The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-05-14
BY MARTHA COBB SANFORD.

Elsie Reynolds had just finished her
first year of teaching She had not en-
joyed the ca sssai5e particularly. and
now that the train was carrying her
back to the east, which she loved. she
wondered how she could have even
half pledged herself to return In the
fall But she had, and at length she
admitted to herself the reason for 1t.
1t was not the work, Work she must
have somew where, to be sure. but 1t was
not necessary to seek 1t at SO great a
distance from home. No, II was NOT
the work. but the friends she had
made, or, rather, to be strictly truthful
and spare herself no bushes. 1t was
one friend, Gilbert Chandler.
The admission came as a revelation.
For six months she and Gilbert had
been good comrades. and they had part
ed as comrades, exchanging promises
to write to each other during the long
summer vacation # 1t were not too hot
and If they were not too busy, etc
But Elsie had made the identical prom
ise to half dozen other men, more or
less, who had come to the train to see
her of. for Elsie was pretty and pop
ular and Gilbert Chandler had by no
means a clear field
Had the truth been told him (hy any
one save ElsieD he would have dismiss
ed 1t with Il smile of ineredulity.
But Elsie had no intention of telling
him-indeed, having discovered the
state of her feelings. she had no inten-
tion of favoring him with information
of any kind Gilbert must write first
On that point she was in1eXible, even
after a month of anxious waiting
Other men wrote. but the seals of
their letters she broke lstlessly and
answered them only in the hope that
through them she might hear some
thing of Gilbert At length they serv-
ed her purpose.
Over and over again Elsie read the
unbelievable words You've doubtless
heard about Chambers Illness" the
letter ran "Pneumonia has now set
In. and that with the typhoid compli-
cations. knocks his chances for recov-
cry about out. and just MS he was be-
ginning to he looked upon as young
lawyer who must be reckoned with.
Tough luck!"
Elsie crumpled up the letter and
sobbed her heart out. There was no
one to comfort her. no one who would
even understand.
The summer was nearly gone before
Elsie received further news. Gilbert
had lived through the awful crisis. but
not to receive his full health In fact,
the doctors had ordered an entire
change of climate and occupation, and
In consequence he had given up all his
youthful ambitions, said goodby to the
world OF friends and activities and
taken up life with his sister on a small
ranch In Texas
Then to all who knew her Elsie
Reynolds did surprising and unac-
countable thing She resigned her po-
sition In the western boarding school
and accepted the thankless task of
teacher In a district school in Texas
Her alleged reason-that she was
primitive experience-wast termed sheer
madness. Yet there was no one to hold
her back. She was fatherless aud
notherless aud perforce self support
ing
For the next two years there were
two very small institutions in the Lone
Star State that prospered amazingly
One was forlorn one room school
house. the other a pocket handkerchief
ranch which surrounded brave but
unpretentious little bungalow. In both
daily miracles were happening The
schoolhouse knew all about the bunga-
low, but the latter had never guessed
Dor to the west
And when "A letter arrived there one
summer morning announcing that FL
sic Reynolds was passing through Tex
as on her way east and If convenient
would like to stop off for few days to
visit old friends the bungalow opened
wide its doors and windows with as.
constituent and let the sun in like some
unexpected guest come to warm aud
cheer its lonely heart
During the days that must pass be
fore she should come all was one busy
whlrl of anticipation. To Gilbert
Chandler and his sister the actual pres
ence of a friend from their old aban-
doned world would seem nothing short
of glimpse Of heaven
Arrayed in its sudden acquisition of
muslin ruffles and chintz flowers and
quite consciously proud Of its honey
suckle perfume, the little house fut-
tered and beamed with expectation.
At last the great day arrived. Gill
bert rose early. his Drowned face va
diant with happiness saddled the two
horses and went to meet her.
The ride back over the rolling prairie,
which for each of them held its special
meaning was tremulous with things
unspoken. From full hearts little save
commonplaces reached the lips
you have been travelling, Elsie?"
81 trayeing?" She laughed back at
him merrily. mo; same old story, Gill
bert-teaching
But you're brown as a Mexican, and
you don't look the least bit tagged,
though that's damnlng you with lint
praise" he added. looking at her with