The Portland daily press., 1872-09-14
.But the servant viii notice it," objected


voice. so as not to be recognized. If none of
Won want to go, by Jove, I'll go myselfr'
"But you didn't go to the reception, and |
don't even know the professor" said Bob
''The professor isn't in,' said Jack, putting |
on his overcoat. snow, you fellows, write
your cards, if you haven't any with you, and
I'll take them.'
"Why, Jack; you haven't got any collar
on; and those top bootsp'
Glow many times must l tell you, my
child" said Jack patiently, ''the professor Is
not at homer
So he put on his big overcoat with cape,
and his fur gloves; and Bob settled MS pea'-
er on, after giving his hair parting rumple;;
He was just starting, when an idea occurred
to him.
'Let me take two Or three hats, so that l
can change them each time"
He stuck them under his cape and went
| out.
| The moon was shining brightly as he cross
| I'd the yard. 1t had just risen, and shone
through the gothic windows of the library,
| lighting them up so that they glimmered
family across the snow, as if the high hall
were filled with the halo of the genius that
it enshrined. The old elms stood up notion
less against the sky, and the light reflected
from the snow-covered roofs flashed through
their branches. The snow cracked under
his feet; and the clear, cold air sent a thrill
of life all through him as he walked rapidly
away from the square towards the professors
| house. Now and then the sound of bells
| would come out of the distance, growing
louder, till the sleigh flashed into the light,
and away again, out Of sight and hearing.
He halt forgot the object of his walk, and his
mind was full of many wandering thoughts.
He thought of meeting the charming girl
with whom he had just become acquainted,
| in his own village in the coming summer.
He thought how happy he should be if she
would favor him, and let him devote his life
to her. He thought how pleasant if she were
riding with him now in one of those sleighs,
| to watch the everchanging forms of the
| clouds, as the moon lighted them up. He
almost thought he saw her image reckoning
to him from radiant cloud; then he thought
of the warm climes that the moon was even
then shining on, and of the bliss of wander
| ing with her in some isles of changeleSs sum-
mer. 1t came over him how much time he
had wasted idly that he might have improved,
if he had had such an object before him; and
mighty resolutions arose within him.
These reflections brought him to the house;
and, laughing to himself to think that he
would some time tell her about this absurd
prank, he turned in at the gate.
The house was dark; but, after a few vigor-
Gus charges at the bell, the servant finally I'M
locked the door, and answered his inquiry
with the news that the professor was not at
home.
Jack politely rendered his first card, and
walked away. He walked till he reached
favorable corner, when he took off his beaver,
and changed it for cap, and sauntered SLOW
| ly towards the house again.
Again the servant reported, ''Not at home"
and another card was left. He walked back
to his base of supplies, left off his cape, and
changed his hat again.
Another card was successfully deposited.
Flushed with success, he made ready to
leave the fourth and last card He put on his
cape and beaver, gathered up the hats and
rang again.
All was silent.
Another ringing peal.
step was heard far inside the house. 1t
came nearer and nearer, and finally the door
was unbolted. Jack was about to ask the
same question as before, when he saw that
the professor himself was before him. He
had just presence of mind enough to say,
Good evening""
sor, not recognizing one of his own mmed-
ate pupils
Maynard" said Jack gaspingly, remem-
bering his collarless condition.
"Ah! Mr.. Maynard, am glad to see you;
my niece and have just returned from the
concert, and you will pardon our rumpled
appearance"
| ctlCh Sutppcu IutO cnUTy. o. Inc probes
| sor looked little astonished at the fur gloves
| on such an occasion, but said nothing, and
| led the way to the parlor. A young lady was
standing with her back towards them, as they
entered.
my niece, Miss Hastings, Mr.. Maynard
said the professor.
She looked at him wonderfully, as he stood
there, top-boots, cape, fur gloves, and all,
with very pale face and very rumpled
hair.
The conversation which followed must have
been striking one. Jacks ideas could only
be kept together by the most intense effort,
and he constantly contradicted himself, and
confused them, mixing all the topics of con-
| Versation in one unfathomabe muddle. He
| tried to give a reason for coming on that
special occasion, and made weak failure.
1 he embarrassment grew more and more in
tense on both sides, till the professor plying
him for what he supposed was his bashful-
ness, and seeing how uncomfortable he
| looked, said,-
''Mr. Maynard, that cape must be very
warm. Do take it off,"
In his embarrassment, he touched the upper
button, and it gave way, revealing the collar
| less void below. At the same instant the
hats, which were only held up by the pressure
of the cape, fell on the floor.
How he got out of that parlor he could
never clearly tell. But somehow or other, he
moonlight looked very differently to him now
The shifting clouds became troops of laugh
ing COLLINS. He thought of the cold moon
light falling on the ice in the far north and
wished that he was buried a mile deep in
those lifeless regions. He thought it wasn't
so strange, after all, that Victor Hugo should
have made his hero wait the rising tide and
wondered if he could find a suitable place in
the Charles, wherein to sit and await like
happy oblivion.
Reaching his room, the fellows were all
eager to hear his story
odd you leave the cards %
"All bat one: and here it is.''
He felt in his pocket and looked blank. 1t
had fallen with the cape on that parlor floor.
and he had left it there.
Word by word they got the whole story out
of him. They laughed till they could laugh no
more; they rolled about the floor in ecstacies
of mirth; but he sat silent and motionless.
AT last they saw how deeply it had cut him,
and left him.
To no very happy reflections. To be sure.
he had broken no law; but the petty element
OF the business kept annoying him more and
more. How could he ever hold up his head
in Cambridge after this?
He sat late in the night. Bob left him sit
ting there, silent and motionless, looking as
If he has seen the Gorgeous head.
The next morning Bob called out -
'!JacK!'
eyes"
81 hope it doesn't trouble you. It's all i'm
agination, you know"
MY child, never sit on your parent when
he's down."
He didn't dare to walk about Cambridge for
fortnight. At the end of that time he ven |
tured out. 1t was dull, cherries afternoon. |
The trees kept up slow dripping and the |
sidewalks were damp and slippery. The |
leaden sky cast a gloom over all the land |
scape, that accorded well with his mood. He |
was thinking that he was always getting into |
sorapes that injured him, that he was a USE |
iess member of society, that his life would i
always be dull and ordinary, and that he |
might as well stop trying to make ANYTHING
OF himself, when he turned corner and came
full on Miss Hastings.
lie didn't expect her to recognize him, and
rnEOlYpl M hnr