Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-04-05
New Series-Vol. 23. No. IA

that afer all she must follow the voice
of her heart, that her own experience
had taught her so. She was almost
ready to confess to her that although
she had married a man who was great,
whom everybody knew. she-no, no, she
could not tell her daughter that-she
could not tell her that. Very slowly
she put away the letters and the picture,
saying:
Yes, loved him then, and, God for
give me, have loved him ever since"
At noon the next day servant brought
nots TO the Presidents study: Char
lotte E. Merdon requests the pleasure Of
moments private conversation"
81 wonder what Addie Mather's daugh-
ter wants with me-" thought the old
batchelor, as he passed down into the
reception room. How the girl brings
her to mind"
In digniied way that even surprised
herself, Charlotte began: 81 understand
that the trustees have given you ap-
yainting power regarding the professor
ship which fathers death made vacant"
Yes"
"No."
81 have candidate to present"
"What-you? A candidateI Who is
it?"
Brent Seymour"
Charlotts's intimacy with Seymour
was not unknown to the President, but
this astounded him.
"lt is impossible" he said; 81 do not
see how you can ask it, how You can
think of it,"
Would you not do much to bring to
you one you lOyed?" she asked, boldly.
A peculiar light came into the gray
eyes behind the steel-bowed spectacles.
"Yes."
"HOw much?'
Anything"
Would you give professorship?"
The peculiar light increased. 1t was
almost aDlaze.
Yes"
will you give me this professorship
if | bring to you one that you love?"
The gray eyes we're now fairly afiame
She was understood. He spraDg to his
feet. Age seemed to fall from him like
scale. -
Girl, what do you mean ?" he shouted.
THAT she loved you all the time"
hCIO w 90 a DdSo-Udll Ou IIc
college grounds, but it was not the topic
of the afternoon A report that Brent
Seymour had been appointed to the chair
of astronomy had sent half the college
to his little house to congratulate him.
They could not begin to get inside, so he
stood out in the yard and shook hands
with them one by one.
In the early evening passing student
saw an unusual visitor go up the path
to the Merdon mansion. 1t was the
gray-haired President. Mrs. Merdon
opened the door herself, and the student
couldn't help seeing the look of astonish-
ment on her face, and that she tottered
as she stepped back into the hail; could
not help hearing, in tones that he will
never forget, two EXPLANATIONS, 'Addiep
'Frankr and the door closed.
When Seymour and Charlotte came in
from their evening walk they heard
voices in the sitting room, and Seymour
was speechless with astonishment as be
recognized the Presidents voice saying:
II am glad that you rejected me once,
for my joy is made wonderful by years
Of darkness"
Catching her lovers hand Charlotte
stepped with him into the room.
Mother" she said, ''if you haven't
got too much happiness already"-leok-
ing at tue venerable man who did not
release the hand he was holding-"re-
member you promised to be happy for
ever if should marry the man who will
ill my fathers chair. Let me present
him."
My host ceased. His story was evil
deHtlJ done, and as he drew back from
the table he said, "The only thing feti-
tious about it is the name i have given
the poor student.
"But," 1 asked. did Charlotte ever
tell her mother of the visit she made to
her chamber when she was asleep at her
writing desk?"
"You may ask her." he said, smiling.
She sits at the head Of the table"
Absorbed in the story, had not no.
iced that my hostess was eoneealing her
,lashes behind the tea-urn.-Springield
Mass.) Republican.