Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-04-04

did after a while. but not as she ex-
pected.
Il am going away tomorrow, Miss
Larry. he said. My pleasant visit has
come to an end, all too soon"
Tomorrow echoed the girl. sitting
up straight. Il am very sorry you are
going
And much to her own surprise she
realized that this remark was perfectly
sincere.
Il am glad to near you say that" said
the professor, trying to keep his voice
steady 1t makes it a 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 a queer expression on her
pale face as she stood before him.
Prof Chesney," she said with quiv
ering lips, Il am not worth the love you
have offered me. You'll realize that
when 1 tell you that l have only been
pleasant and civil to you all these
weeks, not for any liking for you, but
toto plague the others"
Thoroughly ashamed, she bent her
head. unable to meet his eyes
You mean that you have deliberately
played a part all these weeks? You
whom l thought so frank and true?
How could you do it? Then you have
not the slightest love for me in your
heart-that, l suppose, 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
/ shall be very grateful if after what
have told you you will let me be your
friend
She put out her hands and moved a
step nearer to him, but to her NORTH
cation her extended hands remained un-
touched.
Il did not ask for your friendship, he
said, unsteadily land just at present L
want only what / ask for. BY and by 1
may be able to appreciate your offer
shall try, but you've taught me a hard
lesson. Larry; one I'm not likely TO for
set. Perhaps l ought to have known
better. but"-with break In his voice
TIN not used to women. I'm only an
old fossil after all.
And without another word he left her.
Up in her room Larry was still more
surprised to find bit Of crying neces-
sary. She could not account for the un-
happy feeling that took possession of
her as she reviewed the past weeks and
realized that the kindly, pleasant COM
partnership she had accepted so heed
lessly was at an end.
Il suppose he'll hate ne now for
ever" she thought between her sobs,
but how could 1 say love him when |
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
addressed to her. a card attached. on
which was written. From your friend,
Roger Chesney." That was all but she
guessed dimly what an effort it cost
him to write it,
With trembling fingers she made
three parts of the flowers and gave
them to her mother and sisters.
II don't want Them she said proud
~, in answer to her mothers remon-
STRANGE. Il was only civil to him to
please you ALL"
Jim noticed that the brilliant eyes
were full Of tears. and that she took the
card away with her.
1T must be a relief to you to have
him gone, he said as they stood for
moment in the hall. Association with
such serious man must have been
trial to you"
He was unprepared for the way she
hamed out at him.
such a trial as makes me more will
ing to accept the statement that man
is made after Gods own image and pos
sesses some God-like attributes. Now
go!"
And he did, lurking smile Kinder his
mustache and a most emphatic BY
Jove!" upon his lips.
one bright morning early in June Jim
opened the door of Mrs. Austins sit
ting 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 Treat him well, for
he sails for Egypt tomorrow. never to
return. I'll be back III a minute"
He vanished. and there inside the
closed door stood Prof. Chesney, thin
ner. grayer, but with the old kindly
smile on his lips that she remembered
SO well. Startled out of her self-posses-
sion, Larry stood with her du.ter sus-
pended over gran'ma's 100-year old tea
pot.
san for Egypt tomorrow" said the
professor. taking few steps into the
room, and / may never return. Won't
you wish me godspeed Larry?"
Crash went gran mas priceless tea
pot in dozen pieces on the polished
floor and the next thing Larry knew
she was crying.
The professor approached her.
Are you crying because / am going
away or ecausc Won have broken the
tea pot? p asked the visitor.
Both cried Larry with a convul-
sive sob. which was smothered in the
folds of the professors coat as the arms
of that "estima ole gentleman" closed
around her.
How about your prophetic soul? z"
Jim asked later on. II thought you
called him a fossil"
so / did, answered the young lady
quite unabashed, but / also SAID / was
getting UP a collection of fossils and
recognized the fact that he was TOO fine
a specimen TO lose Don't you .emem-