Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-10-31

"that we might find some specimens Of
the Adiantum pedatum."
"True, my dear. Let me see what
the time is. We don't want to go so
far that we will not be able to get back
to the boat in time"
He drew out bis watch. but before
he could glance at it Grace had snatch.
ed it from him.
"Now guess, Herbert" she cried
merrily, putting her hands behind her.
"Guess the time"
Professor Harper smiled i%ndulgently.
"It must be 2 O'Clock or AFTER" he
said.
"Oh, you bad guesserP" And Grace
laughingly handed back the watch.
ut is only half past l."
why, 10 1t isl" exclaimed the pro-
lessor, amazed. ~ was almost positive
that it was after 2; but that will give
us time for a long tramp"
So on they went farther and farther
into the woods, until at last, with arms
filed with fine specimens Of maiden
hair, they sat down on a NOISY stone to
analyze them.
"When we are married, Grace, l hope
to find a rare pupil in you. We have
only a year to wait now until your IA
ther considers you old enough" con-
tinued he. II don't mind saying to
you, little girl, that I find the waiting
tedious at times"
Grace's heart throbbed rapidly.
"Then you would not mind very
much if something should happen that
would make us marry sooner, would
you?" she asked, in a low tone.
"No, dear; I should not; not in the
least. But there!" the professor sighed
heavily. "Your father is quite right,
quite right, and we must wait. Now,
shall we analyze a few more specimens?'
They turned again to the ferns and
90 the time passed. Suddenly the pro-
fessor seemed to realize that time wal
flying and whipped out his watch.
"Bless my soul" he cried. W. will
barely have time to get to the boat. II
is 4 o'clock. We must hurry, Grace"
They had not gone far before the deep
whistle sounded on their ears.
"Whyl We can never reach the boat
in time in the world! We must run for
it, GraceP"
But, despite their efforts, when they
reached the shore the boat was hidden
from view by a bend in the river.
"This is a predicament, said Pro.
fessor Harper, as he mopped his brow.
"The worst Of it is that they will think
we did it on ~purposer' And he frowned
in annoyance. II cannot think how my
watch came to be SO far behind time.
Do you suppose you could have mad
ve1tently turned the hands, Grace,
when you took it from me?"
Grace hung her head. but made no
reply.
"Grace, " he exclaimed, II believe
that you did it, and on purpose! Did
you?"
Grace nodded.
"But why, child? Why should you
want to be left way out here in the
woods?"
"I'm going to run off with you, Her.
bert. So that you might as well make
up your mind to it,"
"Why What does the girl mean?"
gasped the professor in amazement.
"Just what I say. If you will agree
to marry me right away, I know a man
| that lives about a mile from here who
| will drive us to CLANCY. If you don't
promise, l will not tell where he lives
and you will just have to stay here all
night"
Professor Harper stared at her for a
moment in astonishment, and then, az
her meaning burst upon him, gave vent
to a roar of laughter. Graoe's lip
%quivered.
"Oh, ! surrender! l surrender p cried
the professor hastily. II will do any
thing you ask, my dear. But what a
very desperate character you arer"
Sh%amefaced, but determined, Grace
led the chuckling professor to the house
of a farmer, with whom arrangements
were soon concluded to drive them to
CLANCY.
"You don't really mind, do you,
Herbert?" whispered Grace as they
reached the house of the minister.
"Mind? No. l wish we had done 1t
long ago." whispered back the profess
or, smiling boyishly. II haven't been
on such a lark for years."
The @. E. club held a private jollifi.
cation when it was known that Profess
or Harper and Grace Dawn had eloped,
and the villagers wondered at the de-
pravity of a man of his age.
"All the same, my dear" said the
professor to his wife, II hope that you
won't always use such desperate meth
DDS to obtain your own way"
"But there wasn't anything else to
do, answered Mrs. Harper.
And, laughing, he kissed her,
Foster Madison in Cleveland Press.