The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-25
At THE ROADS END
Young Teacher and Her Pupils
Soften the Heart Of an lras-
chile Old Bachelor.
By cLARlSsA MAcKlE.

BY clARiSsA MAcklE.
"A cross-country walk" announced
Miss Molly Dale to her assembled
pupils. How many children would
like TO 60 with me-"
Fourteen hands famed the air
vigorously while the remaining hands
In the room wanted to wave assent
also. but Saturday morning brought
household tasks. chores for the boys
and music lessons for many.
"very well. Those who would Ike
to 50 with me can meet me here at y
o'clock tomorrow morning. You must
be on time for l have an engagement
after dinner and must be home at
noon. School is dismissed"
Saturday morning found the eager
fourteen at the schoolhOuse warmly
equipped for tramp across the
snowy fields. When Miss Dale ap'
peared they set up shout OF wei
come for the teacher who was a pref
ty sight in her short blue skirt ana
sweater with crimson tam o shanter
that matched the red Of her lips.
Color warmed her cheeks and her
dark eyes shone softly. She looked
like a little girl.
NOW. we are ready. | shall 90
ahead and lead the way. Four boys
next-then the girls-and the rest Of
the boys to bring up the rear. Re-
member. boys. you are to look out for
the girls and help them over the
rough places.
The boys grinned sheepishly ana
the little girls giggled together until
the group Strengthened out Into . long
line across the schoolyard.
II was only . light snow that had
fallen and with every thump OF their
sticks the pedestrians struck the
frozen ground beneath. In the woods
the trees creaked In the light wind
and sent powdery wilderness down to
sting their faces.
Now and then q rabbit scurried
across the snow or q squirrel pcked
bright eyes out Of some safe retreat.
In places where the sun struck warm
~ one could glimpse trails OF green
and dots Of red where the partridge
berries grew.
Presently Molly urned into an old
wood road that led no one remember
ed where. II is great fun to explore
unknown roads and all the children
skipped joyfuIly. Undoubtedly they
would come out into some SNOWY
field and that meant tramp through
the untracked whiteness-perhaps
n flock Of quail-over fences
or under them.
A barbed wire fence snarled across
their way and they got over 1t AMI
under 1t somehow. and found that
they had lost the wood road. This
was all the better
Suddenly a laurel hedge doomed be-
fore them and with wild whoop tho
group separated and broke through.
Miss Molly smiled and trailed after
them
When she locked around for her
pupils she saw to her dismay that
they we're romring and racing about
the grounds of a handsome house.
Surely she had seen that house be.
forc--from "A different angle,
Suddenly she gasped for breath
Now she knew!
It was The home Of Mr. Jared
Smithors-irascible old bachelor and
one OF the trustees OF the school.
BEYOND the rolling snow-cOvered
lawns, through the trunks OF the no
BILE trees, Molly could see the high.
prim greenery of the hedge that shut
the house from the village street.
Somehow-she had blundered. This
escapade meant farewell to another
years teaching In the Glen Hollow
school and Molly did like her position
80 much.
Desperately she darted down past
The house In Z mad desire to gather
her shouting flock and rush them
out Of the yard. As she flew past
trim little summer house long arm
shot out of the door and caught her
arm.
Molly screamed In surprise and
when she saw her captor she became
lutte limp in his strong grasp.
II was Mr.. Smithers peering near
at her. He wore house
.oat and thin slippers and his THICK
brown hair was tossed wildly about
lis head
Little girl" he roared Grossly.
what are you doing in my yard
en-"
IL don, know" stammered Molly
Feeblv. Sic squirmed under his
clutch. "You are hunting my arm
;ir." she added.
Il beg your pardon" he said
,ruf1y lie released her at once but
still he glared down at her dropping
title figure. What are you doing
those others Are they
-our brothers and sisters"
Molly stared aphast at the fourteen
md then smile crinkled her lips
md the corners of her brown eyes
NO, sir" she said demurely. they |