Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-08-28

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have some tea," he said
"Is that meant for an excuse or an
apology?" asked Evadne demurely.
"Does my errand need either?' he
questioned in return, with his usual
gravity.
"You seemed to consider So" said
she, Sin which, if you will not think
me conceited, 1 will confess you are
unusual. There are people, she con-
tinued, noting his puzzled air, "who
come and talk to me without any ..r-
rand at all-merely for the pleasure
of the thing"
A little smile was playing round
her mouth, and through her curved
eyelashes the sparkle of her eyes
meant mischief.
The Professor pushed his spectacles
up again; when people were close to
him he could see better without as
sistance.
'"There are people," he said, "who
might venture to come to you on their
own merits, Miss Eva. 1 am not one
of those fortunate few"
MOP" she queried, lifting her eye
brows, 'yet your merits are by no
means insignificant. They are public
property, Professor, and we are very
proud of them down here. I have
even," she looked away from him,
'felt little alarmed at the thought
Of them sometimes, and wondered
whether we all seemed very stupid
and dull to 30 learned a person as
YOU"
"Stupid and dull" he echoed the
words involuntarily, while he was
thinking what dainty outline the
contour of her cheek and chin made
like pink sea shell, and what
singularly sweet intonation she had!
"You agree that we are So" she
said after an instant's offended silence.
"You add candor to your other mer-
its, Professor, l see. Well, the school
treat is over. think must be going
homeward. Good evening""
She stretched out q small white
hand. He took it and considered it
for moment.
"Do you go across the fields" he
said, cor round by the road?"
Across the fields-when I have
some one with me-"
"Should count as some one, or am
I too"
'"Too what-too candida"
"Too DID," he said thoughtfully.
She looked him up and down.
81 suppose that you are twice my
age"
'More than that, I am sure"
"Has any one ever called you any.
thing but Professor?"
my mother calls me John"
"Any one else?"
"No one, since L was a boy"
They were crossing the meadow
now. In the distance Mrs. Errington
waved goodby to them. They had
forgotten about her.
(Which would you rather be-your.
self at your age and with your knowl-
edge or an Ignorant young person like
me?"
She had taken off her hat and wa.
dangling it by ribbon from her arm.
Her hair was all ruffied, and one little
tress with CLINT of gold in it kissed
her cheek lovingly.
They had reached the stile and he
stoppedIto help her over it before he
answered. Then he said:
Miss Eva, do You think it is pos.
sible for any one to gather nuts and
May at the same time?"
Yes, if they get up early enough
in the morning"
"What difference does that maker"
"The difference of not leaving things
till they are too late."
He was still holding her hand. She
gave it to him at the stile, and ap-
parently he had not remembered to
give it back. Her eyes were like stars,
dawn on her cheeks.
''How is one to know whether it is
too late or not?"
81 thought you knew everything,
Professor. And you called me stupid
and dull just now, so my opinion can't
be worth having"
II called you stupid and dull? Do
you know what think you?"
"You think me a vain, frivolous
girl"
81 think you the most perfect thing
on Gods earth"
Professor"
81 have another name, Evadne."
"When you have quite done with
my hand"
II shall never have quite done with
it. 1 want it for my own."
'Such useless, silly little hand?"
such pink and white little hand.
| Like May blossom.
He lifted it to his lips, and they
were silent for moment.
"Evadne, is miracle possible?"
''What would be a miracle?" she
said softly.
He drew her with gentle insistence
into his arms, and she raised hers and
clasped them round his neck.
'This is one," he answered.; "it is
the impossible come true"
"It was never impossible, "she mur.
INJURED, "only-you were asleep and
dreaming, John, and now-you are
awake, and it is early in the morn.