The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-17
IA Fool And His Paradise

interrupted A voice at the window made the schoomaster look up sud- denly with a smile which seemed to take years off his age.
 May l come in?" said the voice.
 Through the door or through the window?' asked Henry Trant.
 The easiest way"
 A girl leapt lightly upon the low sill, scrambled with the swish of a white frock through the window, and stood in front of him.
 shocking behavior for Miss Beryl t'urnaby, daughter of the reverend headmasteri"
 Henry Trant spoke with a gravity belied by the smile about his lips, His eyes feasted on the beauty of a girl so much better to look at than the ink-splodged pages of Latin eX ereises. He took her hands, drew her away from the window, and kissed her arms-they were bare up to the elbows which peeped out of the little lace frills of her white frock.
 Eve been watching you from the lawn said the girl. You look so tired, Harry! Cant you stop that stuffy old work?"
 Tired? Nonsense, little one, I've never been tired since that day when the great miracle happened-when 1 poor second-for master had the au- dacity to win the love of the head i masters daughter. Tired!'
 He gave quiet, mirthful laugh, as 1 though it were preposterous idea 1 that he should ever feel tired, in l spite of correcting papers after a | long day in a hot classroom among unruly boys.
 Beryl Furnaby slipped her hands out of his grasp. and walked to the other end of the room. When she came back again, swiftly, the deep color. which was part of her beauty, had faded out of her cheeks.
 Harry" she said. T wish you didn't love me so much. I'm such a kid-such silly kidl I'm not worthy of a love like yours"
 Did you jump through the win dow to tell me that?" | He laughed at her, but, in spite of his laughter, his voice softened and trembled with the emotion of a man whose whole nature is stirred by great happiness. He put his arms about the girl, and his face against hers.
 why do you say such unlzind things, my sweetheart? Are you afraid that I shall be too dull for you. too old, too much of a school master?"
 She shook her head but did not answer by any word.
 T was old before you smiled at me. But you made me young again. You gave me back my youth, little Beryl, which I was beginning to lose by too much drudgery and too much selfishness."
 "Selfishnessw She spoke the word as though he tested with her.
 "Yes, I was always self-absorbed, ntrospective, and as crusty as any old bachelor until you opened my eyes to the beauty of the world, and made me thank God for the glory of l life"
 She cried out sharply:
 Don't, Don't Harry"
 Something in the tone of her voice, | in that sudden cry, startled him.
 "Why. little one" he said. whats troubling you? Whats in the air to- night? Even Aubrey is as downcast as though he were playing the chief part in a modern problem play"
 Beryl Furnaby stood close to his mantel-shelf, and her fingers toucA- ed the orname ents upon it nervously. Her fingers were playing with a lit tie china pig which she had given to this man when she had first be- gun to flirt with him, when she had first captured his heart by her lit- tie allurements.
 Harry" she said, you frighten me sometimes with the strength of your love. After all, I'm nothing but a child."
 And she hardly looked more than girl in her white tennis frock, as she stood there. a slim figure. in the twilight of the room.
 You needn't be frightened" said Henry Trant in a grave, tender voice My love is very worshipful, dear | heart"
 "Yes, I know" said the girl. You have made an ideal of me, and you worship it. One day, when you find me out you will know the real me, and it will be an awful shock to l you"
 She laughed at her last words, and the man echoed her laughter cheer i fly. But suddenly she turned to him and put her hand upon his sleeve.
 You mustn't love me so much, i Harry. It isn't good for you. It isn't fair on me. Suppose anything happened. Supposing I were to die. or-or had to go away from you, or anything like that? It would