The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-06
GRAY EYES
BY JANE OSBORN.

the most fashionable school in the
suburban community where the home
of the newly rich Stoneworths was
located, and, incidentally, she was the
favorite and best-beloved teacher of
twelve-year-old Vivian, who had been
sent to school because of her inabil-
ity 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 glad to accept the task of return
ing home with Vivian to share the
duty of taking care of the young
| Stoneworths. Mr.. and Mrs. Stone.
worth had departed the day before for
southern climes to be gone week.
Madge had dined alone with the lit
tie girls, and after intrusting them to
the care Of their maid to be put to
bed she had retraced her way to the
library, of which she had caught a
glimpse before dinner.
From Vivian's few comments Madge
had formed distinct mental image
! Of the tutor. She fancied him lean
| precise, pedantic and immaculate,
both in appearance and in speech. She
heard muffled step on the heavy rug
behind her.
so you are Miss Peckham," said q
voice SO melodious and magnetic, so
unlike anything Madge had associated
with the probable Mr.. Sneed, that she
gave perceptible start.
May / introduce myself? We shall
have to see more or less of each other
for ten days. l hope we shall get on
famously"
Il am very glad to meet you, Mr.
Sneed," said Madge, making a rapid
visual survey of the athletic young
man before her.
Isn't it really quite lark to be
here?" she laughed. 81 have never
been in such wonderful house be-
fore. 1t is quite like a fairy tale,
though no doubt we shall have our
hands full. l am sure Vivian will be
docile enough, but Hildegarde does
not know me- l suppose Billy is quite
a 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.
Billy is the limit put in Vivian,
with a knowing glance at Hildegarde.
1T is just dreadful when he is at
meals. I'm glad Mr.. Sneed made him
have breakfast upstairs"
Il am quite sure | shall be great
friends with that bad Billy brother of
1 yours" said Madge, although secretly
she was glad that the complications
of the first morning had not been in
creased by the addition of Billy.
i That first Of the Easter holidays was
one of those days that seems like the
! longest and the shortest of lifetime.
At Mr.. Sneeds suggestion, there was a
morning horseback ride in the mild
spring air, lunch in the sun parlor and
an afternoon spent first at music in
the music room, when Madge and her
little charges played for the entertain
ment OF the tutor, and, later, hours
spent in the library.
After the girls had gone to bed,
Madge made her way down to the IL
brary, this time because the tutor had
made her promise to meet him there
when they parted at dinner.
Haven't the children been wonder.
ful?" she said, as soon as they had
taken their places before the embers
OF the low-burning fire on the hearth.
Madge had changed her simple navy
blue dress for an equally simple eve
ming frock of white that added hun
dredfold to her charms In that won.
derful day she had become we'll ac-
quainted with the tutor and she even
wanted him to admire her.
1t didn't seem at all presumptuous,
but simply as the elimination of a
wonderful experience when the tutor
told her that he loved her. that she
was the loveliest woman he had ever
known and that the day with her
had been the most beautiful in his
life.
And it is so strange" she was say
ing as they sat there in the glow of
the embers. Il had such a distinct
impression of what Mr.. Sneed would
be like. thought he would have gray
eyes, but not at all the kind of gray
eyes you have
1t was because | had gray eyes
that you knew was Mr.. Sneed. then
The funny part of it is that | am not
Mr.. Sneed at all.
Who are you, them" she asked in
amazement.
i am that very bad boy Billy whom
you told US you were quite sure you
should like. You see, am really Wv.
ians brother"
But Mr.. Snead is Billys tutor"
interposed the mystifed girl.
Yes. he is. You see. | cut college
to go in business with my father. and
now that he's made his pile want to
go back and study law and Sneed is
helping with the examinations But
when Vivian. the rascal, told me that |
the teacher was very pretty, | Just |
thought I'd give Snead vacation ana |
stay home with my sisters instead. |
knew he didn't appreciate the pretty
teacher half as much as | should |