The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-09-23

woodland tints, where the colors
shaded from softest gray green
through russell trees to deepest red
and brown, and the breeze that swept over
the uplands was suggestive of chilly Octo-
Der, but the golden spell Of Indian summer
lay on the valley, touching the ripe peaches
with an added bloom and wooing the late
roses to unfold their fragrant heart before
it was too late to give their sweetness to
she dying summer.
In the rectory orchard under the shadows
Of the fruit laden trees village lads and
lasses hid and sought, and out in the
meadow the children laughed and played
and danced to the music OF their own voices
The professor stood at the outer edge of
circle Of infant jewellers, his spectacles
pushed up on his broad forehead, his soft
Uomhu1g hat tilted forward to shield his
eyes from the sun,
Gray eyes they were, with keenness in
them that was reflective and that lent them
Il clearer vision for things that time had set
at distance than for present realities.
The iron gray hair was brushed back and
outlined features that were not unhand
some, though their sternness gave him a
semblance of severity until he smiled.
When the professor smiled children I'M
derstood that the tall figure with its in
clination TO stoop was not likely to prove
aggressive, and that the learning contained
III that massive frame could be put aside
wish the spectacles; also that the professor
might have been young once, before the
weight of laurel wreath had puckered his
hrows and powdered his hair with the frost
shat comes before winter.
He was smiling now and looking with
appreciative interest at the game in prog
ress.
'Do you hear what they are singing?" he
asked the reotor's wife
Mrs. Errington detached herself from the
Tea urn to answer carelessly, "'Nuts and
May, isn't it?'
The delightful irrelevance of child
hood" pursued the professor, ''the sub
lime faith in the impossible. Here we
come gathering nuts and May-so early in
che morningn Not content with demand
ing their autumn and their spring at the
same time, they must have it early in the
with youth to make them enjoy it. They
have faith enough to remove mountains.
Flut l am afraid the days of miracles are
past.
Mrs. Errington's glance fingered on him
cor moment, and then he travelled to
where CIR, in white dress stood under
She trees that bordered the rectory garden.
"There is Evadne," she said "How
fresh and cool and sweet she looks. Dom
you think SO, Professor?''
He adjusted his spectacle to give a con-
scientious answer.
Miss Evadne is always pleasant to look
at he said, as he gazed with painstak-
lag air in her direction; Eat this distance
do not see her so plainly as l could wish. !"
"And she is always pleasant to talk to, "
added Mrs. Errington; go and ask her if
she would like some tea, professor
He went obediently, and the white figure
moved to meet him, while the echo of the
words ''cool and fresh and sweet" iloated
still in his ears.
81 an sent to ask you if you will have
some tea, he said
"ls that meant for an excuse or an
apology" asked Evadne demurely.
''Does my errand need either" he ques
sioned in return, with his usual gravity.
"You seemed to consider so,'' said she,
lin which, if you will not think me CON
'ceited, | will confess you are unusual.
There are people," she continued, noting