The Madison journal., 1920-12-25
PRELUDE.

Six little SlateS Gathered lntO pIdCe
apd six little figures stood erect be
tween their benches.
Right Turn!" said the master
March. School is dismissed" ant
sir pairs of bare little legs twinkled
along the aisle, across the well-worn
threshold, down the big stone step
md into the dusty road, warm with
he rays Of the Indian summer sun.
The master watched them from the
spen window until they vanished he.
hind ridge of beech trees that cut his
vision from the concession. While they
remained within sight a smile played
upon the features Of his strong. sun
burned face, but as the last little ca
leo dress was swallowed by the wood
he smile died down, and for a mo-
uent he stood, grave and thoughtful
shtue framed within the white pine
usngs Of the sash.
His brown study lasted only a mo-
nent With a quick movement he
7 walked to the blackboard, caught up
I section of sheepskin, and began
sssing the symbols of the days in
uructions.
We'll, suppose there's reward in
heaven" lie said to himself. as he set
ne little schOOlroom in order. There
INT much here. The farmers will
pay q man more to doctor their sick
neep than to teach their children.
otners ran take the chance | can
uke II too. II 1t were not for her |
would go tomorrow"
fhe last remark seemed TO unlink
new chain Of thought. The gray
yes III up again. He welded the
NOON briskly for a minute. then toss
WI In corner, fastened the win
"vs slipped a little folder into his
Nket locked the door behind him
- swung in rapid stride down
qpath leading from the little school,
use Into the forest.
len minutes quick walking in the
Ooos' now glorious In all their an.
mn splendor, brought him to a point
mere the sky stood up, pale blue.
"aave. through the trees The No..
sanent he was at the water,s odoo
q q limpid lake stretched awav n
mere the forests of the farther shore
nsled hazily with sky and wafer
= glanced about, as though expect. |
someone; he whistled a line ., .
spO'ar song but the only reply was
- ..ss saucy eavesdropper which,
'cned on nearby limb, trIlled h.or
~ own liquid notes in answer VAIN
- may as well improve the mn.
sen.s consulting my chart no 'ro 10
~,,ss ,,.ed to s,ali his undulatlng image in the
s,e,, ~" H.. This thing Of emDarkins r~ 'ne 0p
Al - .t.ar
a .toUs pH1',ns.' %,as he seated himself 1a, ON 3
= - .nd 0,sw 0s from bis pocket the ro,d' s
v....s !. lew .s moments he was "sn' so o.,
~, FUSED that be did NOT hsss s so so en-
most nOIseless motion ~, ., near the al
s.Sse %a,t tits, !. brown nose into tanof tss h,n
.,sra her paddle Ii held AIHssllns s1n,, near its
s.s sS1 her brown arm. and 'So Sroan.- DRIP
a.. ss'.s.sans s.,as. in the mellow sO SsO~nsr ns
pectapey s,' with witt the light of it's its own ~r'
~ In an instant he, ana a,a beautiful
= iSoHs ~o'S.d man an on the bank. anS 'Usatsa ss1
.sa she saw how unohss,als sa 10 speak; but
Nan s%sI1sd ~S',s silent and upriras Sns e. was as
s.,'d the shore. ''I%e Pse.sapl9p' slipped gently
oss rs .,,s. nose in the veiretv VI suss suss'
- 'n mo moccasined tip.toes sea., seat. and
q n, until .l., she could have alUns top.t the
= a1 ,.lI viii with her fingers. RUt ,Utched ned
before him. 'uer on the pa
ways at Your stua,..
w wang eagerly to his 200. .e cred ,i,. ,
he less,1s ~an ga a psofessorshipt" sSa sSa
! dec,a.ap anp from n his fingers Sne t
S, = as cheeks between Ianifooa har =
soha sued Ibis his face to her. "sr %A hands nands f
spese say am% n.y." hh
hrr e''"s' too"
- ~, Nothing unusu,, ., t
With her husband, is b
III s0or's' se0orss' but you know. b
''"'-slaneing at the r,Ds i