The Portland daily press., 1894-11-09
realized that the remark was perfectly sim

realized that the remark was perfectly SIN
cere.
81 am glad to hear you say that, said
the professor, trying to keep his voice
steady. cit 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. as
Professor Chesney,'' she said, with
quivering lips, II am not worth the love
you have offered me. You'll realize that
when I tell you that 1 have only been
pleasant and civil to you 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.
sYou mean that you have deliberately
played part all these weeks? You whom
/ thought so frank and true? How could
you do its 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.
II don't love you," she answered, "but
I shall be very grateful it. 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.
II did not ask for your friendship" he
said unsteadily, land just at present
want only what 1 ask for. By and by
may be able to appreciate your offer. I
shall try, but you've taught me hard les
son, Larry, one I'm not likely to forget.
Perhaps ought to have known better,
but''-with a break in his voice-''I'm
not used to women I'm only an old fos-
sill, after all. y
And, without another word, he left her.
Up in her room Larry was still more
surprised to find bit of crying necessary.
She could not account for the unhappy feel
ing that took possession of her as she re-
viewed the past weeks and realized that
the kindly, pleasant companionship she
had accepted SO heedlessly was at an end.
II suppose he'll hate me now and for
ever" she thought between her sobs, but
how could say love him when I didn 't?''
Then she sobbed all the harder.
The professor left the next afternoon,
while Larry was out.
A box of white roses lay on the table adj
OIoSoOO W lCI, d CcFu dJUdCu6u, OIL WHICH,
was written, ''From your friend Roger
Chesney." That was all, but she guessed
dimly what an effort it cost him to write
1t.
With trembling fingers she made three
parts of the flowers and gave them to her
mother and sisters 1888 81
II don't want them,'' she said proudly,
In answer to her mothers remonstrance.
CT aix 70 hi for
Jim noticed that the brilliant eyes were
full of tears, and that she took the card
away with her.
ut must be a relief to you to have him
gone, - he said as they stood for a moment
in the hall Association with such a Sc
rious man must have been a trial to you.
He was unprepared for the way she
famed out at him.
s'Such trial as makes me more willing
to accept the statement that man is made
after Gods own image and possesses some
godlike attributes. Now go!'
And he did, lurking smile under his
mustache and most emphatic By Jovel'
upon his lips.
One bright morning early in June Jim
opened the door of Mrs. Austin's sitting
room. Larry was there alone. She had an
industrious fit on her, and with the sleeves
OF her blue morning dress turned back,
displaying two prettily rounded arms,
feather buster in hand, she was whisking
the dust off some rare pieces of old china.
Larry, here is an old friend of yours,
Jim announced Threat him we'll, for he
sails for Egypt tomorrow, never to return.
I'll be back in a minute"
He vanished, and there inside the closed
door, stood Professor Chesney, thinner,
grayer, but with the old kindly smile on
his lips that she remem bered so we'll. Star
tied out of her self possession, Larry stood
with her duster suspended over gran mas
hundred year old teapot. sd =
II sail for Egypt tomorrow said the
professor, taking few steps into the
room, land l may never return. Won't
you wish me godspeed, Larry?"
Crash went gram mas priceless teapot
in dozen pieces on the polished floor,
and the next thing Larry knew she was
crying.
The professor approached her.
Are you crying because I am going
away, or because you have broken the tea
pot?' asked the visitor.
"BothF' cried Larry, with a convulsiye
sob, which was smothered in the folds of
the professors coat as the arms of that
estimable gentleman" closed around her.
'sHow about your prophetic soul?" Jim
asked, later on. Il thought you called
him fossil?"
$50 I did," answered the young lady,
quite unabashed, but I also said I was
getting up collection of fossils and recog-
nized the fact that he was too finea speci-
men to lose. Don't you remember?''-
Bow Bells
''Gent" Is Not Modern Slang.
The word gent nowadays seems to