Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-07-19

Teesdale's drawing room. II was
then about 8 O'clock.
"But with a padded ceiling sure
ly the sound Is muffied Z"
wntensi6ed, you mean ! The
padding is a fraud Why did she
take that fiat Z" and the professors
long, slender fingers routed up bis
hair. 1t was cropped close so he
could not do much harm.
"You are sure it is woman 7"
"Yes. read her name on the
indicator in the hall-Mrs. Vern on.
And she is always at home"
Silence for a few seconds, then
he added, with funny little break
in his voice-nOt the sort of sound
one would expect from a professor
"I should not mind SO much if she
did not play her music. 1t seems
like retributiOn that | should be
condemned TO listen to 1t every
day, and yet not-not frOm-Mar-
gerry"
Mr.. and Mrs. Teescale exchanged
a rapid glance. 1t was the first
time the professor had uttered
that name for years.
"How | used to abominate Chop.
IN aud all his works. the clear
voice, with now pathetic note in
it, went on, and the professors
eyes sparkled almost as if they
we're wet. AS he reached the far
end of the room he was seen
to take out his handkerchief,
but when be passed once
more into the circle of light the
man of science was himself again.
81 am not going to bear it much
longer" he said, in a cool, matter
of.fact tone. "If she insists upon
playing all day long | must move.
Fancy being driven from a COM
Portable home by tinkling piano "
"Do not be in a hurry. You
will get accustomed TO it IN time"
Accustomed ~ The professor was
getting cross. 81 set my will to
work to force myself not to listen,
and l might have succeeded if
"if she had not played like Mar.
gerry
The professor started as if he
had been stuck by a bullet. "YOu
must not speak OF her.7 he cried
out.
"But you said her name yourself
this moment, you inconsistent
mortal :"
avery likely but that is no
reason for supposing that I can
bear to hear it from you.'
"But you ought to bear 1t; and
what is more, you ought to put an
end to this estrangement. l believe
you are just as fond Of her as you
we're ten years ago.
"Fond Of her What put that
into your head ? | ain not the man
/ was ten years ago. / have no
time for love and nonsense"
"Please answer my question"
"You did not ask one."
"Pardon me. asked you If you
we're not IN love. There l wonder
it any one eyer saw a professor
blushing before -
"Pish Rubbish You make me
look like a foolw the professor
grumbled and he flung himself
into a chair and took up newspa-
per wherewith he screened his face.
"YOu cannot deny that she was
a very pretty woman" be was heard
to mutter as he presently turned
:he sheet.
Mrs. Teesdale know her man.
She let him alone ten minutes, and
then challenged him to a game of
chess. AS they arranged the
pieces the professor said
"l sent polite message the day
before yesterday, stating the hours
at which | am out every day; and
| asked as a great favor, that she
would practice during my ABSENCE
GA very sensible suggestion.
What did she say f'
The professor laughed his cele-
brated sardonic laugh. "She was
veey rude-said she never received
messages through servants, and
that if | had any request to make
it in person"
"Beware 1t is a plan She
wants to see the celebrated pro-
fessor of physiology You need
not trown. / saw woman buying
your photograph at the stereo-
scopic the other day. Now, you
are caught in your own net, for
you know you never admit that
women are foolish"
"But what am / to do about
M To. NernOD1B piano -
"My dear fidgety professor, /
can imagine You climbing up Mrs.
Vernon's door, and begging OF MrR.
Vernon to give up Chopin because
he interrupts your scientific stud
les = If she happens to be nice
looking
"GO ON the professor breaks iD.
"YOu have the move.'
Then, as be absently followed
Mrs. Teesdale's lead, he muttered
half aloud 1.-TWO lives we're ship
wrecked by Mr.. Chopin before ; at
least, mine was.
MI s.n..o to.AoA horatxy tan r,,u