The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-10-21
PRELUDE.

Six little states clattered into place,
and six little figures stood erect be-
tween their benches.
"Rlght Turn said the master.
March School is dismissed" and
six pairs of bare little legs twinkled
along the aisle, across the well-worn
threshold. down the big stone step,
and into the dusty road, warm with
the rays of the Indian summer sun.
The master watched them from the
open window until they vanished be-
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
lico dress was swallowed by the wood
the smile died down, and for mo-
ment he stood. grave and thoughtful
statue framed within the white pine
castings of the sash.
His brown study lasted only mo-
ment. With quick movement he
walked to the blackboard, caught up
section Of sheepskin, and began
erasing the symbols of the days in
structions.
"Well, 1 suppose there's reward in
heaven" he said to himself as he set
the little schoolroom in order. There
isn't much here. The farmers will
pay a man more to doctor their sick
sheep than to teach their children.
If others can take the chance / can
take 1t too. If it were not for her
would go tomorrow"
The last remark seemed to unlink
a new chain of thought. The gray
eyes lit up again. He welded the
broom briskly for a minute. then toss
ed IL In a corner, fastened the win
dows, slipped little folder into his
pocket, locked the door behind him
and swung in rapid stride down a
by-path leading from the little school
house into the forest.
Ten minutes quick walking in the
woods, now glorious in all their au-
tumn splendor, brought him to point
where the sky stood up. pale blue,
evasive, through the trees. The next
moment he was at the waters edge.
and a limpid lake stretched away to
where the forests Of the farther shore
mingled hazily with sky and water.
He glanced about. as though expect
ing someone; he whistled a line Of a
popular song, but the only reply was
from saucy eavesdropper which,
perched on nearby limb. trilled back
its own liquid notes In answer.
IT may as we'll improve the mo-
ments consulting my chart" he re-
marked to his undulating image In the
water. 'Thls thing Of embarking on
two new seas at once calls for skill
full plotting" He seated himself on
stone. drew from his pocket the fold
err. and spread map before him.
In a few moments he was so en-.
crossed that he did not hear the al
most noiseless motion of a canoe as
Il thrust its brown nose into the blue
wedge before him. Kneeling near its
stern, her paddle held aloft and drip
ping. her brown arms and browner
hair gllstening In the mellow sun, her
face bright with the light of Its own
expectancy, was q 1.-THE and beautiful
girl. In an instant her eye located
the young man on the bank. and her
lips nodded as though TO speak; but
when she saw how unobserved she was
she remained silent and upright as an
Indian while the canoe slipped gen:y
toward the shore. Presently IL cush-
ianed it's nose in the velvety sand.
She rose silently from her seat. and
stole on moccaslned tip-toes along the
stones until she could have touched
his hair with her fingers. But her
yes fell over his shoulder on the pa
,ers before him.
Always ~ your studies" she cried,