The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1895-02-16
HER OLD FOSSIL.

Larry was the only one OF the ldInlly
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 i'm her eyes. |
The calculating power alone should |
seem to be the least human of qualities
she quoted, her small nose in the air. /
There is something wrong about man |
whom everybody likes. My prophetic
soul tells me l 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 around the ia
BILE when she slipped into her place, and
there was a reproof in her mothers voice
as she said: MY third daughter, Larinda,
! Professor Chesney."
If there was anything that her third
daughter hated it was being addressed by
her baptismal name. With pout of her
red under lip she bowed hastily, and 1t
was not until she had disposed of her soup
! that she looked at her opposite neighbor.
tall, thin man, with brown hair and
a short brown beard and mustache, thick
/ ly streaked with gray; large, dome-like
forehead and near-sighted gray eyes that
! looked kindly at her through his spec
taces.
He was little surprised at the hostile
! expression in the brilliant brown eyes,
which surprise deepened into astonish-
ment. when, in answer to low-toned re-
mark the young lady replied also in a
low tone, but so distinctly that he heard
every word II think he is an old FOSSIL!
Several of her friends came in during
| the evening. and she devoted herself TO
| their entertainment, completely ignoring
81. Is
havior for nearly a week, il attracted the
attention of her family as well as that of
the visitor and when gentle hints were
scorned. Larry was severely reprimanded.
you are positively unladylike," said
Mrs. Austin. land l insist on at least civil
ity He must think you an ill-natured
child
Il dare say do seem child to his adj
vanced years." sauciy answered Larry. A
little ashamed, and wholly angry, Larry
whisked out of the room, almost into the
professors arms with such force as to al
most stagger him.
With a hasty Excuse mew she sped
along the corridor and up the stairs,
while the "estmable 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 pro-
fessor. He answered courteously, and
very readily joined in the argument be-
tween 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
E she played and sang for him, and was as
bright and bewitching as the heart of man
could desire, much to the surprise of some
and the annoyance of others of her fam
! lily.
she means mischief" thought Jim, I'M
easily. Are you beginning to succumb
to the professors charms?" he whispered.
You know gave you a week
Il am thinking of getting up a cole ton
of fossils" she answered, with a hooking
laugh. land this is too fine a specimen TO
lose. Don't you dare interfere!'
Unable to account for the change in Lar
RVS manner the professor, nevertheless.
found her very agreeable. and, though
, never neglecting anyone else it soon be-
came evident that she was the attraction
The other two reluctantly gave way tC
her and il was she who went with him
to picture galleries and lectures and con-
certs, who was the life of theater and
opera parties-saucy, willful, charming.
With all his gravity and erudition it
was plain that he admired this ill-regu-
? lated young woman. He had never before
been thrown into close companonship
with such a creature. He admired her
beauty, her dainty costumes; even her
girlish extravaganza of speech and saucy
disregard of his opinion pleased him bet
ter than Augustus unvarying politeness,
, or Gertrude's cleverness. His eyes fol-
lowed her every movement. a wistful light
in them sometimes that touched Jim.
Larry was curled up i'm a deep window
sill overlooking the park. basking in the
sun, for she was veriiable Persian in
her love of sunlight, when Professor Ches-
ney came into the room. He leaned
against the side of the window, looking at
the picture she made in her quaint puffed
and furbelowed gown, the sunlight falling
on her brown head.
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
a while, but not as she expected.
81 am going away tomorrow. Miss Lar
ry," 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 go
ing"
And. much to her own surprise, she
; realized that the remark was perfectly
sincere.
II am glad to hear 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.
Professor Chesney," she said with
- quivering lips, Il am not worthy the love
you have offered me. You'l realize that
when l tell you that / have only been
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