Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-19
THE PROFESSOR.
BY ANTHONY f. ANDERSON.

THE PROFESSOR.
By ANTHONY f. ANDERSON.
"But that's nonsense, youknow, mother"
said Gray Clement, impatiently, "about my
staying in the house, and all that sort of
thing. Because have been sick is not an
infallible sign that Pm ill yet. ] think
fresh air and brisk walk will do me more
good than anything else, and Pm going to
"Gray, don't be rash !" exclaimed Gray's
handsome mother, genuine terror and alarm
in her voice: eff you must go out, then Or
der the carriage"
81 shall walk" said Gray, in a tone which
Mrs. Clement knew from long experience
it was useless to combat. "It's too warm
to be shut up in that uncomfortable coupe,
and to take an airing in the phaton will on
ly make me more lazy than ever"
"Here are the goggles, then," said Mrs.
Clement, with little sigh Of resignation.
"You know how bad sunshine is for your
eyes in their weak state"
81 am nothing but big baby in your es-
timation, it seems" laughed Gray, as he
adjusted the huge, green things before the
glass. "The more hideous you make me
appear, the happier you seem to feel"
-"You could never look otherwise than
like gentleman, Gray" said Mrs. Glenn
ent, with maternal pride. "But if you had
not over exerted your brain and eyes so
much at Heidelberg last year, all this care
and worry could be dispensed with.N
''Never mind that now, mother DEAR"
said Gray, feeling aslight tWinge ofremorse,
as he looked at her fair, anxious face. "pm
almost all right now, you know, and what's
done can't be undone."
Then, kissing her goodbye, and promis-
ing not to 60 far, he strobe down the great
stone steps, gaily whistling "Robin IAdair."
1t Was lovely August day, and Gray
found the air so pure and bracing that he
walked much further than he had intended
to.
He had walked several miles out of the
city before he realized that he was becom-
ing very tired.
The sun was so warm, too, that his brain
began to reel.
lie decided to ask for drink of water at
the very next house, and rest there before
returning home.
The next house proved to be an elegant,
picturesque villa, in the Queen Anne style
of architecture, with spacious gardens and
orchards. Everything was in the most re-
fined exquisite taste.
A young girl was bending over rosebush,
clipping the great blushing flowers, and ar
ranging them in bouquet.
Gray thought he had never seen such q
fair vision in all his life. Her hair hung in
two shining braids down to her waist, and
was tied with rOse-colOred ribbons.
She was clad in the most bewitching of
German peasant costumes, which barely
reached the trim ankles.
hpan nvhanSfaG with
walk, less dizzy, and if the hideous goggles
had not obscured his sight, he would GER
tainly have noticed that the gown was too
rich a fabric for q PEASANTS wear, and that
it was more of modern aesthetic costume
than anything else.
"Pardon me, he said, with his old, inim-
liable grace; 'may trouble you for drink
of water? The heat has made me decided
ly thirsty"
He spoke in German, without making
any serious grammatical blunders, thanks to
his Heidelberg training.
The girl looked quietly up at the sound
of his voice, evidently not catching the
meaning of his words, the surprised look on
her face quickly succeeded by one Of pleas
ure and delight.
s'You are Professor Van Thiel!" she OK
claimed, holding out both her hands, which,
you may be sure, Gray was not long in
taking.
She spoke in German, too, but by no
means with the fluency of a native.
"I'm ever SO glad you decided to come at
last, even if it was at the eleventh hour.
Oh, why didn't you come before? We
have been waiting for you over month
but now mamma has gone to New York.
Pm so sorry, but she didn't expect you'd
come at all, you see.
"But here Pm chattering away, with
out even introducing myself. Pm Celia.
Mamma has been sounding your praises so
much-eVer since she came from Germany
pardon me for saving sO-that | know you
right away.
"Grandma and auntie will be so delight
ed to see you? You must stay with us TIL
mamma comes from New York, which will
be in fortnight, | think.
''But you are ill, Herr Van Thiel How
thoughtless of me! OF course the long walk
from the station has been very WearisOme.
If you had only let me known when you
were coming, should have driven out for
you myself"
TO do Gray Clement justice, he had really
intended to announce who he was, when ne
discovered that Celia Warner took him for
Professor Max Van Thiel, whoever he might
be. But he felt so faint and i'll that the
thought slipped from his dizzy brain before
it was half formed.
The next moment he found himself in
the Warmers parlor, undergoing an intro
duction to Grandma Warner, Il charming
old lady of sixty, who Immediately became
sympathetic at sight of his pale, handsome
face, and who declared, in a queer mixture
of German and English, which would have
sounded very funny to Gray on any other
occasion, that he must retire at once to his
own room, and rest
During the night he was tempted to take
French leave, and would have done 50 but
for his weakness. He promised himself to
fully explain the mistake in the morning,
little realizing how hard it would be to do
so, now that he had gotten so deeply into
the matter.
Gray felt decidedly better the next morll-
ing; and for the first time, he realized the
awkwartness of his situation.
What could he say or do because of his
unwarrantable intrusion? That wasa ques-
ton which Gray Clement could not answer
to his own satisfaction.
With his old self possession and nonchal-
ance, however, he took breakfast with the
Warmers as Professor Van Thiel, talking
volubly and entertainingly in Germanabout
his travels, which alone were no myth.
He learned several things that morning
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