Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-03-25
PRELUDE.

Six little states clattered into place.
ind six little figures stood erect be-
ween their benches.
Right! Turn" said the master.
March! School is dismissed and
Xix pairs of bare little legs twinkled
long the aisle, across the well-wOrn
threshold. down the big stone step.
md into the dusty road, warm with
ne rays Of the Indian summer sun.
The master watched them from the
pen window until they vanished be-
lind ridge of beech trees that cut his
dsidn from the concession. While they
'emained within sight smile played
ipon the features Of his strong. sun
'urned face, but as the last little ca
leo dress was swallowed by the wood
ne smile died down, and for mo-
nent he stood. a grave and thoughtful
tatue framed within the white pine
.asings Of the sash.
His brown study lasted only mo-
nent- With quick movement he
walked to the blackboard. caught up
section of sheepskin, and began
raising the symbols Of the days In
ltructiOns.
swell, l suppose there's reward in
ieavan." he said to himself. as he set
he little schoolroom In order. "There
sn't much here. The farmers will
NY i man more to doctor their sick
ileep than to teach their children.
r others can take the chance can
AXE lt too. If 1t were not for her
would go tomorrow"
The last remark seemed to unlink
new Chain of thought. The gray
.yes lii up again. He welded the
,roonI briskiy for minute. then toss
vi II In corner. fastened the win
lows. slipped q little folder Into his
pocket, locked the door behind him
ind swung in Il rapid stride down
'y-path leading from the little school
,ouse into the forest
Ten minutes quick walking In the
woods. now glorious In all their au-
llmn splendor brought him to a point
where the sky stood up. pale blue
vastve, through the trees. The next
moment he was at the waters edge,
Ind a limpid lake stretched away to
where the forests of the farther shore
mingled hazily with sky and water
lie glanced about, MS though expect
ng someone; he whistled a line of a
popular song, but the only reply was
rom saucy eavesdropper which,
>erched on a nearby limb, trilled back
IS own liquid notes in answer.
II may as well improve the mo-
nents consulting my chart" he re-
marked to his undulating image in the
water. This thing of embarking on
.wo new seas ut once calls for skill
,ul plotting" He seated himself on
stone. drew from his pocket the fold
sr. 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
thrust It's brown nose into the blue
wedge before him. Kneeling near its
stern, her paddle held aloft and drip
Ding, her brown arms and browner
lair glistening IN the mellow sun. her
ace bright with the light of its own
expectancy. was 1.-THE and beautiful
girl. Up an instant her eye located
he young man on the bank, and her
Ups nodded as though to speak; but
when she saw how unObserved she was
she rem ained silent and upright as an
indian while the canoe slipped gently
'oward the shore. Presently ii cush-
loned It's nose In the Selvety sand.
She rose silently from her seat, and
stole on moccasined tip-toes along the
stones until she could have touched
his hair with her fingers. But her
yes fell over his shoulder on the ma.
pers before him.
always al YOUR studies" abe cried