The Portland daily press., 1894-11-09
HER OLD FOSSIL.

There was SO much talk about Professor
Chesney before he arrived that Larry de-
clared herself sick of the subject.
Larry was the only one Of the family
who had not met him, and with her usua,
perversity made up her mind not to like
him. He was learned in mathematics,
which only scored against him in her eyes
1.-The calculating power alone should
seem to be the least human of qualities, -
she quoted, her small nose in the air
'sThere is something wrong about man
whom everybody likes. Ny prophetic soul
tells me shall not take to him, at least. %
The Wednesday the professor was ex-
pected Larry went for long walk. She
met Ned Erskine and Harry Winthrop,
two young artists with whom she was
good friends, and enjoyed herself very
much, getting in barely in time to dress
for dinner
They were all assembled round the table
when she slipped into her place, and there
was reproof in her mothers voice as she
said, ''My third daughter, Larinda, Pro-
fessor Chesney''
If there was anything that her third
daughter hated, it was being addressed by
her baptismal name. With pout of her
red underlip she bowed hastily, and it was
not until she had disposed of her soup that
she looked at her opposite neighobr.
A tall, thin man with brown hair and a
short brown beard and mustache thickly
streaked with gray, a large, domelike fore
head and nearsighted gray eyes that looked
kindly at herthrough his spectacles.
He was little surprised at the hostile
. expression in the brilliant brown eyes,
which surprise deepened into establishment
when, in answer to low voiced remark
from, the young lady replied also in low
tone, but SO distinctly that he heard every
word, Il think he is an old FOSSIL"
Notwithstanding this, several times dur
ing the meal his eyes strayed to the white
robed figure, the bent, shining brown
head, and once in the midst of a remark
from Augusta he turned quickly to listen
to peal of merry laughter from Larry.
Several of her friends came in during
the evening, and she devoted herself to
their entertainment, completely ignoring
the professor When she kept up this be-
havior for nearly a week, it attracted the
attention of her family as well as that OF
the visitor, and when gentle hints were
scorned Larry was severely reprimanded.
s'You are positively unladylike, said
Mrs. Austin, and I insist on at least
civility. He must think you an ill man
nered child
II dare say do seem child to his ad-
vanced years." saucily answered Larry.
'sYou are exceedingly impertinent," an
swered Mrs. Austin, who was now very
angry. II insist on your being polite to
Professor Chesney and doing your share
toward entertaining him, or I shall GER
tainly complain of you to your father.
Leave the room, miss!''
A little ashamed and wholly angry,
Larry whisked out of the room almost
into the professors arms, with such force
as to rather stagger him.
With hasty ~ Excuse met' she sped
along the corridor and up the stairs, while
the .sestimable gentleman stood and
looked after her
IAN old fossil'' he murmured, with a
slight smile, streking his beard
Shortly after this, to the surprise of all,
Larry suddenly changed her tactics, and
at dinner one day addressed the professor.
He answered courteously, and very readily
joined in the Argument between herself
and Jim. Her remarks were bright and
amusing, if somewhat crude, and the
brown eyes and changefuI face were very
attractive. In the evening she played and
sang for him and was as bright and be-
witching as the heart of man could desire,
much to the surprise of some and the an
noyance of others of her family.
"She means mischief" thought Jim
uneasily. fare you beginning to succumb
to the professors charms?'' he whispered.
You know, l gave you week"
II am thinking of getting up collec-
ton of FOSSILS" she answered, with a
hooking laugh, "and this is too fine a
specimen to lose. Don't you dare inter
fere!''
Poor wretch!' rejoined Jim. HE has
my sympathy"
Unable to account for the change in
Larry's manner, the professor nevertheless
found her very agreeable, and, though
never neglecting any one else, it soon be-
came evident that she was the attraction.
The other two reluctantly gave way to her,
and she it was who went with him to pic
ture galleries and lectures and concerts,
who was the life of theater and opera par
ties-saucy, willfu1, charming
With all his gravity and erudition it
was plcblu UuAU uc duIuIiCO tAlS al T6SuldU.
ed young woman. He had never before
been thrown closely into companionship
with such a creature. He admired her
beauty, her dainty costumes, even her
girlish extravaganza Of speech and saucy
disregard of his epinion5pleased him bet.
ter than Augusta unvarying politeness
or Gertrude's cleverness. His eyes follow
ed her every movement, a wistful light
in them sometimes that touched Jim.
Larry was curled up in deep window
sill, overlooking the park, basking 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 pulled and
furbelowed 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, wait
ing for him to speak. And%so he did after
awhile, bat not as she expected.
II am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry" he said. My pleasant visit has
come to an end all too soen"
"Tomorgowi' echoed the girl. sitting