The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-05-18

Gray felt decidedly better the mex
morning; and for the first time he 4,
| ali2ed the awkwar,lness of his situation
| What could he SAY or do because q
| his unwarrantalNe intrusion, That wa
Il question Gray Clement could not an
swer Ia his own satisfaction.
| With his old srlf-possession and non
chalance, however, he took brcakfa.
with the Warmers rs Professor Va
Thiel, talking volubly and entertaining
| ly in German about his travels, whic
| alone were no myth.
lie learned several thing that morn
ing that Professor Van Thiel was
German gentleman WHO had just com
Ia this country; that Mrs Warner ha
met him in Europe the year before; tina
Celia Warner was Il most charming girl
and that he had fallen heels over hca
in love with her!
The piquancy of the situation woI
upon his fancy, and then and there b,
conceived the wild idea of personatine
the professor.
The plan was rs foolish as il was haz
| ar,lous, but "alrs fair in love-" YOU
know, aud Gray could not think of for
ever losing Celia Warmers presence.
Directly after breakfast he repaired Il
the nearest telegraph station. and sen
the following telegraph dispatch to hi
mother. who, he knew, must be feelin,
anxious concerning his safety:
Have comfortable and elegant quarters il
the country. where shah stay for some time
Don't Ice ANA ious ON my account, as am feed
ing better than ] ever did since my Illness
Will write In few days. Yours with love. O.
don't you think | am becoming in
tensely German, Professorp' said Celia
laughing, rs she encOunteredhim i'm tn,
garden one morning.
She had on the same costume she
wore when he first saw her.
II really am Of German descent, YOU
must know. and il is all mammals fault
about my dressing this way, mean
Her enthusiasm over Germany ever since
she came home has been infectious.
wore this costume at Mrs. Bartlett's
masquerade last week, and now grand
ma wants me 10 wear it every day. She
is pleased TO say il is very becoming"
ado not discard il, pray ' on, said
Gray, quickly. 1T is like gliml&e Of
the dear old Fatherland to see yOus'
As Professor Van Thiel, Gray was
supposed not to know how to speak
English. and he had been on the point
of committing himself more than once.
However, thanks to his quick wit, he
had saved himself just in time.
Celia and the professor were thrown
almost constantly together. Now it was
walk, now ride over the cool, breezy
country roads, now ramble in the
grass-grown meadows, the professor
meanwhile eXpounding learned facts (p)
abOut.th ilOra and strata around them,
of which he was rs happily ignorant as
Celia herself.
Celia had conceived the i,l,s, that the
professor was middlc-aged gentle.
man. the disiignring goggles confirming
her belief
Nevertheless, that did moi hinder her
from thinking him very charming and
entertaining.
Thus the days passed by, all too
quickl y for Gray, when he thought Oi
the denouement that must soon come.
They We're reading Goethe together,
almost month after Gray's uncereniO-
Mons arrival, when Il servant brought in
II letter for Miss Warner.
From Mamma" was Celia's brief
explanation. rs she quickly cut the en-.
velopc open. "You will pardon me,
Professor, ii read il now. as | am very
anxious To find out when she is coming
hOmc?
(Which | am not!'' said Gray, soto
UOcc. rs he bowed acquiescencc.
lie had grown very pale 1T mention
of Mrs. Warner; and he could feel his
frame trcmble, rs he saw look of alb
solule bewilderment slowly creeping
over Cclia's lovely face.
ii do not understand it," she said,
looking ut Gray with wide eyes. "Mam-
MA says she has come across Professor
Van Thiel at last, ut Mrs. Moyle's mu.
sicale, and that she has prevailed upon
him To accompany her and papa home.
What does she mean, Professor Are
there two Professor Van Thiels?'
Gray's face was deadly pale, and, ris.
ing 10 his feet, he took an involuntary
step forward, his hands appealingly out.
stretched.
"For Gods sake, Celia. do not Judge
me too harshly!'' he eXclaimed hOarsely
81 loved you-l loved yOu-:.nd did moi
think Of the monstrWls wrong was do
ing
In the intensity of his shame and emo
ton he spoke in English, and thus added
to Celia's bewilderment.
IL am not Professor Van Thicl nj
all" he Went on, not sSaring himself in
the least, riffs of red and white crossing
L. I'd Ia
impOster! Oh, forgive me, Celia!
have done you grievOus wrong, but il
was through excess Of love for you"
..Do not come near met she eXclaim
ed. with hasiing eyes. .'HOw dare you
talk 10 me- of love--yOu who are low
and contemplate enough to sail under
such false cOlorS?'
al could not bear the thought Of los
ing you. Miss Warner" he said
miscrably Cant you understand"
"No; confess such logic is beyOnt
my feeble comprehension she said
with cutting sarcasm. 81 cannot SEA
how YOU have gained anything by YOU
insol"n, deception. You will oblige MI
by leaving the house Immediately"
"Your wishes shall be obeyed, Mis-
Warner" he said, proudly, his eye
burning licrccly with resentment AM
bitter anguish of mind.
As he passed through the hall teI
minutes later, for the last time rs h,
thought. he could not resist u suddeI
wild impulse to look once more upon
the girl for whose love he had dared 5,
much, and lost all.
She had thrown herself upon the sOf:
in paroNysm Of grief, and was sObbin.
Us if her heart would break.
"You do love me, after air. Ora,
cried, triumphant ring in his voice, a
he gathered her Ia his heart despite hel
feeble resistance. 81 WAS almost SURF
Of it! Oh, my darling. do not let YOU
pride separate us now. -
Eyes, | do love you. Max" she sob
| bed, and the admission came reluctant
ly, rs if against her better judgment
"And oh! il almost broke my hear
when you told me that you weren't Pro
fessOr Van Thiel."
whats in name?' he retOrted
"Am not the same, even if my name i
] GRAY Clement, instead of professor
Max Van Thicl? Will you not try Il
forgive me, dearP'' pleadingly.
| "YOu do not deserve il" she said
.'but suppose must, for cannot Civ
you up, Mr.. Gray-though you are no
ut all what my fancy painted you."
"Bul xii try so hard Is improve,
he said. earnestly; then he added. art
fully. "With you as my example, dar
ling, ! will become perfect paragon
before long
The real Professor Max Van THE
proved To be fat and Jolly and forty, an,
am accomplished musician. who knew
even less than GRAY about geology an,