Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-06-20
MILLIONS
MOTHERS.
By W. r. BRYAN.
Copyright. 1907. by e. c. PARCELS.
By W. r. BRYAN.


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 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 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 a 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 a common
cause and urged Bess removal. The
dimple in her chin, the soft color of
her cheeks, 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 II
was the teacher he wanted. When /
was girl and taught school, you en-
remember l used to whale the boys
good. They never had a chance to
firt with tn teacher then"
81 Judson, chairman Of the board,
told himself that that was In part re-
sponsible for her continuation In a
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 a moment and looked around.
Her eyes filed as her glance swept the
empty benches and the CHASTITY white
walls with the faded maps. She had
been happy hire 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.
Il should like to say goodby to Mr..
Judson," she faltered. "He has been
very kind to me this winter"
"I sent him over to the Center" his
mother said stiffly. Isl amt got no call
to be gaddin' about with young girls.
'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 a little nook formed by screen of
bushes, and the tears that had been
w oil
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 40 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 shudder
her struggles OF the year before. Her
father had died Just after she had
graduated from College. When the
small estate was settled It was found
that he had lived up to every penny Of
his income. There was just enough
left to pay his outstanding debts and
the girl. The half Of this had some for
board while she sought a position. The
rest, together with her small savings,
must 70 this year. She had COM
menced the drudgery Of life. She
could meet 1t bravely, but At tore her
heart to leave the river and the coun-
Try that she loved 20 well.
she should see tie river In town, she
knew, broad, silent stream, covered
with shipping and discolored by the
sidas and refuse It would be gray
ghost Of her old ffend, a tantalizing
reminder of the river she had lost.
She was still sobbiAg when sharp,
staccato bark resoutded and small
terrier bounded into tiew.
Bsss rubbed her Dyes confusedly.
The dog was fawniIk upon her In a
very paroxysm of joy\ Surely 1t would
not be Tony, and yet -on the gllsten-
ing collar plato she tead the name.
r am James Harvey's Cony. Tell him
he's lost me-" Tony WIZ ghost from
her other life, and she brew her arms
about his why little NIX and buried
her head upon his shoulder.
Janss Hs-vey, COMING softly up to
80 what game the doehad tracked.
pansed moment to contemplate the
picture. Another instant y had sprung
forward.
-where did you drop Apm. BessY'
h dsmanAad. II have be& searching
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