Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1913 — AT THE ROAD'S END [ARTICLE]

AT THE ROAD'S END

!Young Teacher and Her Pupils Soften the Heart of an Irascible Old Bachelor.

By CLARIBSA MACKIE. •, “A cross-country walk,” Announced Miss Molly Dale'to her assembled pupils. “How many children would like to go with me?" Fourteen hands fanned the air vigorously while the remaining hands In the room wanted to wave assent •Iso, but gaturday morning brought household tasks, chores for the boys and music lessons for many. "Very well. Those who would like to go with me can meet me here at 9 o’clock tomorrow morning. You must be on time for I have an engagement after dinner and must be home at noon. School Is dismissed.” Saturday morning found the eager fourteen at the schoolhouse warmly equipped for a tramp across the snowy fields. When Miss Dale appeared they set up a shout of welcome for the teacher who was a pretty sight in her short blue skirt and sweater with crimson tarn o’ shanter that matched the red of her lips. Color warmed her cheeks and her dark eyes shone softly. She looked like a little girl._ “Now, we are ready. 1 shall go ahead and lead the way. Four boys next —then the girls—and the rest of the boys to bring up the rear. Remember, boys, you are to look out for j the girls and help them over the rough places. The boys grinned sheepishly and the little girls giggled together until the group straightened out. into a long Hne across the schoolyard. \ It was only a light snow that ha€ fallen and with every thump of their sticks the pedestrians struck the frozen ground beneath. In the - woods the trees creaked in the light wind and sent powdery whiteness down to sting their faces;

Now and then a rabbit scurried •cross the snow or a squirrel poked bright eyes out of some safe retreat. In places where the sun struck warmly one could glimpse trails of green *nd dots of red where the partridge berries grew. Presently Molly turned Into an old wood road that led no one remembered where. It Is great fun to explore unknown roads and all the children skipped Joyfully. Undoubtedly they would come out Into some snowy field and that meant a tramp through the untracked whiteness —perhaps startling a flock of quail—over fences or under them. V A barbed wire fence snarled across their way and they got over it and under It somehow, and found that they bad lost the wood road. This was all the better. Suddenly a laurel hedge loomed before them and with a wild whoop the group separated and broke through. Miss Molly smiled and trailed after them. When she looked around for her pupils she saw to her dismay that they were romping and racing about the grounds of a hafltfffsome house. Surely she had seen that house before —from a different angle. Suddenly she gasped for breath. Now Bhe knew! It was the home of Mr. Jared Smithers —Irascible old bachelor and one of the trustees of the school. Beyond the rolling snow-covered lawns, through the trunks of the noble trees, Molly could see the high, prim greenery of the hpdge that shut the house from the village street. Somehow —she had blundered. This escapade meant farewell to another year’s teaching in the Glen Hollow school and Molly did like her position r so much. Desperately she darted down past the house in a mad desire to gather her shouting flock and rush them out of the yard. As she flew past a trim little summer house a long arm shot out of the door and caught her arm. Molly screamed in surprise and when she saw her captor she became quite limp in his strong grasp. It was Mr. Smithers, peering nearsightedly at her. He wore a house coat and thin slippers and his thick brown hair was tossed wildly about his head. ■ "Little girl," he roared crossly, "what are you doing in my yard—ehr “I—l don’t know," stammered Molly feebly. She squirmed under his clutch. "You are hunting my arm, air," she added. *1 beg your pardon,” he said ;gruflly. He released her at once but still he glared down at her drooping little figure. "What are you doing here —and those others? Are they your brothers and sisters?" Molly stared aghast at the fourteen and then a smile crinkled her lips and the corners of her brown eyes. "No, sir,” she said demurely, "they are tay children.** "What?TTutut —tut —what do you , mean? Ah, I see, you are playing a Joke upon me—well, clear out, all of you. riaht now;** Molly hesitated. Now was her chance to vanish with her innocent pupile; if Mr. Smithers had not recognised in her the teacher of the fourth grade whom he had barely noticed, why they would all escape judgment and punishment for trespassing. But Molly was feminine —and somehow she did not relish being treated so cavalierly W any man. old or young. She risked dismissal when she lifted bar brown eyes so Innocently to his and said reproachfully;

“I am afraid that you do not recog nice me, Mr. Smitherm.” “Why—why—” he bent down- testily and looked at her through his glasses. What little girl was this that spoke in such a grown-up way? •Who are you?” . „ - “I am Miss Dale—£eacher of the fourth grade,” admitted Molly with a sinking heart. Mr. Smithers stared at her. That Is he stared until he happened to see the crinkly smile that still trembled on her lips. One could not say that he Bmiled in return. But his lips did relax .their grim lines and a queer look came into his blue eyes. “Miss Dale, eh? Well, what’s all this?" Molly told him with a sweet little dignity that somehow melted a hard, knotty place in his heart. 1 “We did not mean to trespass—we will-go at once, Mr. Smithers.” she concluded, moving away from him. “Wait,” he commanded, and then, grinning in rather a shame-faced way, he went on: ’ "I’m afraid I frightened you and er—if you’re out for a good time, why, let the youngsters slide there on the ice if they want to. I’ll have Mrs. Powell, my housekeeper, hurry dinner along and they can stay. Perhaps you’d like to come in and see my pictures and books?” Molly’s heart was dancing wildly, but she put on a little prim, schoolma’am air and shook her head.

“Thank you, Mr. Smithers, I will come in by and by with pleasure, but for the, present I will remain with the children and see that they do no harm to your lovely grounds." Mr. Smithers assented reluctantly and went into the house while Molly hastened to the wondering children and told them the startling news. At first therp was an inclination for wild flight, but when Mr. Smithers and his hired man appeared with two old bobsleds that had been found in the barn, they changed their minds. They also changed their opinion of the gruffness of Mr. Smithers, for now, clad in thick boots and warm sweater, he coasted with them down the steep hill back of the house and quite forgot that he was a school trustee and a woman hater. Molly grew pinker and prettier and happier every moment and after they had eaten a delicious dinner in the big dining room they all trooped into the library, where Mr. Smithers wound up the talking machine and they had a feast of fun and rare music. It was almost dusk when they Jjade their host good-bye and they stood before the house and gave three lusty cheers and he waved his hat frantically in response. Somehow, that day, Jared Smithers had found his Jost youth. In spite of this day of pleasure and many others that fell to the little school teacher, Molly Dale did not come back to teach in the Glen Hollow school, for when June came she had promised Jared Smithers that when her wedding clothes were made she would return to Glen Hollow as his wife. (Copyright, 1918, by the McClure New»- ... paper ■ Syndicate.}