Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-23
SHORT STORY
OF THE DAY.
The Professor.

There was hint of autumn in the
woodland tints, where the colors shad-
ed from softest gray green through
russet tones to deepest red and brown,
and the breeze that swept over the up
lands was suggestive of chilly October,
but the golden spell of Indian summer
lay on the valley, touching the ripe
peaches with an added bloom and WOO
ing the late roses to unfold their frag-
rant hearts before it was too late to
give their sweetness to the dying sum
mer.
In the rectory orchard, under the
shadows Of the fruit laden trees, viii
lage 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 a circle of infant jewellers, his spec
tacles pushed up on his broad forehead,
his soft Homburg hat tilted forward
to shield his eyes from the sun.
Gray eyes they were with a keenness
in them that was reflective and that
lent them a 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
unhandsome, though their sternness
gave him a semblance Of severity I'M
til he smiled.
When the professor smiled children
understood that the tall figure with it's
ii-nation to stoop was not likely to
prove aggressive, and that the learn
ing contained in that massive frame
could be put aside with the spectacles;
also that the professor might have
been young once, before the weight Of
laurel wreath had puckered his brows
and powdered his hair with the frost
that comes before winter.
He was smiling now and looking
with appreciative interest at the game
in progress.
edo you hear what they are sing
ing?" he asked the rector's wife.
Mrs. Errington detached herself from
the tea urn to answer careiessly,
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 ear
ly in the morning. Not content in
demanding their autumn and their
spring at the same time they must
have it early in the morning, too; all
the world at their feet, with youth to
make them enjoy it. They have faith
enough to remove mountains, but am
afraid the days of miracles are past"
Mrs. Erringtons glance fingered on
him for moment, and then Travelled to
where a girl III white dress stood
under the trees that bordered the rec
tory garden.
There is Evadne," she said; how
fresh and cool and sweet she looks.
Don't you think SO, professor"
He adjusted his spectacles to give a
conscientious answer.
Miss Evadne is always pleasant to
look at,' he said, as he gazed with
painstaking air in her direction; at
this distance l do not see her SO plain
ly 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, pro-
lessor"
He went obediently, and the white
figure moved to meet him, while the
echo of the words, 'cool and fresh and
sweet floated still in his ears.
Il am sent to ask you il you will
have some tea, he said
Us that meant for an excuse or an
apology?" asked Evadne demurely.
Does my errand need either?" he
questioned in turn, with his usual gray
ity.
You seemed to consider so" said she,
"in which, if you will not think me
conceited, I will confess you are I'M
usual. There are people" she contin-
ued, noting his puzzled air, who come
and talk to me without any errand at
all-rmerely for the pleasure of the
thing"
A little smile was playing round q
s1AA- and through her cuIfed