CHAPTER I
THE D0CT0R'S DAUGHTER
It really was a beautiful summer night when slowly I wheeled my way alongthe principal street of the village of Walford. A little valise wasstrapped in front of my bicycle; my coat, rolled into a little compass,was securely tied under the seat, and I was starting out to spend myvacation.
I was the teacher of the village school, which useful institution hadbeen closed for the season the day before, much to the gratificationof pedagogue and scholars. This position was not at all the summit ofmy youthful ambition. In fact, I had been fairly much disappointed whenI found myself obliged to accept it, but when I left college myfinancial condition made it desirable for me to do something tosupport myself while engaged in some of the studies preparatory to aprofessional career.