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

was learned IN mathematics, WHICH only
scored against him in her eyes.
THE calculating power alone should
seem to be the least of human quail
ties she quoted, her small nose in the
air. There is something wrong about
man whom everybody likes. My pro-
phetic soul tells me 1 shall not take to
him, at least
The Wednesday the professor was ex-
pected Larry went for 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 We're assembled round the table
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
IL was not until she had disposed OF her
soup that she looked at her opposite
neighbor
tail, thin man with brown hair and
short brown beard and moustache,
thlckly streaked with grey, large.
dome like forehead and near sighted
gray eyes that looked kindly at her
through his spectacles.
He was a little surprised at the hos
tile expression in the brilliant brown
eyes, which surprise deepened into as
constituent when, in answer to low
voiced remark. the young lady replied
also in a low tone, but so distinctly
that he heard every word:
i think he is an old fossil"
NOtwit bStandipc- This ceyPrai times
during the meal his eyes strayed to the
white robed figure. the bent. shining
brown head, and once. in the midst OF a
remark from Augusta, he turned quick
ly to listen to a peal Of merry laughter
from Larry.
Several of her friends came in during
the evening and she devoted herself
to their entertainment, completely ig-
noring The professor. When she kept up
this behavior for nearly a week it at
tracted the attention of her family as
well as that of the visitor and when gen
tie hints were scorned Larry was Sc
Verely reprimanded.
You are positively unladylke," said
Mrs. Austin, "and / insist upon at least
civility. He must think you are an ILL
hammered child"
Il dare say l do seem child to his
advanced years." saucily answered
Larry.
You are exceedingly impertinen5,
answered Mrs. Austin, who was now
very angry. Il insist upon your being
polite to Prof. Chesney and doing your
share toward entertaining him or shall
certainly complain of you to your faith
er. Leave the room, miss
A little ashamed and wholly angry.
Larry whisked out of the room almost
a., IL
force as to rather stagger him
With a hasty Excuse mel" she sped
along the corridor and up The stairs.
while the ''estimable gentleman stood
and looked after her.
'An old fossil! he murmured, with
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
professor. He answered courteously
and very readily joined in the argument
between herself and jim. Her remarks
were bright and amusing, il somewhat
crude, and the brown eyes and change
full face were very attractive. In the
evening 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 family.
'She means mischief" thought Jim
uneasily. Are you beginning to sue
cumb to the professors charm?" he
whispered. You know, 1 gave you a
week.
II am thinking of getting up a col
lection of fossils" she answered. with
a hooking laugh, land this is too fine
a specimen to lose. Don't you dare in
terfere."
Poor wretch" rejoined Jim. He
has my sympathy"
Unable to account for the change in
Larry's manner, the professor neverthe-
less found her very agreeable and
though never neglecting any one else
it soon became evident that was the
attraction. The other two reluctantly
gave way to her and it was she who
went with him TO picture galleries and
lectures and concerts who was the life
of the theater and opera parties-saucy
wilful, charming.
With all his gravity and erudition. it
was plain that he admired this ill-reg-
ulated young woman. He had never be-
fore been thrown closely into compan-
ionship with such creature. He ad-
mired her beauty, her dainty costumes,
even her girlish extra agance of speech
and her saucy disregard of his opinion
pleased him better than Augustus I'M
varying politeness or Gertrudes clever
ness. His eyes followed her every move
ment. a wistful light in them some
times that touched Jim.
Larry was curled up in deep window
sill, overlooking the park, basking in
the sun, for she was a verite bic Per-
sian in her love of sunlight, when Prof.
Chesney came into the room. He leaned
against the side of the window, looking
at the picture she made in her quaint
pulled and furbelowed gown, the sun
light 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.
waiting for him TO speak. And SO he