El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-05
The PROFESSOR
A Love Affair of October and
May.

There was a hint of autumn in tn,
! 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 Indiar
! summer lay on the valley. touching the
ripe peaches with an added bloom and
wooing the late roses to unfold theil
fragrant hearts before it was too late
to give their sweetness to the dying
summer.
In the rectory 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 a keen
ness 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 uIi-
handsome, though their sternness gave
him a semblance of severity until he
smiled.
When the professor smiled children
understood that the tall figure with it's
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. Burlington detached herself
from the tea urn to answer carelesSly,
:. Nuts and May isn't it?"
The delightful irrelevance of child
hood" pursued the professor, ''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 l am
afraid the days of miracles are past"
Mrs. Errington's glance fingered on
nj f.Nr l..
ed to where girl in a white dress
he rectory garden.
There is Evadne," she said; how
'resh and cool and sweet she looks.
Don't you think so, professor"
He adjusted his spectacles to give a |
answer.
Miss Evadne is always pleasant to |
ook at" he said, as he gazed with a |
air in her direction; Eat |
his distance | do not see her so plainly |
IS l could wish"
"And she is always pleasant to talk |
o." added Mrs. Errington; ego and |
SIX her If she would like some tea, pro- |
essor."
He went obediently, and the white
Igure moved to meet him, while the
cho of the words "cool and fresh and |
weet'' foated still In his ears.
81 am sent to ask you If you Will |
ave some tea" he said.
rs that meant for an excuse or an
pology" asked Evadne demurely.
Does my errand need either?" he
Questioned in return, with his usual
ravity.
You seemed to consider so,'' said
he, ''in which. if you will not think
lie conceited, | will confess you are
nuSual. There are people," she con-
nued. noting his puzzled air. "who
ONE and talk to me without any er-
and at all-merely for the pleasure of
he thing"
little smile was playing round her
louth. and through her curved eye
ashes the sparkle Of her eyes meant
liSchief.
The professor pushed his spectacIes
p again; when people were close to
I'M lie could see better without assist
nee.
There are people, he said "who |
light venture to come to you on their
wn merits, Miss Eva. / am not one
those fortunate few" |
MOP she Queried. lifting her eye
rows. yet your merits are by no