Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-09-01
THE PROFESSOR
A Love Affair of October and
May.

There was hint of autumn in the
woodland tints, where the colors shad-
ed from softest gray green through
russell tones to deepest red and brown,
and the breeze that swept over the up
lands was suggestive of chilly Octo-
Der, but the golden spell of lndi1n
summer lay on the valley, touching the
ripe peaches with an added bloom and
wooing the late roses to unfold their
fragrant hearts before it was too late
| to give their sweetness to the dying
summer.
In the cectory orchard, under the
shadows of the fruit laden trees, village
lads and lasses hid and sought, and
out in the meadow the children laugh
ed 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
spectacles pushed up on his broad
forehead, his soft Homburg hat tilted
forward to shield his eyes from the
sun.
Gray eyes they were, with keen
ness in them that was reflective and
that lent them Il clearer vision for
things that time had set at a distance
than for present realities.
The iron gray hair was brushed back
and outlined features that were not ul-
handsome, though their sternness gave
him a semblance of severity until he
smiled.
When the professor smiled children
understood that the tall figure with its
inclination to stoop was not likely to
prove aggressive, and that the learning
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 a
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.
do you hear what they are sing
ing?" he asked the rector'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, 1.-THE
sublime faith in the impossible. Here
we come gathering nuts and May-so
early in the morning! Not content
with 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. Errington's glance fingered on
him for a moment, and then he travel
ed to where a girl in white dress
stood under the trees that bordered
the rectory 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
conscientious answer.
"Miss Evadne is always pleasant to
look at" he said, as he gaZed with
painstaking air in her direction AT
this distance do not see her so plainly
as l could wish"
"And she is always pleasant to talk
to-" added Mrs. Errington; Ego and
ask her if she would like some tea, pro-
fessor."
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.
81 am sent to ask you if you will
have some tea" he said.
as 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, Gin which, IL you will not think
me conceited, [ will confess you are
unusual There are people," she con
tinued, noting his puzzled air, who
come and talk to me without any en-
rand ut all-merely for the pleasure Of
the thing"
A little smile was playing round her
mouth, and through her curved eye
lashes 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 assist
ance.
"There are people," he said, who
might venture to come to you on their
own merits, Miss Eva. | am not one
of those fortunate few"
'NoY she queried, lifting her eye