The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-03-21
BywILLIAM H. HAr1BY
Coopyrshsl

ltieu ike d lFudnJ sCuOOlDOg diOnb
the wild, unused country road. It was
the teachers favorite walk, and he
loved 1t best in autumn.
Where the road turned sharply
around the corner of the cliff he came
upon a young lady trying vainly to
reach a bunch of ferns that grew
from a crevice in the face Of the
rock.
May l get them for your he asked,
and without waiting for permission,
plucked them. AS she thanked him
they looked frankly into each others
eyes and we're acquainted. "As we
go the same way we may walk to-
gether," he said, more as a statement
than as a request.
you are a teacher, l believe" said
the young lady.
NO" he replied.
"Oh, excuse me; l supposed you
we're Mr.. Laurence, the teacher at
Oak Grove"
MY name is Laurence, and teach
at Oak Grove, but I'm eve a teach
er after four o'clock"
why? Because you dislike it so
much!"
NO; 1 like being a teacher, but
like better to be just Laurence"
Il believe you are peculiar" she
said with a smile.
@You have heard that already" he
asked,
Eyes, the first thing. Here you are:
Otto Laurence, a powerful smart
young man, been teachin' the Oak
Grove school for five years, very pc
culiar feller-not much on usin' the
CAD, but the kids learn like all git
out, and think the world and all of
him. He's been offered lots better
places, but won't go. Just hangs
around here teachin' in the winter,
and loafin' in the woods and fields the
rest of the time. Mighty peculiar fell
Ter, forgits his supper sometimes, but
smart-smarter than a Philadelphia
lawyer" He laughed.
81 see you improved your ride with
Uncle Hank; he is a hack driver
worth having, introduces you to The
entire community before you are il
sight. Now permit me" he continued
ito introduce Miss Aurora Prescott
president, secretary, treasurer ant
business manager of half a dozen clubs
circles and societies; a fashionabl,
young lady who is not so frivolous
but she grows tired of sham and pre-
tense and loves to go down to he.
aunt's in the Ozarks, where she cal
be herself for a time. A pretty younl
lady with gray eyes that laugh ant
look serious at the same time" The.
both laughed.
Now, as we are properly intro
duced, l suppose l may invite you Il
call at my aunt's while l am here
This is my path" She held out he
hand, and they parted like old friend.
The teacher went on dreaming as be
fore. This accidental meeting seen
ed but a part of the dream. Tha
evening his landlady called in val
/ for him to come to supper. With hi
chair wheeled to the west windo'
overlooking the valley, through whic
! ran the little rivera winding threa
of silver and the hills beyond, he sa
and dreamed until twilight faded an
the stars came, and long after tn
night was gone he still sat an
dreamed.
= After Miss Prescott left the teacl
err she sauntered along the path, hun
ming a drowsy air in perfect conten
ment. She smiled over her unusu,
introduction to Laurence. She recoI
: nized in him a strong personality, bl
there was nothing disturbing about /
She felt even more restful and
' ease with all her surroundings tina
before. 1t was so good to be free,
be out in the open air and see Ii
sunlight in its purity, and hear I
sound but the music Of nature. Ho
( tired she had grown Of the ceaselel
q rounds at homel Dressing, calm
receiving calls, reading papers at s
cieties, listening to papers and discus
ing papers. The same rounds and 8
ways coming back to nothing, 1t seer
ed. But here among the simple cou
. try people she was free. There we
no rounds to go, no conventions to 0
serve. Here l can be just myself, 81
: thought, remembering the 'expressiC
OF the teacher. ,
They met again at a lawn soci
given by Aurora's aunt. Miss Pre-
colt welcomed the teacher cordial
you are late. Mr.. Laurence" 81
! said.
2 yes; l almost forgot to come"
said.
Z. Not \ very handsome complime
n. to me-" she replied laughing"
"A very great compliment to 20
| was in such a deep study thinking
you / almost forgot to come to 3
!, you"
N They were together often duri
the weeks that followed. sometim
n they went to picHics and parties. b
oftener preferred to remain at hon
They spent the delightful autur
evenings visiting on the po-ch
walking in the orchard, where. annie
the red and golden fruit, they fora
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