The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-02-18

his beard trimmed oftener than had
been his won't At the table he had al
ternate fits of abstraction and loQuacity.
He fingered there as long as Lillian re-
manned and would, after II supper, fol-
low her to tho sitting room, where no
would talk to her by tho hour about
some Greek poet or some natural phe-
nomenon. And when he showed her his
various bugs, insects and reptiles, maxi
ing running commentary on their pc
culiarities. tho landlady formed tho
very natural conclusion that tho profess
or was badly stuck
The girl was splendid listener and
flattered Mr.. Monson's vanity by her
attention rather than by words of praise
In about three months the professor
had wound himself in Il net MS complete
~ as the silkworm in its cocoon AS
| ho grew more persistent i'll his atten-
tons the girl became moro coquettish.
She would be very kind one day and
distant aud hard to please tho next, thus
tormenting the very lifo out Of him.
AT last, unable to bear tho strain, no
determined to risk all by test question.
y favorable opportunity presented itself
one night when everybody had retired
and the twain We're alono in the parlor.
What took place there had better be
told i'll the words of tho young lady,
who related the affair afterward to the
landlady's daughter, not knowing that
was listening and taking it all in.
well, she said, Ito begin from the
beginning, your mother left the parlor
rs the clock struck 8, taking care to
close the door after her. This embold-
ened him to draw his chair closer to
mine. Do you think ono can be happier
when married than single?' he asked. I
replied that didn't know, not having
had the experience of II married woman.
well, don't you think SO or be-
licve so:'
Why. that depends OH circum-
stances, Mr.. Monsoon, answered.
knew what was coming all the time,
but didn't want to show it.
But if there is love in the mar
riage, don't you think that there will
be happincss!'
At this point he seized my hand and
squeezed it until it fairly turned blue
and said excitedly:
Then marry me, Miss Lillian. No
man can love woman more than I love
You. Say but yes and my very life is
at your disposal to do as you please with
it. Your happiness will be my first con-
sideration. Here, on my knees, ask
you to grant my suit
Il turned my face around to look at
him, and, oh. what do you think? You
can never guess. 1 laugh every time /
think of it. One Of those nasty cater
pillars had crept out of his pocket dur
ing the excitement and was making its
way over his shoulder toward his collar
l nearly died with laughter at the com
ical situation. Upon this he got very
mad and excited beyond control, but he
remained on his knees the while. Said
he:
You are laughing at Il very serious
matter. You triflc with me. Is this the
way to treat the prolfered love of an
honest man.:
"'J am sorry, Mr.. Monson. l WAS
not laughing at you, but at something
else.
Il had barely finished saying that
when that worm stood on tho poor
mans collar, and bracing its hind feet
OH it made grab for his hair with its
front feet. The nasty thing was so com
ical In all its movements that laughed
right out, making no attempt to con
troll my merrimcnt. He arose from his
knees. His face was scarlet with rage.
But as he turned the doorknob l com
manded my risibilities enough to say
to him:
Mr.. Monson, ] am very, very sorry
for what has happened. | respect and
esteem You az IL friend, but l can never
be your wife. But if you don't want
another girl to laugh at you the next
time you 90 accounting you leave worms
and bugs behind.
by this time tho caterpillar had
reached his bald SPOT and from that Gle
waited perch was looking on the scene
with placid enjoyment. He caught my
eyes as they were bent toward the in
trudcr, and Just then. his excitement
having subsidized little and no Doubt
feeling the nasty thing on top of his
head, he caught it in his hand, crush
ing the poor worm mt the same time.
He then made IL dalt for the stairs go
ing over three steps at a time. That is
all there WAS to tins little romance of
mine
The next week tho professor resigned
his position in the school and left the
town forever. -Y Yam Phon Lee in ST.
Louis Republic.