Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-07-05
.soo on." tho professor breaks ia.

"YOu nave the move.
 Then, as he absently followed Mrs. Teesdale's lead, he muttered half aloud |: 'Two lives were shipwrecked by MT.
 The game lasted barely ten minutes, and the professor was beaten. "A poor victory" said Mrs. Teesdale; ssI belle ve you were thinking all the time of Mrs. Vernon and her piano"
 II was not thinking of Mrs. Vernon" He snapped the words out quite vic- iously, and presently bade his friends good night.
 Standing in the open doorway, half in and half out. he spoke again. II shall send you my new address when move" he said 'sf know 1t will come to that"
 There was work waiting for him when he got home, but he was not in the mood for work. He opened some letters which had come for him by the last post; gush- ing epistles, some of them from women who followed the fashion in running after the cleverest and most attractive man of his day. Strange to say, these letters did not make him angry. Gentleness and toleration for women seemed to increase and multiply in him as his fame grew ; but not one of the many fair ones who burned incense before him could fiatter herself that he was falling in love. He was charming in every mood. and nearly AWoys pAedSdAC oA Spcccu. NOw onu then came crushing rebuke or 6 wither- ing sarcasm, but immediately after fol- lowed the old sweet pleasant smile that each woman tried hard to win for her. self. Whether in good temper or bad, Dr. Gray was fascinating.
 He was not very amiable, however, this evening. for he was vexed at his ina bility to work. Events in his life which he had told himself were dead and 1o@ fc nvHA we'll ordered brain. Memory played him fantastic tricks. Imagination, more ca pricious than memory. filled his study with the sweetest, brightest pictures. and made his heart beat as 1t had bcate n years before when
 He took up books one after another and flung them hero and there about the room for, just as the mental picture was fairest and most adorable-just as in imagination he felt two soft arms round his neck and saw two sweet eyes looking into his own, some one stirred in the room overhead, and immediately one of Chapin's wild waltzes filled the air about him. The visions conjured up by memory and fancy fed. and tho professor with an indescribable expression on his face. leaned his elbows on the table and either hand.
 Five minV1As-ten-passed thus then be got up quietly and looked at his watch It was nearly 10 30. "It Is rather late to call on strange woman" he said, ''but have no time by day, and If this goes on shall go mad Why in the name of all that's distracting must she play that music2" He picked up the books that he had flung about, touched some articles upon his study table without knowing that he h0 %0 and stood for a second or two irresolute, with the sound of Mrs. Vernon's piano still in his ears. The next moment he was out on the public staircase and had begun the ascent to the third floor. To ring Mrs. Vernon's bell, to be ad- mitted and to find himself at her draw ing-room door was the work of few seconds. He got rid of tho sleepy look ing servant by saying that her mistress expected him, and, as she disappeared town the passage, he knocked. A voice said "Come in," but the playing did not cease. He went in and still Mrs. Vernon played on.
 she did not look around. She thought l t was the servant who had come to totch something.
 The professor felt exceedingly uncom- sortable. Whom Mrs. Vernon told him to como and ask her himself, to arrange her practice for the hours he was absent, he 1new she did not moan him to come at | lO.S0 p. m.
 Madam" he began. "allow me to apologize"
 The lady at the piano-she had her back to him, and the room was SO dimly lighted that she sat in deep shadow gave start, but she did not look round. lessor felt so obviously in the wrong that courtesy, tact and temper deserted him 1t the same moment. But he made a l fresh start.
 Madam" he repeated, II do not in. trude upon you for pleasure. come be. cause you refuse to receive @ message, and cannot wait until tomorrow. Will you allow me to make my request and to be gone? Your music Is dtstracttng. With a clashing of chords and a sudden sweep of her fingers over the keys. Mrs. Vernon stopped-closed the plano pressed her hands for a moment to her temples-rose and faced her visitor. She was a beautiful woman. in the very fullest bloom of life and loveliness small of stature, so small indeed, that the professar looked all beside her, and he was by no means O giant. but ex- quisitely formed and very graceful. Her fine gray eyes had @ mischievOus light in them as she bent them upon the startled mon, who had already retreated step or two but there was note of sup pressed pain in her voice as she said:
 II am sorry time has not lessened your antipathy to my music, Marmaduke."
 The professor said not word, but be- fore Mrs. Vernon could evade him he caught her in his arms and kissed her as on their wedding day.
 ''Margery! My wife!' he cried at length, as he held her from him to look into her eyes. ..
 What he read therein must have satis. fed him, and he was hard to please all his pupils knew. for he drew her into his arms again, and being stronger than she she could not get away.
 "But you hate Chopin still. she said at last; ''and my rival, the microscope, is moro formidable than ever."
 "You may play Chopin from morning till night if you will forgive mo and love me again Margery."
 "You have more to forgive than |" tho true woman answered, as she put up hel hand and gently stroked the face whict