The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-05

sflvery 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 wouldanot 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 marriagable daughter
or son had urged this objection upon
the school board. Milton township
was not over-well stocked with young
men. and this girl from the city. with
clothes and her bright face constituted
menace to the mothers.
For once they united in a common
cause and urged Bess's removal The
dimple in her chin, the soft color of her
cheeks, the laughing brown eyes, the
ripping hair and the curves Of her
throat, each constituted an objection
that found common expression 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
Mandy Mills. why, he's two years
OiuCt N ShC w. <AbU MIN tTUttlh OFSI
to her house every evenin t. git help
with his Latin! What does the boy
want of Latin. anyhow? OF course.
1t was the teacher he wanted When
I was girl and taught school. you
en- remember / used to whale the boys
good. They never had chance ID
flirt with tn teacher then"
81 Judson, chairman of the board,
told himself that that was in part re-
sponsibie for her continuation in a
single state Of blessedness, but Mandy
was the sister Of the editor Of the Ban
ner," 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 agen-
cies 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
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.
Il should like to say good-by to Mr.
Judson." she faltered. He has been
very kind to me this winter"
Il sent him over to the Center" his
mother said stiffly. ISL amt got no
call to be gaddin shout with young
vi trxtt
She closed the door with a nice shade
of emphasis that just avoided a posi-
tive slam, and Bess turned away to-
ward the river. 1t was both COM
panion and comforter. and as she
reached the bank she sank into lit
tie nook formed by a screen of bushes,
and the tears that had been sternly
repressed all day flowed unchecked.
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 seemed
at its best, she was going back to the
city She recalled with a Sudden
her struggles of the year before Her
father had died just after she had
graduated from college. When the
small estate was settled Il was found
that he had lived up to every penny
of his incesse. There was just enough
left to pay his outstanding debts and
leave a couple or hundred dollars for
the girl The half OF this had gone
for board while she sought position.
The rest together with her small saw
ings, must go this year. She had
commenced the drudgery of life. She
could meet II bravely, but 1t tore her
heart to leave the river and the country
that she loved so well.
She could see the river in town, she
knew, broad, silent stream, covered
with shipping and discolored by the
tides and refuse. II would be a gray
ghost of her old friend; a tantalizing
reminder of the river she had lost. She
was still sobbing when a sharp. STAG
cato bark resounded and a small ter
rier bounded into vieW
Bess rubbed her eyes confusedly
The, dog was fawning upon her in a
very paroxysm of JOY. Surely It would
not be Tony, and yet. On the
glistening collar plate she read the
name. Il am James Harvey's Tony
Tell him he's lost me-" Tony was a
ghost from her other life, and she threw
her arms about his wiry neck and
buried her head upon his shoulder.
James Harvey. coming softly UP to
see what game the dog had tracked
paused a moment to contemplate the
picture. Another instant he had
sprung forward.
Where did you drop from. BessT' he
demanded. II have been searching
the four corners of the globe for you. {"
Il have been right here" she said
steadily. as she offered a cool soft
hand II had to do something, so /
decided to put to use my only talent.
amor, rather, have been-the teacher
of District Four"
And the terror of every mother with
son or daughter of marriageable age"
he completed with a laugh. IT have
been hearing about you but 1.-The
teacher" never Miss Mayo"
They are all wrong" she cried Bit
terly. II did not want their sons,
nor to disappoint their daughters. I
just wanted to be left alone to earn my
living. and they would not do it,"
Il understand" he said gently. 81
studied in old School Four myself when
l was shaver. This is my home town,
you know"
You come from Milton?" she asked.
Somehow / thought you had been born
in the city"
Il am a traitorous son." he laughed.
This Is my first visit here since left
for college. have bought up the
Milton pulp mill and am going to set
tie down here for the summer. 1
suppose you realize that you are
tresspasser on my land this very min
ute?"
1T won't be for long" she smiled
m 1nax yfn Far T..