The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-08-25
PROFESSOR MORTON.
BY CONSTANCE CARLETON.


eu you shal noU puzzle your Drains
over Mathematics, French and Gram
mar exercises, or any of the other ills
which "the flesh (of school girls) is heir
to-"
1t was pleasant afternoon in Sep
tember. The blossoms of Spring now
hung on the trees in ripe fruit The
mild breath of Autumn had just begun
to tinge the leaves with the faintest sus-
picion Of gorgeous colors. Dame Ma
ture would soon put on her most attract
i've garb, before Winter should come to
destroy her loveliness, The young la
dies of Holston Seminary, whose duties
were over for the week, were lounging
under the trees, walking up and down
the long shaded walks in twos and
threes, with their arms around each 9TH
ers waists, in regular schoolgirl fash
ion, and employing themselves in vari-
GUS other ways. The Seminary was a
large stOne-colored brick building, sur
rounded by tall trees. The yard which
sloped gradually down to the iron fence
was covered here and there with clus-
ters of Autumn flowers. The place did
not have that air of gloom usually seen
at such institutions, but looked cheer
full and homelke. The portico and
front steps were filed with girls who
seemed to be talking on some exciting
topic. The professor who had taught
the ancient languages in the school for
SO many years, had resigned not long
before, on account of failing health, and
today, another was TO take his place.
The omnibus which was to convey him
from the depot was momentarily expect
ed, and the young ladies were anxious
to catch a glimpse of the new professor.
Many conjectures were made in regard
to him. Would he be cross as two
sticks, or good? would he give long
or short lessons?' On one thing they
all agreed; he must be very old, of
course.
There was no particular reason for
this supposition, unless it was because
the other professors were elderly gen.
tlemen. The youngest of them, Mon
sieur Garou, the teacher of French, was
perhaps about forty years of age, and
who being the only single gentleman in
the building, was rather proud of his
position.
1T is about time for the old gentle
man to come said pretty black-eyed
Allie Downey. Il do wish he would
hurry himself up
What is dees that you wish Mees
Aleece? asked Monsieur Garou, COM
ing out and standing on the step beside
her. He was a tall slender gentleman
with grey eyes and dark hair; he wore
a heavy black mustache, and smiled a
great deal 'to show his teeth the girls
said, which were very white and even.
Monsieur was true Frenchman; he
had the polite manners and the inimit-
able shrug of his countrymen. Having
been in America but a year, hispronun-
citation of the English language was not
as correct as it might have been, and
many were the mistakes he made.
Il was wishing the new professor
would come, Alice answered with a
smile.
'Whyp
Il merely wanted to see what he looks
like
Ladies' curiosity, said Monsieur with
a shrug.
4 grant it; but Monsieur has his
share of it too, has he not?'
mo Mademoiselle. l am not at all
curious
Then why did you want to know
what / wished for, when you came out
Just now?' said she laughing and drop
ping bracelet, which Monsieur picked
up and restored with bow which al
most sent him backward off the steps.
The two immediately began to argue,
as they usually did when conversing.
Two girls who had been sitting on a
rustic bench under a tree at some dis
lance from the house, now came slowly
toward the portico. The contrast be-
tween them was great. The taller one
was brunette; her black hair was ar
ranged in heavy coils at the back other
small well shaped head. Her features
were regular, her black eyes were large
and sparkling, but the expression of her
face was too naughty for perfect beauty
The fact that India Lester was an heir
ess, caused many of her faults to be
overlooked Very gracious to those
whom she happened to fancy, she treat
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