Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-28
Che dieita 1ailu Eagle Saturday oimg gn1Y %, 1888

fessor was convinced OF that; bur success
had brought largo amount Of unhappi-
ness with it. Here was his friend. the
friend of his youth and manhood, and
one whom he expected to be the friend of
his old age. thinking such thoughts as
these of him-and speaking them, too,
perhaps. Il was hard bow, for under
his commonplace aspect the professor had
q warm heart, and he was loyal and sin
ce1e to the core in spite OF his habitual
seeming Indifference he is not old,
either Take off the near sight ID spec
tacles. and trim the hair and beard, and
he would be handsome man, and young
one, too.
He next experimental on a fippant
young man who had only called ct the
house few times. and was startled at
the levity and blaclness of his thoughts.
There was mention Of horse races and
betting, diamonds and ballet girls, debts
and cards-all foreign subjects to the
professor whose youth had been che Of
hard study and self denial; and even in
his later years he had studied books more
than men and women-so much more had
he studied books that his fellow mortals
were almost entirely unknown to hin;
atllI tu1S 1uAu. lilA5 S1Oa.
frivolous creature. was terror
Shortly afterward ne heard the doctor
voice in the hall for an instant. and on
looking out he saw that the hat was gone.
He closed his door carefully and sat down
and waited. A few minutes later botH
Bertha and the doctor were ia the hall to-
gether. and then they went away again
and he heard their voices on the piazza.
He opened his door stealthily and looked
out into the hall Tho hat was there! lie
listened attentively, then crept forward
softly and seized it. Once more in his
study, he closed and locked the door. as he
had done so many times. He hastily
crossed the large room, lighted only by a
student lamp, taking the paper from the
hat as he did SO. The hat rolled. I'M.
needed, to the floor at his feet as he seated
himself and leaned forward to read the
paper And this is what he read:
Bertha! my beloved, my own, That accused
husband Of yours! To win you and cast you
aside. Brute that he Isl oh, Bertha my loves
what is the tie that binds you to him? frail
link that could easily be snapped asunder by
your soft, white fingers, He scorns you and
i Oh heavens One smile from you, one
touch OF your hand is moro TO me than life. itself.
My God. The thought of possessing you makes
my brain reel and my body tremblei You must
give him up-break entirely with that cur who
has driven you from him Oh, my love. come 10
The professor could read no moro.
Quivering with rage. he started up, with
a cry of passion and anger.
Curse him. he muttered, grinding his
teeth. "To make love to Bertha under
nav very eyes A married woman; how
dare he love her! How dare he think Of
possessing herl A frau link to be
snapped asunderl' The vile wretch, the
serpent! But | have fonnd him ont,
thanks to my invention, and he neve:
darkens my doors again. Bertha to be the
prev of such man as this! His very
presence pollutes herr"
His foot touched something 1t was
the hat, and he kicked it furiously all
around the room AS he reached again
the circle of the light shed by the lamp,
the hat. though by this time badly bat
tered, presented somewhat familiar ap-
pearance He picked it up and examined
it, The hat was his own, and he had been
reading his own thoughts. He remem-
bered wearing it as he walked up and
down the hail, but how he had made the
mistake of placing the paper in his own
hat he could not explain.
How long he sat asleep he never knew,
but he was reused by hearing footsteps on
The piazza just outside of his window, and
the doctors voice said,
"And now that he is dead, Bertha, my
love, you will let me tell you how much
love you? You will promise to be my
wife, darlingf"
And Berthas sweet voice &aswered
eyes. frank Leslis's.