El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-08
The Professor.

called Professor Barker. n man who was
possessed of n comfortable income and a
fair sized estate.
Mary had not seen the professor since
she was a girl of II and he a young man
OF "A She did not take long to make up
her mind. her friend. Mrs. Barker. the
professors mother, having invited her to
make her a visit. So Mary went. chiefly
to see whether the professor was of the
marrying kind.
With this highly commendable and
praisewortby object in view she made
her appearance. bag and baggage. at his
door one sultry morning in August, walk
ing unannounced into the room where the
professor was sitting.
II anu your cousin. Mary Arnold" she
said in reply to the blank wonderment in
the eyes that were lifted to hers Il
didn't write to say l was coming because
I wanted to give you a pleasant sur
prise"
Mary succeeded admirably so far as the
surprise was concerned Its pleasant ma
ture was not so clearly apparent
But he was too kind hearted and too
much Of n gentleman to treat his unex-
pectcd guest with any discourteSy.
"Oh. yes. certainly" he stammered.
"Pray make yourself entirely ut home.
we-that * To say, my mother-wili be
delighted"
the professor reiterated TO his study. and
Mary saw nothing more OF him until din
ner.
In this way the days passed. So far
as his guest was concerned, he was invis-
ible except at meaitime, and even then
he seldom spoke, scarcely looking at her;
when he did. very much as one would
look al n blank wall.
But Mary WAS not easily baff1ed. She
At. .o,A he AZ.
going into his study ostensibly for the
sake Of getting some reading.
However annoyed the professor might
be at this invasion of his privacy, he
showed no token of it, He assured her
that any and all his hooks were at her
disposal and then retired behind the huge
folio he reading when she came in
After an indefinite deal OF trouble Mary
selected her book aud turned To the door.
what did You say. Cousin john!
The professor raised his wondering
eyes to the smiling face of the speaker
Il didn't say anything"
This was not Mary's last visit To the
professors study. She came nearly ev-
cry day on the same errand, asking the
same question and receiving the same re-
ply.
Mrs. Barker was so accustomed to her
sons recluse habits that il never entered
consider his persistent avoidance of her
in the light of a personal affront.
"John is such a scholar" she would
say, ''he takes no interest In anything
but his books"
Thus one by one the days slipped by,
bringing Mary nearer and nearer to the
time when she must resume her irksome
school duties.
One morning she went into the profess
or's study.
II have brought back the book / Dor
rowed. As | am going tomorrow, l will
not take another
The professor glanced up at her. He
made reply. Perhaps he thought il
did not call for any.
What did You say. Cousin john
Il didn't say anything"
Mary's temper was aroused al last.
well, ] should think il was time you
did" And ont of the room she went.
closing the door with very gentle
hand. leaving our professor more aston
ishcd than he was ever before in his life.
'-Shonld think il time l didi' he
repeated. why, what does the girl
mean"
He resumed his book. but somehow il
had lost all interest TO him. and he was
really glad when the dinner hell sounded.
The face that sat opposite him was the
same that had sat there for the last three
weeks. but he now looked n; it with
feeling of curiosity and interest such aS
he had never experienced before aud
which quickly changed to admiration.
Though apparently unmindful OF her
presence. he felt that he should miss her.
we miss the flowers and the sunshine.
by the dearjh and gloom OF their de
parture.
''OG course shall miss her." he re-
spondcd in reply to some observation
from his mother and speaking with n
warmth that quite astonished the good
lady.
We. laughed Mary. turning her ru-
guish eyes upon the speaker with look
which affected him rs no look ever did
before. Il don't believe you've been con-
scious that l was in the house at all
The professor Redeemed. looking 81
thoroughly uncomforta Bile that Mary half
her words.
However, the next morning he hnr-
messed mp. with the intention of taking
Mary himself TO the depot. a piece Of
civility which astonshed his mother
who had never known him 10 take So
much trouble for any one before.
Il wish you weren't going" he said
ruefully as they rolled smoothly along on
the highway.
Mary east her eyes down demurely
upon the flowers that lay in her lap.
"Oh. L must School commences Mon
day. you know"
Are you SO very fond of teaching"
81 hate it, was the frankly spoken |
reply.
Then why do you teach? / thought |
you seemed to be very happy here"
II never enjoyed myself so much in NV |
life"
The professor turned beaming tri- |