The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-07-19

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 silvcry length between green
banks and tiny islands.
1t would be hard to give 1t 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 noe Lc re-
Qulred during the ensuing term.
Tho note was cold and formal but
for weeks past she had known of the
battle being wnged against her. The
only objection was her age, but every
mother with marriagable 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 StrOughton," urged Man.
dy Mills. why, he's two years old
erin 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
good. They never had 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 luy on the desk In front
Of the girl. Had she been re-engagcd
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 ghastly white
walls with the faded maps. She had
been happy hire in Milton. She was
looking mt her schooroom 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.
y should like to say goodby to Mr..
Judson," she faltercd. 'IIe has been
very kind to me this winter"
II sent him over to the Center" his
mother said Stltlly. Isl amt got no call
to be gaddin' about with young girls.
"Taln't decent"
She closed the door with Il nice shade
of emphasis that just avoided 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 n screen of
bushes. and the tears that had been
sternly repressed I'LL day flowed I'M
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 rs the river seem
ed at its best, she was going back to
the city. She recalled with a shuddcr
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 Il couple of hundred dollars for
the girl. The half of this had gone for
board while she sought Il position. The
rest together with her small savings,
must 90 this year She had COM
mcnccd the drudgery of life. She
could meet it bravely, but 1t 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, broad, silent stream, covered
with shipping and discolored by the
tides and refuse. 1t would be n gray
ghost of her old friend, tantaliZing
reminder of the river she had lost.
| She was still sobbing when a sharp,
staccato bark resounded and Il small
terrier bounded into view.
Bess rubbed her eyes cOnfusedly.
| The dog was fuwning upon her in Il
very puroXysm Of JOY. Surely it would
not he 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 Il 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 lie had sprung
| forward.
"Where did you drop from, Bess?'
he demanded IT have been searching
the four corners of the globe for Y u
Il have been right here" she said
steadily as she offered cool, soft
hand. Il had to do something, so |
decided to put to use my only talent.
l amer rather, have bccn-the teach
er Of district A."
"And the terror of every mother with
son or daughter of manageable
age" he completed, with laugh. Il
have Teen hearing about you, but the
| 4nonhnr' pnVnr Miss MnVOp