Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-09-21

the finest teacher. the most helpful
friend. the most intellectual woman.
and she strove to be content with rev
erence. honor and adulation-and her
work. The happy. upward lines on her
face. the upward curve of her lips, in
dicated content. But sometimes a hun.
ger for that something more which she
never received beset her. She was hun
CRY and restless now in her sisters
quiet summer home at Castro.
Next morning she came down to
breakfast dressed in white. She liked
to wear white. 1t softened her face,
which she imagined thirty years and
the cares of teaching were sharpen
ing.
"Auntie. you amt a-goin' ishin' this
mornin'i,' exclaimed her eldest nephew.
his fist plunged into his eye.
mo. my son; she's not going fishing
as you understand the word inter
posed his father. with a sly laugh
which, to Clyde's disgust. embarrassed
her.
She tried to laugh lightly and all the
way across the lake took herself Sc
verely to task because the attempt had
been a failure. If she should act like
a self conscious girl before Stoddard
Parker! In a pause she made her boat
fast to a bent tree overU nging the
shore and hurried up the path through
the grove to the station.
The whistle of the express caused
her throat to throb intentionally.
1--WE lost the last grain of my common
sense" she thought Indignantly as she
paused at the station door.
Parker stood on the rear platform,
smiling at her before she saw him. AS
he swung himself down and clasped
her hand. in an unwelcome flash her
old thought. abridged, rushed over her.
"Here Is a man | could love- -Four
years of college life had swept away
the "if."
She realized it as she looked into his
y His old awkwardness and the
consciousness of his deficiencies were
gone. His old earnestness and honesty
looked straight at her, and the touch OF
his hand conveyed that subtle, name
less something which had always
drawn her until she had been obliged
to hold herself by that "if."
As they passed through the station
Parker, with a courtly bow, held the
swinging door open for her to pass.
Clyde recalled the day many years ago
when she. with gentle tact, had taught
the big farmer student that lesson In
courtesy, and a sudden sickening real.
ization of age swept over her as she
stepped out on the path.
AS she led the way to the boat she
talked rapidly. urged on by a fright
ened desire to reassure him that she al
ways regarded herself as his elder
friend and sister. When they reached
the shore she turned and announced
briskly:
Here is u boat, and yer there"
pointing. lis my home"
Parker stopped and looked down at
her with his old, slow smile, which re-
vealed an undercurrent of tenderness
that was a strong attribute of his ma
ture.
Suppose we don't go across the
lake." he began persuasively. tits so
pleasant right here under this tree. l
believe that trunk curved itself over
expressly to make a seat for you to
rest on now" He held out his hand
to assist her.
1t was odd to hear him suggesting
and directing. AS his teacher that had
always been her prerogative. The col
or flushed into her face despite her ef-
forts at perfect self control.
Eyes, it seems made for a mother
confessor." she responded brightly, lay
ing her palm in his outstretched hand.
AS it closed over hers she was shaken
by a sudden passionate protest against
their former relative positions of teach
er and student-a passionate desire to
be just a girl again here among the
flowers and sunshine.
Parker sat on the messy bank at the
roots Of the tree and leaned forward,
an elbow on his knee. He laid his hat
beside him and looked at Clyde grave
ly. She settled back against the tree
trunk, glad of an excuse to shield her
eyes from the sun-and him.
Its good to be with you again." he
said simply.
1T brings back old times, does it
not" she laughed. when you used to
call me down to the teachers parlor to
confess?"
He smiled and studied Lake Castro.
Yes, that's what I'm going to do
now
Its about time" gayly Gliding. "It's
been four years since l heard your last
confession. All my other boys have
written me occasionally"
Parker picked up his hat and exam
ined the crown. Yes, we all remember
you, some of us better than others.
1 judge after a pause, "by the reports
from the old institute fellows, that you
are surfeited with letters"
"Oh. nor Clyde's bright voice belied
49,. qoo1s-r, sfT'p, o1uDox vi O1od RI hoor