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

was clad in u rusty black gown,
which nuttCrCd back from his shoul-
dCrS rs nc talked with all the aban-
don of II man who is pressing homo
conviction to u large audience Tho
girls at IN" Fireplace gradually grew
frightened at his increasing vehcm-
CnCo and SCuttlcd away through tho |
entrance, their Sillyhaughtcr echo
ing shrilly behind them IA thcy dis
appeared, and tho professor 5 roSon- |
ant voice broke it up into wavo
sounds of slowly diminishing vol
umC.
Gradually CuliSta remembered
that sho had boon dreaming for
thrcr-QuartcrS of an hour. Miss Nc
Grudcr would become uneasy, and
yCt she could not possibly depart be-
foro the conclusion of tho lecture; it
would DO indecent. So Sho staid on,
listening with grave carnoStncss,
her largo eyes dilating with eager
interest rs tho professor made clear
tho stupcndouS greatness of his task.
Even when no had concluded tho Ice
turo sho sat ondoavoring to realize
tho gaps which her rcstive imagina-
ton refused to adequately fill up.
Tho professors musical voice
sounded at her elbow. Ho had thrown
aside his gown and was clad in some
what rusty black.
"Madomoisollc will permit that
Introduce myself" he said in Eng
lish, 80 that l may give her thanks
for tho great pleasure which have
experienced i'll her studiOuS attention
TO the subject of my lecture. am
Professor Ribotcau, and this is tho
college of the Rue Casquottc."
CaliSta bowed.
"Do you lecture every day, mon
sicur? And on Arabic?"
Yes, madcmoiscllo, every day,
and on Arabic"
But don't understand, tho girl
said dclicatcly Surely you have
students.
mo, madCmoiSelle. In tho col
logo of the Ruo Casquette there are
no students.
mo studcntsr'
None, mademoisclle The late
Nine Biribcau endowed several pro
fcssorial chairs, and the college is al
ways open to the public, rs made
moisollc sces. Today the attendance
has boon exceptionally large Usu-
ally there iS-no one"
"Oh-h!" Tho girl gave deep
! iTyh IF NV I,,1i Nv
And you lecture every day, mon
sieur? All the year round?"
Every day, madcmoiscllc, all the
year round, with tho exception of
fotc days"
How awful" sho said.
"Ah!" Tho professors eyes
cleaned. "Madcmoiscllo is an ar
) dent student? Perhaps she will al
low me the honor of directing her
studies while she remains in Paris.
} 1t would be- comforting on mo priv
ilcgc inrStimable, for tho people of
Paris arc not Interested in Arabic
They do not care to listen to me. ="
The professor said this rs if it were
the most commonplace thing in the
world and one which did not call for
any special comment. Long years
of neglect had made him callous Be-
Meath his indifferent manner, how
ever, Calista fanCicd that she detect
cd II keen gratitude to the ono person
whom the weary years had brought
rs an apprcciativo listener to his
lecture. Sho gathered from him
that the other professors lectured to
empty rooms for five minutes and
then hurried away to moro congen-
ial occupations. But Professor Ri
botoau had lecturcd three quarters
Of an hour every day for five years,
with the exception of Sundays and
fote days.
When the professor repeated his
proposal, Calista hesitated. Her sud
den enthusiasm for Arabic evaporat-
cd as quickly rs it had arisen. Then
tho professors luminous eyes shone
into hers with such appealing ear
ncstncss that the half uttered refu-
sal died away upon her lips. She
gave him her address and said that
Miss McGruder would be glad to see
him.
Professor Riboteau bowed his
thanks and escorted Calista to the
little door, where he stood for mo-
mcnt ~ the returning sunshine CLINT
ed on his bare head, on the streaks
of gray in his brown locks Calista
caught herself wondering whether
an additional gray hair came with
every lecture he delivered and if he
would be condemned to lecture until
his hair grew very white. AS she
won't through the gateway and paus-
cd moment to look back the pro-
fcSsor still stood ut the top of the
steps, his large head frailly poised
on n slender neck, his threadbare
coat futtering in tho breeze.
The next day Professor Riboteau
called on Calista and Miss McGru-
der. The latter had conceived an OK
aspcrated respect for Professor Ri
botcau, based upon the report of his
learning which had been given to
her by Calista. But Miss McGruder,
although VOL stricken in years (she
was 10 if n day., soon felt romantic
admiration for the professor which
was altogether lost upon him. He
brought Calista books, pencil mark
ed all over the yellow margins with