Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-07-04
MILLIONS
MOTHERS.
By w. r. BRYAN.
Copyright. 1907. by L. C. PARCELS.
By W. r. BRYAN.

! we'll beaten earth, trampleu n2ru ana
smooth by the play of generations Of
children, through the orchards, now
pink and white with the promises of
fruition. down to where the river
wound Its silvery length between green
banks and tiny islands.
1t would be hard to give it all up,
and yet before her on the desk was the
formal communication from the school
board of Milton township notifying her
that her services would not be re-
quired during the ensuing term.
The note was cold and formal, but
for weeks past she had known of the
battle being waged against her. The
only objection was her age, but every
mother with n marrlagable daughter or
son had urged this objection upon the
school board. Milton township was
not overwell stocked with young men,
and this girl from the city, with her
! self possessed ways, her stylish clothes
and her bright face, constituted men
ace to the mothers.
For once they united in common
cause and urged Bess' removal The
dimple in her chin. the soft color of
her checks, the laughing brown eyes,
the ripping hair and the delicious
curves of her throat each constituted
an objection that found common ex-
preston in the cry that she was too
young to manage the young men who
formed the upper class in the winter
term.
There's Jed Suoughton," urged Man
dy Mills. "Why, he's two years old
er'n she be. And him trottin' over to
her house every evenin' t. git help
with his Latin! What does the boy
want of Latin anyhow? OF course it
was the teacher he wanted. When l
was girl and taught school. you en-
remember l used to whale the boys
gooda They never had a chance to
tlirt with tn teacher then"
81 Judson, chairman of the board,
told himself that that was in part re-
sponsible for her continuation in a
single state of blessedness, but Man
dy was the sister of the editor of the
Banner, and 81 wanted to be town
clerk at the next election.
So each of the other members had
been approached, and the result was
the letter that lay on the desk in front
of the girl Had she been re-engaGed
she might have spent the summer in
Milton. Now, she must go back to the
hot city and haunt the teachers
agencies until something else offered
for the coming year.
Slowly she rose to her feet and went
to the door. At the threshold she
paused moment and looked around
Her eyes filled as her glance swept the
empty benches and the CHASTITY white
walls with the faded maps. She had
been happy hrc in Milton. She was
looking at her schoolroom for the last
time
She slipped across the road to Jud-
sons house and delivered the keys into
the keeping of the grim faced Mrs.
Judson
81 should like to say goodby TO Mr.
Judson," she faltered. He has been
very kind to me this winter"
IL sent him over to the Center" his
mother said stittly. Isl amt got no call
'Tain't decent"
She closed the door with nice shade
of emphasis that Just avoided a posi-
tive slam, and Bess turned away to-
ward the river. She loved the river 1t
was both companion and comforter,
and as she reached the bank she sank
into little nook formed by a screen of
bushes. and the tears that had been
sternly repressed all day flowed un-
checked
When she had first come she had
looked forward to the long summer
days which she would spend by the
river. Then she had been full of en-
thusiasm, and there was no question in
her mind as to her continuance in the
position. Now, just as the river SEEM
ed at its best, she was going back to
the city She recalled with a shudder
her struggles OF the year before. Her
father had died just after she had
graduated from college. When the
small estate was settled 1t was found
that he had lived up to every penny of
his income. There was just enough
left to pay his outstanding debts and
leave a couple of hundred dollars for
the girl. The half of this had gone for
board while she sought u position The
rest, together with her small savings,
must go this year She had COM
menced the drudgery of life. She
could meet it bravely, but it tore her
heart to leave the river and the coun-
try that she loved so we'll
She should see the river in town, she
knew, a broad, silent stream, covered
with shipping and discolored by the
tides and refuse. 1t would be a gray
ghost of her old friend, n tantaizing
reminder of the river she had lost.
She was still sobbing when q sharp.
staccato bark resounded and small
terrier bounded into view.
Bess rubbed her eyes confusedly.
The dog was fawning upon her in
very paroXysm of joy. Surely it would
not be Tony, and yet-on the glisten-
ing collar plate she read the name
Il am James Harvey's Tony. Tell him
he's lost me-" Tony was u ghost from
her other life. and she threw her arms
about his wiry little neck and buried
her head upon his shoulder.
James Harvey, coming softly up to
see what game the dog had tracked
! paused moment to contemplate the
| picture. Another instant he had sprung
| forward.