The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-09-26

he whispered. lou KNOW Il gave
you n week"
al am thinking of getting up col
lection of Fossils" she answered, with
a mocking laugh, "and this is too fine
specimen to lose. Don't you dare in
terfere !"
"Poor wretch |" rejoined Jim. "He
has my sympathy"
Unable to account for the change in
Larrys manner, the professor never.
thcless found her very agreeable;
and, though never neglecting any one
else, it soon became evident that she
was tho attraction. The other two
reluctantly gave way to her, and she
it was who went with him to picture
galleries and lectures and concerts;
who was the life of theatre and opera
parties-saucy, wilful, charming
With all his gravity and erudition,
il was plain that he admired this ill
regulated young woman. He had
never before been thrown closely into
companioaship with such nature.
He admired her beauty, her dainty
costumes; even her girlish extrava-
gance of speech and saucy disregard
of his opinion pleased him bettor than
Augustus unvarying politeness, or
Gertrude's cloverness. His eyes fol-
lowed her every movement, a wistful
light in them sometimes that touched
Jim.
Larry was curled up in deep win
dow-sill, overlooking the park, bask-
ing in the sun, for she was veritable
Persian in her love of sunlight, when
Professor Chesney came into the
room. He leaned against the side of
the window, looking at the picture
she made in her quaint puffed and fur
beloved gown, the sunlight falling on
her brown head.
Larry looked up, nodded with a
smile that showed her small white
teeth, and settled back in her original
position, waiting for him to speak
and 50 he did, after a while, but not
as she expected.
81 am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry" he said. "My pleasant visit
has come to an end all too SOON"
Tomorrow" echoed the girl, sit
ting up straight. 81 am very sorry
you are going"
And, much to her own surprise, she
realized that the remark was perfect
ly sincere.
81 am glad to hear you say that, )"
said the professor, trying to keep his
voice steady. "It makes it little
easier to say something that is in my
heart"
Then he told his story in warm,
eager words, very unlike his usual
calm ones-words that stirred Larry
strangely. There was queer express
sion on her pale face as she stood be-
fore him.
professor Chesney," she said,
with quivering lips, II am not worth
the love you have offered me- You'll
realize that when tell you that have
only been pleasant and civil to yon all
these weeks, not from any liking for
you, but toto plague the others"
Thoroughly ashamed, she bent her
head, unable to meet his eyes.
"You mean that you have deliber-
ately played part all these weeks?
You, whom 1 thought so frank and
true? How could you do it? Then
you've not the slightest love for me in
your heart-that, suppose, is out of
the question:"
There was hurt shocked tone in
his voice that touched Larry keenly.
81 don't love you," she answered,
"but shall be very grateful if after
what have told you, you will let me
be your friend"
She put out her hands and moved a
step nearer to him; but, to her morti-
fication, her extended hands remained
untouched.
81 did not ask for your friendship, "
he said, unsteadily; ''and just at pre-
sent ] want only what ask for. By
and-by / may be able to appreciate
your offer; l shall try, but you've
taught me n hard lesson, Larry, one
I'm not likely to forget. Perhaps /
ought to have known better; but
with break in his voice-'I'm not
used to women. I'm only an old fos-
sill, after all"
And, without another word, he left
her.
Tn in bnr rnnn Larry uaa atiIl