Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-30
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 usual
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.
.tThere is something wrong about man
whom everybody likes. My prophetic soul
tells me shall not take to him, at least !"
The Wednesday the professor was ex
pected Larry went for a 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 a 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 neighbour.
A tall, thin man with brown hair and
short brown beard and mustache thickly
strcaked with gray, 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,
H. IN,
when, in answer to low voiced remark
from, the young lady replied also in a low
TOM, but so distinctly that he heard every
word, L think he is an old fossii!''
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, ard she devoted herself to
their entertainment, completely ignoring
the professor. When she kept up this be-
havior for nearly week. it attracted the
attention of her family as well as that OF
the visitor, and when gentle hints wero
seorned Larry was severely repri1nanded.
You are positively unladylike, " said
Mrs Austin, and I insist on at least
civility. He must think you an i'll man
nercd child
81 dare say do seem child to his ad-
yanced years. saucily answered Larry.
You are exceedingly impairment" an
swered Mrs. Austin, who was now very
angry 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 cut of the room almost
into the professors arms, with such force
as to rather stagger him.
With a hasty Excuse mel'' she sped
along the corridor and up the stairs, while
the estimable gentleman" stood and
looked after her.
An old fossil'' he murmured, with a
slight smile, stroking 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 changeful face were very
attractive In the evening she played and
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. Are you beginning to succumb
to the professors charms?" he whispered.
''You know, l gave you week. 3"
81 am thinking of getting up collec-
ton of fossils" she answered, with a
mocking laugh, land 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. willful, charming.
With all his gravity and erudition it
was plain that he admired this i'll regulat'
ed young woman. He had never before
been thrown closely into companionship
with such Il creature. He admired heJ
beauty, he. dainty costumes, even he1
girlish extravaganza of speech and saucy
disregard OF his opinion pleased him bet
ter than Augustus unvarying politeness
or Gertrude's cIeverness. His eyes follow
ed her every movement, 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 yeritable Persian in hel
love of sunlight, when Professor Chesne
came into the room. He leaned agains
the side Of the window, looking at the
picture she made in her quaint pulled and
furbelowed gown, the sunlight falling on
her brown bead.
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, but not as she expected.
Il am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry he said. My pleasant visit has
como to an emf all too soon.'
Tomorrow" echoed the girl, sitting
mp straight. Il am very sorry you are
going.''
And, much to her own surprise, she
realized that the remark was perfectly sim
cere.
II am glad to hear you say tnat,'' said
the prof -ssor, trying to keep his voice
steady st 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 expression on her pale face as
she stood before him.
Professor Chesney," she said, with
auivering lips, am not worth the love
you have offered me. You'll realize that
when l tell you that I have only been
pleasant and civil to you all these weeks.
not from any liking for you, but to-to
plague the Others. -
Thoroughly ashamed, she beat her head,
unable to meet his eyes.
You mean that you have deliberately
played part all these weeks? You whom
l thought SO frank and true? How could
YOU do it? Then you have not the slight
est love for me in your heart-that. ! sup
pose, 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
I shall be very grateful il, after what ]
have told you, you will let me be your
friend
She put out her hands and moved step
nearer to him, but, to her modification,
her extended hand remained untouched.
.tT did ,,nt nsl, for yCtfi, friendship - he