The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-01-19
THEPROFESSOR
A Love Affair of October and
May.

There was a hint Of autumn in the
woodland tints, where the cOiOrs 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 Indian
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 .ectory 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 revelers, 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 a keen
| ness in them that was reflective and
that lent them a clearer vision for
| things that time had set at q distance
than for present realities.
The iron gray hair was brushed back
| and outlined features that were not un
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 tC
prove aggressive, and that the learning
contained in that massive frame could
be put aside with the spectacles; also
that the professor might have beer
young once, before the weight of 6
laurel wreath had puckered his brows
and powdered his hair with the fros
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, "th'
sublime faith in the impossible. Her,
we come gathering nuts and May-st
early in the morning! Not conten
with demanding their autumn ant
their spring at the same time, the!
must have it early in the morning, too
all the world at their feet, with you'll
to make them enjoy it. They have faitl
enough to remove mountains, but an
afraid the days of miracles are past.
Mrs. Errington's glance fingered OF
him for a moment, and then he travel
ed to where a girl in a white dres
stood under the trees that bordere,
| the rectory garden.
'There is Evadne," she said; "hov
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
look att he said, as he gazed with
painstaking air in her direction; "a
this distance do not see her SO plainl
as could WISH"
"And she is always pleasant to tai
to-" added Mrs. Errington; "go an
feSSOr."
. He went obediently, and the whit
figure moved to meet him, while tn
echo of the words "cool and fresh an
sweet" f1oated still in his ears.
81 am sent to ask you if you wi
have some tea," he said.
"Is that meant for an excuse or a
apology" asked Evadne demurely.
"Does my errand need either?" b
questioned in return, with his usus
gravity.
You seemed to consider so," sal
she, ''in which, if you will not thin
me conceited, l will confess you ar
unusual. There are people," she col
tinued, noting his puzzled air, "wh
come and talk to me without any e.
rand at all-merely for the pleasure {
the thing"
A little smile was playing round he
mouth, and through her curved ey
lashes the sparkle of her eyes meal
mischief.
The professor pushed his spectacle
up again; when people were close I
him he could see better without assis
ance.
There are people," he said, "wt
ID might venture to come to you on the
\ own merits, Miss Eva. I am not OF
t. Of those fortunate few"
ID "No? she queried, lifting her ey
brows, "yet your merits are by 1