Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-14
THE PROFESSOR

eLanz0l Salu Professor Ingram in cold
dignifed tones, as he looked up from
the battie-scarred copy Of Horace that
lay on his desk, and fastened his dark
eyes on Elise
Excuse me, professor, but / know the
translation made Of that passage is not
correct, and I would rather not read Il.
Although I tried very hard I have not
been able to get ct the poets exact
meaning.
y did not ask you to express your
opinion 81 the translation you had made,
Miss 0'BTien, but requested you to read
Il 4" and the shadows grew darker on his
face.
RALLY. professor, cannot read it. !"
persisted the fair girl.
well, tryr'
mand in what he said, and il never oc-
CURED to her to disobey him or to resist
further No one who had ever been in
his class would have parleyed with him
when he looked and spoke in that way.
So she snatched up her book and hastily
read the verse he had called upon her
to translate.
Her effort was greeted with litter of
laughter all around the class. It was
not often that the members OF Professor
Migrants class cast aside the dignity be-
coming the situation when they were in
his recitation-r0om, but this was more
than they were prepared for. Even the
professor could not restrain the smile
that crept over his dark, handsome face
as he heard his pupils version Of the
venerable Latin language. Elise feigned
to laugh little, too.
Il suppose, SIR she said, looking up
at him dehantly, the next time / tell
you cannot translate a certain passage
you will believe me?"
BE made no reply, but fastened his
eyes on her with q keener scrutiny. He
was wondering how the girl who was so
freely praised by other teachers as being
the star of their classes, who, he had
heard, was the sharpest mathematician
in the school and excelled in the litera-
ture OF other languages, could be so slow
to comprehend Latin.
Elise was glad when he passed the
verse to another girl, for she was grow
ing uneasy under his searching gaze.
a short time afterward she was on her
way to her music room to practice, and
CHANGED to meet Matte Hatton, her first
favorite, in the hall. Matte commenced
laughing, and exclaimed:
We'll, Elise, that was a heavenly
translation you treated us to this morn
ing. No doubt it made old Horace turn
over in his grave to have his pet thought
so fearfully distorted.
II don't care if it did Did / not
tell Professor Ingram ] could not read
ibg Iknow as well as you how ridicu-
lous my translation sounded / have
known O long time there is no bright
hope Of my ever being Latin scholar.
Papa says it is because | did not have 3
competent teacher in the beginning.
Anyway, have such distaste for it
that cannot make up my mind to learn
It. / did not dislike it so before l com
menced taking lessons from Professor
Ingram, but now il seems like only 90
to that class TO make a display of my
Ignorance day after day. He generally
calls upon me to read the most difficult
part Of the lesson. and il he finds that
| am especially ignorant on any particu-
lar subject that Is the very one about
which he asks me most questions. You
know have no trouble In any other class,
but it seems that when he fixes those.
hateful old dark eyes on me il sets my
wits woolgathering. believe am.
afraid Of him. =
Afraid Of Professor Ingram9 The
idea Of such thing. It is true would
not dare disobey him, or thwart him IL.
any way, but never dreamed Of being
afraid Of him. He is positive and stern,
but never violent nor rude, and, truly.
for business and kindness all seasons are
summer to him.
"Kindnees!" cried Elise, her pretty
blue eyes sparkling scornfullv, * wish
he would indulge in distribution Of Il
when am near, II he keeps such stock
in store. / suppose, In my winter of
discomfort, fail to appreciate profes-
sors summer time disposition I am
sure i ever dread the hour when his class
meets. and would walk far out 81 my
way to avoid meeting him on the lawn. Y
ssElise, You should not say that For
my part think he IS very patient with
You, and I know be has never treated
you unkindlvn
10, he never chides me in words,
but bis eyes speak volumes Of disappror-
/ II to me. He IS 50 cold and dignifed
that I EN- always Ill at ease IN his pres
ence They say he goes much in So
ciety: ] wonder i bis manner ont there
/ IS tie same IS heke2 Fl it s i should
think there VOID always be vacant
space around him
Al do mt know. never met him Sc.
fore i came here, but have heard Sc cut
quite figure il Paris winter before
! last