The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-15

located and, incidentally, she was the
favorite and best-beloved teacher OF
twenty-years-old Vivian, who had been
sent to school because of her inability
to keep peace with the gray-eyed Mr..
Sneed, resident tutor of the stone
worth establishment.
Easter holidays had come and be-
cause Madge had no family to return
to during the school vacation she
had been to accept the task of return
ing home with Vivian to share with
Mr.. Sneed the duty Of taking care OF
the young stoneworths. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stoneworth had departed the day be-
fore for southern clfmes to be gone
a week, and with seven automobiles
and half dozen horses and a score OF
servants at her beck and call Madge
was about to assume the task Of play
ing mamma to the young Stoneworths.
Knowing the perversity of the Stone.
worth disposition as displayed in the
admiring Vivian, she might have re-
fused the position had 1t not been for
been offered as an Offset for the ten
days of responsibility.
"Mayba you think that our father
gave you too much" Vivian had re-
marked to the young teacher conf
dentially. "but you will earn every
cent Of 1t. That Mr.. Sneed man says
that he has grown ten years older
since he came here ito teach Hide
grade and Billy"
Madge has dined along with the lit
tie girls, and after intrusting them to
the care OF their maid to put to bed
she had retraced her way to the
library, OF which she had caught. q
glimpse before dinner. This was partly
in order to get a book with which to
while away the hours in her own
room and partly. to get a possible
glimpse of the gray.eyed Mr.. sneed.
No doubt, thought Madge, he might
have strolled into the library after
having disposed of Billy. whom as yet
Madge had not seen.
From Vivian's few comments Madge
had formed distinct mental image OF
the tutor. She fancted him lean, pre-
else, pedantic and immaculate, both in
appearance and in speech. She was
standing looking with mild astonish'
ment into the g1ass-covered bookcase
of expensively-bound volumes with
obviously were seldom opened when
she heard muffled step on the heavy
rug behind her.
! $50 you are Miss Peckham," said a
voice so melodious and magnetic, SO
unlike anything Madge had associated
with the probable Mr.. Sneed, that she
gave percepttble start. al..
"May introduce myself? We shall
have to see more or less of each other
for ten days. hope we shall get on
famously."
II am very glad to meet you Mr..
Sneed," said Madge, making rapid
visual survey Of the athletic young
man before her, and before many
minutes had passed she found herself
talking easily with the young tutor.
"Isn't 1t really quite lark to be
here? she laughed. II have never
been in such wonderful house before
It is quite like fairy tale, though no
doubt we shall have our hands full. I
am sure Vivian will be docile enough,
but Hildegarde does not know me.
suppose Billy Is quite terror. Did
you see that he had been put to bed
before you came DOWN."
The next morning, when Madge de-
scended to the breakfast room at eight
she found her charges already at
breakfast. The young tutor, seated
at the head OF the table, had waited
till she arrived and on her appearance
rose and remained standing till the
teacher took her seat. This among
muftled giggles from the little girls,
who cast sidelong glances at each