Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1895-05-02
THE PROFESSOR.

sho tapped her foot on the pavement,
which was green with growing moss,
and gazcd up at the ancient stone
college.
At Il little distance from tho sidc
street in which she stood CamC the
roar of Paris. ScrcnCly indifferent
to its tumult rOso tho lichcn incrust-
cd college walls, frowningly facing
tho world With II pathetic patience
cngcndcrcd by long neglect. They
werC grimly gray. Tho girl who
stood looking up at tho vast college
WAS Il dream in gray from head to
foot. Her hat was gray, shc wore
little gray CATERS over her boots
and the slight wrap she carried, her
gloves, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
to be of the Same pCarly hue. But
shO WAS young, fresh and fair. The
grim, gray college was wan, old and
dcSOlato. In the girls sunny Dyes
could be seen the sweetness of a
young soul on tho threshold of life.
Tho walls of tho college dropped
with the burden of u message to
which no ono would listen.
The girl again gaHod at tho college
as if She would like to enter its in
hoSpitablc, uncomfortable looking
halls, hut had no prctCXt for doing
so. WhilC she hrSitatCd the fatcs
which shape our lives took tho mat
-, -,
should cross its threshold, for a
glOOnicr shadow fell across tho bulg-
ing wallis the sun disappeared be
hind n cloud, u few raindrOpS splash
cd upon the uncvCn stones.
The girl looked ut her dainty cos
tumc and sighed. THAT is what
comes of putting on onc's prcttiost
frock, She said. Miss McGrudcr
was quito right. She declared that
when wo Camo to Paris wo must
wear all our old clothes if wo did
not wish TO be taken for ParisicnncS.
cannot, somehow, bring myself to
believe that Miss McGrudcr could
. ever be taken for n Parisicnno, un-
lesS-unlcss by an American"
Tho rain splashed down in warm,
or, larger, thicker drops as the girl
gathered up hor skirts preparatory
to seeking shelter. AT that moment
two fast looking women hurricdly
brushed by her into tho old college
Il think had better 90, too, " the
girl said resigncdly. Tho rain will
be over soon; then 1 can return to
Miss McGrudcr and be ScOldcd for
wandering about alone. Sometimes,
for Il free born Canadicnnc, | think
l submit u little too much to Miss
McGrudCr's seedlings. Ono must
have in Paris what Thackcray calls
n lap dog, just to snap at intrud-
orS. Charlie mado mo promise to
DO careful how went about myself
whom | waS foolish enough to con-
sent to marry him, and SO | had to
bring her with me, dear, sweet old
thing. However, when VIC 40 back
to Caledonia Springs there will DC
no Charlie, and then Miss McGrudcr
can return to tho manSo ut Grccn-
vile. Poor Miss McGrudor! What
a pity her big heart hasn't some one
to love-"
a heavy drop SplaShing down up
on the tip of her noso warned the
girl that if she still wished to pre-
servo the purity of her costume in
tact she had bcttCr sock shelter ut
once. There WAS little lodge just
inside the gateway. From the top
of this lodge hcraldic monsters grin
nod down in CHASTITY recognition,
and white pigeon cOOCd persistent
ly out from Granny in the wall.
CaliSta Crane pcCpcd into tho emp
ty lodge. Il cant enter the lodge.
Perhaps it would be better to look
for one of tho classrooms and shelter
there. Some ono is sure to be lee
turing, and l may pass for stu
don't.
She hurried along the tagged pas
sage till she reached n flight of stone
steps which led up to n large hall.
Calista ascondCd tho stone stops and
stood on the threshold looking curl
ously within, but could soc no one,
owing to tho dim, uncertain light
which tliCkCrrd through the cObwcb-
bed windows. On the floor Of the
hall were chairs, in which no one
sat. At the end of the room oppO-
site the door stood n roStrum, rs if
waiting for the lecturer. TO the left
Calista noticed n largo fireplace built
In English fashion. Beside this fire.
place stood the two women who had
brushed against her in the street
Their noisy laughter reused discord-
ant echoes III the quaint old oak
ar "A room, which had musty,
unfrcquCntcd air, although but n few
stops from public thoroughfarc
CaliSta sat down near the fireplace
rs Loud clear voice from tho roS-
trum announced the beginning of
the lecture.
She leaned forward, her elbow
resting on the back of the chair i'm
mediatcly i'll front of her, her checks
supported by q gray gloved hand.
To tho middle aged professor of
Arabic sho was IN apparition from n
world which had long since ceased
to be real. He did not know that
CaliSta' = air of rapt attention was
merely an unconscious pose, and that
her thoughts We're far away from
him and his lecture.