The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-01-22

on uhrN problems, ana ne was sur
prised to find how quickly an hour or
two would slip away while he was ex-
planning things TO her.
During those winter months the
young Professor was passing through
some strange phases of life. He was he-
ginning TO discover that with all his
knowledge some things he had yet to
learn.
Not Kant nor Schopenhsuer had
ever told him what n charming thing
sweet young woman can be, nor had
all his mathematics taught him to es-
innate the face value OF n smile. He
seemed to he entering into q new
world in these latter days. He won
dered that he had never noticed before
how bright the sun shone and how
blue the sky was
With all this revolution taking place
under the Professors brown curls
there had come about n complete met
amorphosis IN his external appearance.
He no longer wore shabby clothes,
but walked the streets in the most
stylish suits that city tailor could
devise
He had never, with all his erudi-
ton, taken II course in the science of
love, and it was long before he could
interpret To himself these new sensa-
tions of his. Whe1 Mt length it
1t dawned upon him that he was ac-
tually in love with Grace Hamilton he
was appalled, at his audacitv.
All this time the weeks were slip.
ping by one by one and at last there
came n bright day in Juue when tho
Professor realized that commence
ment was only two days away. He
wandered about aimlessly all day try
ing to face the misery of not seeing
Grace Hamilton NIL summer. By
evening ne could endure it no longer.
lie yielded to the promptings of his
heart and turned into the street that
led to her house.
He found her alone on the vine-cov-
cred side vcranda, looking like a pic
ture in n dainty white dress, with a
blue iringel scarf thrown over her
shoulders.
81 know L am selfish TO ta'le no
your time in these last days, Miss
Hamilton" began the Professor apoi-
ogetically, You have so many other
friends who have better claim on
you"
"Oh, no, indeed" declared the
young lady. 81 think dragging me
safely through the profundities of
philosophy all winter ought to con.
stitute claim if anything coul /. We
girls were saying to-day we thought
you'd been wonderfully good TO us"
"You didn't find me as bad as you
expected, didyou?" said the Professor,
smiling.
"Why, we didn't expect" she be.
gan, and then stopped in confusion.
"Oh, yes, pardon me, bat you did
expect to encounter something terri
BILE when you ventured into Professor
Brollaw's class. L had it from your
own lips"
''from miucl'
"Yes. Let me tell Won something.
Do you Iemember being caught in &
rninstorm one night last fall and walk
ing home under n strangers umbre,-
Ia? You will recall that you said
some very plain and uncomfortable
things about Professor Brokaw. We'll,
do you know who that stranger was?"
Grace Hamilton's face hal grown
scarlet while nc was speaking.
''Oh, Professor B2okawl" she STAN
mered, penitcntly. 81 was in hopes
you'd never know | knew you when
| heard you speak in class, but I
thought you didn't know me. 1t was
so dark that night. I've always felt
so sorry about it. ."
"You said | was cranky and that
hated women," he continued, teas.
ingly.
"PIcase don't!" she begged. 81
didn't know you, or l couldn't have
said such things. [ take them all
back"
"Bat you said had beautiful eyes.
Do You take that back, too?"
She looked MP and met something
in the beautiful eyes that made her
drop her own and blush. The Pro-
fessor blushed little, too. Then they
both laughed.
''No, 1 won't take that back" she
said audaciously. "rhey are beau
tiful."
Something in the downcast, blush
ing face inspired the Professor with a
sudden boldness.
terrace, ne snid, impulsively, "I
know it's a great deal to ask you, bnt
do you think you could ever come to
care enough for your stupid Professor
to make his whole life glad for him?
Could you ever think of being my
wife, Grace?"
The long lashes quivered as they
dropped over the hazel eyes, and the
little iluttering leaves of the wood
bine ond the trumpet-creepor near
stood still, waiting, with the Profess
sor's heart, for the answer, that came
in low, tremulous voice
81 might if-you asked me-. "
Two hours later Professor Brokaw
came dashingu tho stairs to his rooms,
two steps at a time, humming n lively
tune. he turned up the gas and be-
gan hastily TO finish packing the con-
tents OF his desk, for he was to leave
day after tomorrow. The CRATE was
already filled high with waste papers,
to which he added others, and touched
a match TO them.
Opening one drawer he came
across partly finished mauuscripi.