opposite side appeared to be a bakers.
one stale loaf and half a dozen stodgy-
looking buns being arranged In the
window.
can you tell me the way to Mrs
Tanners observation-disclosures, the house
Is called?" asked Beryl anxiously.
The young behind the
counter was better informed than the
railway people, for she answered with
out any hesitation:
It's the last house on the front.
The names not up: but you can't be
mistaken because there are no more
houses"
This was conclusive; but Beryl felt
positively sinking from weakness and
fatigue. She looked at the loaf Of
bread and buns. and finally asked the
damsel in charge II she could have
some refreshment-."a cup OF tea or
something"
The fires out, ] expect. You can
have a glass Of milk and a plate OF
bread and butter. II you like"
The fare was plain. but it revived
the traveller. The attendant gave her
plenty OF local information while she
ate and drank. Mrs. Tanner had not
beer at Easthill-on-Sea long. There
wasn't much opening for a school:
there were very few residents. and nat
urally visitors didn't want to send their
children to school when they came
down In the summer.
You do look tired" she concluded.
But it's not much further low. The
end OF this street leads to the front,
and Mrs. Tanners is the last house
on the right"
Beryl found the house easily; but
her heart sank as she looked at 1t. 1t
was so new that at the back the piece
or waste ground called a garden was
not yet fenced of, and the front rail-
ings had not yet been fenced off.
woodlands looked as though II had
been built elsewhere, brought to East
hill on a trolley. and just popped down
on the first vacant space. The wind
howled round it. the waves which
dashed over the shingle seemed to
laugh derisively at ii, and aver to poor
Beryl the huge board over the front
windows-"Ladies School"-seemed
grotesque in such a place.
She rang the bell. 1t was O stiff
her fingers could hardly move 1t, and
when at last it rang IL made such a
noise she decided Mrs. Tanner would
think her new teacher very impatient.
There was not the least sound of move
ment in the house, and Beryl was
actually contemplating a second ring
when the door was flung suddenly
open, and a very small servant in a
very big white apron stood regarding
her %curiously.
rs Mrs. Tanner at home? I think
she Is expecting me. I am the new
g~overness."
you're to come this way" said the
chtld-she really was very little more.
And Beryl followed her across a good
sized hall to a small sitting-room at
the back, the door Of which her guide
opened encouragingly.
You go straight in," she com
manded.
II was a very small room. and rather
sparsely furnished; but what Beryl
saw first was a tall. slight woman In
widows weeds. who came forward to
meet her with such a frightened face
that the girl felt compelled to take the
initiative.
II am afraid l am later than you
expected. Mrs. Tanner: but It Ia a long
walk from the station, and I came
slowly so as not to lose my way"
You look cold and tired said Mrs.
Tanner gently. "Sit down and warm
yourself. Rhoda will bring tea soon;
waited for you"
1T was very kind of you" Beryl
began, and then she broke down help.
lessly and cried as though her heart
would break. OF course IL was behay-
Ing disgracefully. 1t was most unschol-
astic and childish; but those few kind.
ly words had been the last touch.
Mrs. Tanner did not seem In the least
angry. She took Beryl's hand and held
1t for a minute or two. then she said
gently:
i don't wonder at your being upset,
my dear. When I first came here in
January ! loathed the place quite as
much as you can do. | came from a
pretty country reetory, with a lear
old garden and trees that had stood the
test of centuries, and this bleak, des-
olate place seemed terrible to me: but,
Miss Lindon. work is the best cure
for sadness, and even Easthill-on-Sea
seems brighter when one is busy"
Please forgive mel" said Beryl,
pieadingly. Indeed, l am not discon-
tented; 1t was only that you were so
kind to me-"
Did o expect me to be an ogress?'
asked Mrs. Tanner. when you have
had some tea and feel rested will
tell % all about things. am afraid
you Will find plenty of rough places
at Woodlands. but they won't be of
rax