Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-06
HER OLD FOSSIL.

SAsiANNA AltAcSlA SASh NA tHC SubJtIN-
 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
 The calculating power alone should seem to be the least human of qualities, '' she quoted, her small nose in tho air There is som hing wrong about a man whom every body likes. My prophetic soul tells me shall not take to him, at least. 7"
 The Wednesday the professor was ex pCCted Larry went for a long walk. She met Ned Erskinc 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 T,IsICCf in her mothers voice as she said. My third daughter, Larinda. Pro lessor Cht>nCy.''
 If there was anything that her third dauGhgc. hated, it was being addressed by her baptismal name. With n pout of her rcd undcrIip she bowed hastily. and it was not until she had disposed of her soup that she looked at her opposite nCighOhr.
 \ tall. thin man with brown hair and a short brown beard and mustache thickly strcakcd with gray, q large, domelike fore head and nc:IrSighICd gray eyes that looked kindly at hrrthrough his spcctaclcs.
 He was a little surprised at the hostile expression in the brilliant brown eyes, which surprise dccpCncd into aStonishmcnt when. in answer Ia n low voiced remark from. tho y"uu- lady rplied also in a low tom, but >n distinctly that he hcard every word. l think Lc is an old fossil"'
 Mt q r1rr Spvnrll ,i ing thc n.c..I his eyes strayed to the white rottd 1.u.v. the bent, shining brown head. and .HCr in the midst of n remark from -AjI:-jf-i i:l he turned quickly to listen to rcal ,i ImCrry laughter from Larry.
 Several If her friends came in during the tVtrin:. ard she devoted herself to their c!ltcrguinmCnt. completely ignoring the T5r.,fe~~Cr- When she kept up this be- haV!or is.r nearly a week, it attracted tho attention q! her family a> well as that of the visitor. au;! when gentle hints were <corucI Larry wa> severely rCprirnandcd.
 You arr positively unlndylikc, said Mr. Austin. and l insist on at least civiliry- He must think you an ill man. nCryd child"
 Il darC say do scum a child to his ad- vauccd years. s,ucily answered Larry.
 "You arr Cxccvtlingly impcrtincnt," an swcTCd Mr. Austin, who was now very angry. insist on yuur being polite to Professor Chc>nry and doing your share toward entertaining him. or l shall Ccr Jainly complain of you to your father. Leave the roOn. miss
 \ little ashamed and wholly angry, Larry whi<k,ti out of the room almost into the professor arms, with such force as 10 rather Staggcr him.
 With nasty Excuse me- she sped along the corridor and up the stairs, while the -'c~timablc ECntlcman'' stood and looked after her.
 An uId fo$>il!' he murmurCd, with q slight smile, >truking his beard
 shortly after this. to the surprise of all, Larry suddenly changed her tactics, and at dinner orr day addressed the professor He answered cOurtcously. and very readily joined i'll the argument between herself and Jim Her remarks wcr' bright and amusing. if somewhat crude and the brown eyes and ChangCful face were very attractive In the evening she played and sang for him and was aS bright and be witchiEg as the heart of man could desire, much To the surprise of some and the an nuyancc of others of her family.
 she means mischief" thought Jim unra~iIy, Are you beginning to succumb Jo IhU professor = CharInS:" he whispered You know. I gave yIu week
 -'I am thinking of getting up cOllcc- ton of fossils. she anSwCrCd- with a mockiug laugh. and this is too fine a specimen to lose Don't you dare inter fem
 Pour wrcrch!' rcjoincd Jim, He has my ~ymPlthy,'
 Unable to account for tho change in Larry manner, the professor nevertheless found her very agreeable, and. though never nCglCcting any one else, it soon be came CN iClCnt that she was the attraction. | The other two p'luCtantly gave way to her, | and she il was who went with him to pic. turC galleries and lectures and concerts, who was the life Of theatcr and opera par Iics-Saucy. willful, charming With all his gravity and crudition il | was plain that he admired this i'll reSulat | cd young woman. He had never beforC been thrown closely into companionshiI with such q creature. He admired hcI beauty. her dainty costumes. even hcl | girliSh cxtravaganCC of speech and SauCN disregard of his opinion pleased him bet ter than Augusta's unvarying yplitcnes: l or GCrtrude's clcvcrncSs. His cyss follow ed her every movement, q wis.ful light | in them somctimcs that touched Jim.
 Larry was curlcd up in q deep window sill, overlooking the park, basking in tn, sun. for she was veritable Persian in hel love of sunlight, when Professor Chesncy | came into the room. He leaned agains 1 the side of the window, looking at tn, picture she made in her quaint puffcd anC l furbeluwcd gown. the sunlight falling or her brown head.
 Larry looked up, nodded with smil, that showed her small white teeth ant settled back in her original position, wait ing for him tn speak And sO he did aftel awhile. but not as she expected.
 Il am going away tomorrow, Mis- Larry" he said. My pleasant visit ha, come to an cnd all too soon.'
 Tomorrow" echoed the girl, sitting up straight. II am very sorry you nr' going"
 And, much to her own surprise, sh, .eaIi1ed that the remark was perfectly sin cerc.
 II am glad to hear you say that" sai the professor. trying to keep his yoic steady. Ut makes it little easier to sa something that is in my heart. -
 Then he told his stCTy in warm, cage words, very unlike his usual calm ones words that stirred Larry strangely. Tner was a queer expression on her pale faco q she stood befOrc him.
 '' Professor Chesnry, she said, wit quivering lips, Il am not worth the To, you have offered me. You'll realize thu
 when I tell you that I have only bee 3 pleasant and civil to you all these week
 not from any liking for you, hut to-
 plague the others
 Thoroughly ashamed, she bent her hea' . unable to meet his eyes
 You mean that you have deliberate
 played q part all these weeks? You vhol
 I thought so frank and true2 How ooul
 you do it? Then you have not the sligh
 est love for me in your heart-that, SUI
 pose, is out of the question:,
 There was hurt, shocked tone in h
 voice that touched Larry keenly.
 II don't love you" she answered, ''b1 :. I shall be very grateful if, after what
 have told you, you will let me be yo1 friend"