The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-05-31
JOrgensen's NeighbOr.

NplgnDOrS! eS, as lar as COUliYuliy 10
concerned, Professor Jorgensen was Mrs.
Wagnor's neighbor. She was the wife OF
canal contractor, who had been previously
1.-THE contractor, not his wife) a canal driver.
She reigned over mansion, such as Carlyle
calls whole immensely of Brussels car
pets, pier glasses, and Or-motu" The Pro-
fessor's laboratory overlooked the Wagner s
back yard, which was full of Gothic hencoOps
and parti-colored croquet tents, and when
we tell you how an apartment just like his
has been described, we will cease from quo
taton: 1T was full of books and tattered
papers. and miscellaneous shreds, united in
a common element of dust -manuscripts,
torn handkerchefs, ink bottles, coffee pots,
tobacco boxes, and periodical literature"
Madame Wagner had daughter who
was an heiress and the Professor had a
man-servant, who was an Englishman to
these facts for beginning, add just one
more. The Professor was the object of
Miss Wagnor's affection nay, almost her
alteration. She was just sixteen, although
nobody called it sweet sixteen.
One lovely summer afternoon the PROBES
sor sat with his heels out of the window,
coming pamhhlet on the PhysicO-chemica
Conditions of Brain Activity; he had a
handsome face, which was always aglow
over printers ink but which, when turned
upon humanity, wore q puzzled, bored ex-
preston. As he sat thus, there came a rap
at his door, timid, lingering, yet persistent !;
servant girls know it as the "beggars rap"
the Professor knew great solitaire diamond
glittered on this hand, tapping out there in
the dim light at the head of the stairs; yet
he made no movement to answer it. He
frowned, and, after an interval of quiet, re-
sumed his reading. Rap, rap, tap, tap, it
went on for FIVE minutes, and, in the pauses
between. there were sighs, as from a great
dog, patiently sorrowing outside his masters
door. by and by there were voices, one
entreatng, one arguing; the first at last to
prevail. When the door was opened sec
ond the Englishman shot in, and purposely
snapped it back again, as mouse unwit-
tingly does in a trap. Kinks was little
man. with tuft Of white hair erect on his
forehead, and Just such another pendant
from his chin, while the features between
were so nondescript one longed to turn his
head bottom-sde up and see if the effect
would not be the same. He wore snuffy,
swallow tailed coat, which, because of pc
culiar bend in his person. always set out as
If he wore a hustle His voice was most
persuasive. and he pronounced all his " eds "
as if he had just found them in the bible.
He approached the Professor and whis-
pered: . She is ,cery pTessin', sir! Hurges
that she may be hallow-ed TO henter
when folder you ware hengag-ed, and
desired me not to let hany body hin, she
e. 4 mp iri
coutinooally as 'ow she 'adn't seen you so
long-'so long
"She was here two hours yesterday"
said the Professor between his teeth.
Hexactly! Hand will be hon this hoe
casion.'
Confou-lock the door and 90 out the
other way maybe she will get tired and 60
home"
''She won't 90 ome till she ave feasted
'er heyes on you" answered Kinks, vanish
ing in the direction indicated.
All this time there was, outside the door,
the rustic of silk and the grazing of jet fringe
upon the panels, and soon the signing
and tapping began again. The Professor
read few more pages and succumbed. He
crossed the room, turned the key, and his
visitor burst in like an overjoyed animal /;
when her half shrek of delight had merged
itself into rapid, indistinct utterances, he
interrupted:
Judy, am busy, but you may stay a
little while if you came to do So"
20, I did !! haven't seen you so long
time, so glad say mother, l go see Prof
ser Jorgsen, little bit while | like him
You so nice. Mother say, Judy, you both
er Profser; bet you do Do bother
you?" And Judys voice slackened, as if
the thought had just come to her.
That was Judys trouble; ideas that 9th
ers caught on the wing fitted around her,
and away like butterflies only once in a
while she grasped one, to batter and ruin
the poor thing in her clumsy innocence
The Professor looking into the great dull
eyes, frightening in his presence, forebore
to speak the truth. He only looked longer
at her, with the wondering repulsion he al
ways felt. Flesh and bones and blood, silk
velvet and diamonds. That was Judy
and for an intellect this hero worship. that
strangely enough had been enkiudled among
the low embers of her being. The Profess
sor was not concerted. yet he was a man so
far away from and above Judy. he did not
seem noble in reason, infinite in faculties.
in action like an angel, in apprehension like
a god."
Meanwhile she stood in kind of beati6c
apathy" feastipg 'er heyes,' as Kinks had
it, until he spoke. " Why do you like
me?"