Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-08-06

Of her eye. The professor spoke again
what do you think of it?'' he asked
abruptly, his gaze resting upon hel
face with suppressed eagerness.
"I-don't know" She said it slowly
and blushed as she spoke. A mingled
expression Of doubt and perplexity be
came visible on the professors face as
he waited for her to go on.
But Fedora remained silent, her eyes
resting dreamily upon a little white
cloud drifting across the horizon.
The situation was growing awkward
The professor felt that his grasp was
slipping away from him and went on
little anXiously:
"You know about such things-girls
generally do. Tell me-what shall
do"
He toyed nervously with a dead twig
as he spoke and searched her face mar
rowly for encoura cement.
Fedora reflected for a moment, then
nodded with decision.
at depends" she said dryly, fixing
her eyes upon his with a serious look.
t'Yes?" The professor turned to her
with a quick smile.
Fedora pondered again, then dropped
her eyes half timid1y and twisted the
corner Of her handkerchief.
"On-the other one, you know-the
girl" she went on, with a soft blush.
The professor gazed at her in silence
his kind eyes full of perpleXity.
'tDoes she-care for your" asked Fee
dora in low voice, looking away.
'That's precisely the point said he,
pushing back his hat. 81 want to find
out"
els she pretty?
"Beautifulr' replied the professor,
with enthusiasm. "She has the most
and hair-how do they say in novels
like spun gold, that's it," he concluded
impulsively, his eyes aglow.
Fedora's cerulean orbs were sudden
ly misty, and her dusky brown head
was averted.
There was silence for a few mo-
ments. After a little she leaned for
ward to pick flower, her heart throb-
bling violently, and the color faded
from her face.
The professor drew long breath and
sighed. "She doesn't give me any en-
couragement," he ventured, regarding
her with a questioning, half wistful
look.
Perhaps" said Fedora family, as if
to herself. "she cares for some one
else"
The professor stared at her in con-
sternation.
81 never-thought-of- that" he said
crIn Nv IL,
as his eyes sought hers with an intense
look as though searching her Utmost
soul.
The pause that followed was unbro-
ken for some moments. Finally he
spoke.
81 hOpe-you have not made a mis-
take" he said, rising to go, because
it meant so much to me-everything.
He was looking down upon her, and
there was something in his eyes she
had never seen there before.
''There is only one way-to find out"
she said, speaking heroically, but with
a dreary little smile.
The professors face frightened.
"Well?" said he, almost holding his
breath.
The girl did not Immediately reply.
Something seemed to clutch at her
throat.
Presently she lifted her eyes-suspi-
ciously bright-to his and said slowly,
her voice half tremulous:
"Just tell her-in a straightforward,
manly way that you-love-her and
want a-serious answer"
She dropped her eyes suddenly as she
encountered his look - not easy to
evade.
There was an inaudible stiffness. F'e-
dream, her hands lying cold and pas
sive in her lap.
The sunshine circled about her red
brown head in a shimmering rainbow.
The professor looked across at her,
mis- eyes full of unexpected admiration,
his hands knotted close together.
After awhile he leaned suddenly to-
ward her and with quick movement
seized both her hands in his own.
Fedora, love you. Will you marry
me?'
The girl gave him a swift, startled
glance, and the color famed to her
cheeks, while the tears and smiles
struggled for mastery.
"But-but my hair is not gold" she
exclaimed, with a puzzled little laugh,
looking shyly at him, "and my eyes
are-blue."
"And mine,'' said he, taking her in
his arms, ''are color blind.'-Chicago
News.