New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-07
THE PROFESSOR.

, x..-. Predecessor Heinrich Bcttinger had dressed
himself with more than usual care when ne saiileu
forfh one fine April morning, TO pay nance lsite
:" Er.n Mjttnacht whe lived in an old fashonea
somhiinr wooden house standing In large garden
On the high road about a mile dstant nom n us
home in the little town of Ahnstaht IN scum 0el
awkwardy built man, slightly under middle heign n
and inclined TO stoutness; he had high shon'1 re
and short meek ana ne stooehS aS S irregular feat
ures wide month aud crooked ree'n, mh over
means devoid of attraction, ai ne vas broad and
,nnIy SHAVED the blue eyes which looked out from
nn1er his spectacles were full OF genieness' ad
candor his expression was aImo chldIike in
his whole manner unaSSuihe
Tine Professor was, as we have said dressed WIN
more than usual care Ii was true that his broad
iofh anti was i'll made and that 1t had worn white
Of the seams and bright at the elbows; u was trne
too that h's Wide Mapping le1 Of sO starch and that
his clumsy boots betrayed unskiiled country WORK
manship; but he had brushed his cothes-an , nm
wonted concession TO the proprietiesIhaa appne.u
some precision to the lying of his black cravat
which was generally fastened IN loose knot uhaer
ear, and had substituted soit oaek nav i9i ino
in the region of the brm was paipaOie even y" iio
short-sightcd eyes. ,,..o,ior,a
shop: after brief coloquy with tue proprietor no
issued therefrom. gayly bound euItlHn o,
Ebes latest novel 70 ms a'Ia where he bought
hmnch OF yioIets-before striking into the long
dusty road running between vineyards 70 FRAU
Fan Mitinaoht had enjoyed business and social
intercourse with the Professor for more than
fifteen years She kept thriving ladies' schooi;
and the Professor gave instTLctioq IN herman
literature two afternoons every week, to the more
advanced among her scholars. The lessons were
generally succeeded by short periods. devoted 70
coffee and conversation, in Frau MIttnachts own
sanctum, O little frst-iloor room oveIIoohlng
patch of ground, half vineyard hall garden WIN
rough grass plot. a number OF walnut trees, some
cider ample trees and a long, moss grown gravel
walk, with an old stone bench and sundai al inc
end The borders were t run OF viii, little regard
to effect cabbages for SauerLrdM holding the most
conspicuous. and not least honored, place. At tne
often present Miss Janet Kirby, a lady who was
English governess at Frau Mittnachps school school
sometimes. OH occasions oil exoepti9nat LEISURE e.
Miss Kirby would return with the Professor 10
Ahnstadt and pay q Aging visit to his niece, care
Bsttinger. au orphaned girl who till lately had
lived with him, and between whom ana herseh
there existed an intimate friendship.
Clara's parents had both died in her early child
hood for many years the cost OF her board clothing
and liberal education had been aeraseu iIon h nel
reached the age of eighteen years. and had obtained
g situation as music teacher in school at Geneva
Herr Bettnger. left to his lonely houc ana 70 MS
lessened expenses began to bethink him, after q
shy and silent fashion essentially his own, OF
enriching his home and impoversbing ms purse ny
taxing to himself wife. Now at last that his
niece had gone, and that his own literary and
scholastic engagements became, every year, more
Realization Of this fact was In the Professors
mind as he trudged along, humIning the music Oh
Volkslied; his head was bent, anu his hanas
according to custom were behind bis back; Eoers
novel reposed in Of his capacious pockets; ana
from between his loosely clasped fingers peeped his
bunch of violets.
delivery of literature lesson at the school, bat 1t
happened to be the tete day OF the English Cover
ness and the Professor told himself thai con o
ulatory visit. the occasion. was an attention due
10 Fraulein Kirby from himself 49,
Presently, Just as he was passing lttle farm
where ogen 70 Wss Standing beos the
door, Herr Bettinger lifting his bead, saw young
man advancing toward him, sw;;nsLng esne and
:. aGood-day, Herr Professor The young man
pulled up in mid-course. Herr Bettinger came TO
too Ths Ssx sSse was nepRsm s S
Frau Mittnacht's and he held a situation as clerk
In merchants office that OF Herr Frsltag In
Max was a tall, loosely made fellow. very German
IN type. with frockled, rather fiat face, taken
nor a1 wore an Of such ss
tsfacton that il could not fail 10 attract the
as ANYTHING the matter Herr MAXI he asked.
swell yes; something Is the matter. Are you
going to the schoolhouse T.
IL am giving myself that pleasure
started tc walk there too but nave changea
my mind and turned back. There is some disagree
able me" news . which should be obliged to tell if
saw nv aunt Frau Mittnacht, and have come TO
the conclusion that il would be easier TO write than
sWhat is tho disagreeable news, if one may ask :"
The Professor, irnpeded IN his progress made
half involuntary movement OF the hand toward
pocket containing meorschaiim
"Well. to tell the truth, 1.-THE Young mans voice
sank lower; he struck at a stone with his cane
. Pm turned out of Freitag's Office"
aIn~deed w-the Professor raised his eyebrows
and pursed up his lips; his tone was halrsympa-
thetic. half vaguely conoemnatory-" WhyP
sold .Freitag chooses to complain OF my I'M
Ia Il o,ff IN "
assumption of frankness-.- that ! hGDe been bit
late on one or two mornings, but '-rcsuminG his
onslaught the stone-lts hard TO lose ones stu
warning OF cOurse have the worst OF
the matter that old Fretag won't give me line OF
Recommendation To another firm Under the cir
cuInstances don't see where can find employ
ment. And"- dolefully-" employment means Tor
the means p 6sS lighted his
meerschaum; he took il from his mouth and looked
down on the young N n, through obscuring smoke.
sThings do seem unprOpltlons, but we must nope
for the BEST he said with his kind smile
There was no answer, unless shrug of the
shoulders could be 50 called.
"Can do anything for youF
sWell there's just something: as you are going
60 Frau Mittnachts should be very much obliged
If you would break TO her the news of my dis
whom she has so high q regard, than from me- And
you would be very kind sir. if lin pleading
fone-~ you would Just remark, in my vindication,
that you have heard old Freitag spoken OF as
hard master; no does bear that character, as you
must know, Herr Professor"
Yes believe that he does. ! will lay as much
stress as possible upon his harshness in speaking to
the Frau Tante. No doubt she will regret your
treatment at his hands. But after ALL it is OF tho
Herr Pastor and his displeasure that ono thinks
most in a case like this.
The Herr Pastor" was Max's father, minister Of
Lutheran church in Ahnstadt
The young man colored. "Why! don't know
he said hesitatingly, 81 think that | care most
about the opinion in which am held at the school
house. by-my-aunt, and-and-by fraulcin
Kirby"
Traulein 'Kirbyl name introduced
into tho discussion. The Professor looked up