The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-04-18

Seefu undDlc ID luteTeSt JlST III our
work.
Indeed" said the young man, SYM
pathetically.
s'We would like to have you drop in
now and then of an evening, Waters"
continued the professor.
THANK you," said Tom, and there
and then he felt an all-inspiring desire
to stand upon his head.
After that he dropped in for awhile
| each evening at the professors rooms,
and with the help of the landlady they
played good deal of very poor whist,
and INDUCED in few other more or
less pleasing amusements-
One evening they were sitting around
the table, the professor reading mag
azine and Tom and Florence carrying
on an Indifferent conversation. At
length the professor laid down his book
and turned to Tom.
II have Just been reading the de-
scription of the only thing that l need
now to complete my collection" he
said. 1T is exactly like some of the
| specimens which we found to-day, ex-
cept that it has striped coloring on
the back. / would give any thing to
possess one"
I'VE may find one, !" suggested Waters.
Il hope SO, of course, but they are
very rare
That night Tom lay awake with a
great idea in his head. The next day
he obtained two of the largest of the
| specimens that had been found the day
before, and then he told the professor
that he was not feeling well and would
stay at home for day. The professor
said nothing, and went his way unac-
companied, except by a little boy who
had been employed to carry baskets,
etc, on the daily excursions.
Tom went directly to the professors
rooms and there found Florence. He
gave her lovers greeting and then
began to look about the room hastily.
ssWhat is it, Tom?" asked Florence.
1.-The magazine! Where is ito"
| The magazine was found, and Ton
seized it eagerly and turned quickly to
the article the professor had been read
ing the day before.
He read it through, and then almost
dancing around the room in so much
exultation that Florence began to Won
der if he had not gone little crazy.
''Do you feel i'll, Tom?" she asked,
anxiously.
Tom paid no attention to her question,
but continued his powwow about the
room. Florence waxed indignant.
II don't know what it is you find sc
very funny she said scornfully and
severely.
/ 81 know you don't; but you will, an
swered Tom, and not word more
would he say.
All the rest of that day. except an oc-
casional visit to the village drug store,
Waters stayed locked in his own room
at the hotel. In the evening he went
to see the professor and he carried with
| him something in little tin box He
went in and laid it down before the pro-
fessor without word.
Prof. Taylor opened the box, and
there lay before him the wonderful
specimen for which he had looked SO
long and so vainly.
1t was wonderful specimen, large
and fully developed, and all up and
down its back ran beautiful lines of red
and gold.
After the professor and his daughter
had admired it and questioned about it,
Tom rose to explain.
"You see, SIR" he said, Il wasn't ill
to-day at all, but thought / knew
where could find one of these if there
were any around here, and ] thought
| would like to go alone"
"Quite natural, quite natural" said
the professor, beaming benignly on
Waters. 81 am greatly indebted to you
for this rare specimen. 1t will quite
complete my collection. And don't
mind telling you," continued the pro-
lessor, that have had reason to change
any slight feeling of distrust which i
may have felt toward you. Your as
sistance in this work has been great,
have begun, you may look for large re-
suits from your labor, both for your
self and for the scientific world"
While the professor had been making
this long speech Florence had slipped
out of the room.
Tom looked, or tried to look, becom-
ingly modest. The professor extended
his hand as he finished.
you have pleased me very much"
he said.
Thank YOU" said Tom, land now if
/ might"
The professor interrupted him. hasti-
ly.
'Wait till you've graduated and then
we'll talk about it," he said, not UNI
kindly.
But in the meantime / can come to
see her?" asked Tom, anxiously.
"Why, yes; you've been doing that
all the time, haven't you?" And the
old man relapsed into contemplation
of the new acquisition to his collec-
ton.
Tom" said Florence, after he had
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