The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1900-05-09
MISS FERGUSON.

Indiana Ferguson impatiently
awaited the evening. For n week she
lad been visiting her cousin, Silas
Beck, and his wife, and this evening
Robert Scruggs was to come. Had
she known that Mr.. Scruggs was ex-
pected she would not have dared TO
visit her cousin just Mt this time. She
was here, however, and now that he
was coming she did not deceive her
self by saying that she was sorry.
Miss Ferguson felt that she had
been unkind to Mr.. Scruggs. He had
offered her his heart, and he was
sincere man. She had answered
coldly: ''Mr. Scruggs, il is impos-
sible." How heartless it seemed to
her now. But there had been Prof.
Edward Cantwell Reed, and it seemed
different then.
Miss Ferguson was a mathcma-
tician. Not that she ever did much
in practical way, but she loved the
science for its own sake. She and
Professor Reed had sat by the hour
discussing problems in which they
were interested. But for these meet
ings her answer to Robert Scruggs
would have been different.
She now sat in meditation before
the bright fire. How stupid she had
been, she thought, to suppose that
she could enjoy sitting forever drill
ing away at her mathematics! Do
people ever marry for that? What had
Professor Reed done? Married that
veritable chatterbox and mischief low
ing Tomboy, Sadie Moore. As for
herself, did she ever really love Pro-
fessor Reed? Well, perhaps. Any
how, she was very stupid - she was
cure she was stupid.
And now-certainly fate had thrown
her in the way of the man whom she
rejected. He believed in woman's in
tuition, and that intuition told her
that this was fortuitous. She was al
most happy.
When at last she heard Mr.. Scruggs
stamping the wet snow off his boots
outside the door she felt that she
turned little pale. She was certain
" nervous-an unusual thing for her.
When he addressed her as "Miss
Ferguson" it sounded odd and cold.
He used to call her "India."
$50 you're acquainted" exclaimed
Mrs. Beck, as they sat- about the fire,
her face radiant with amiability.
"Now, I'm afraid we'll have to watch
you two. But then, if you'd a--been
marrying people-too such people as
you-you'd a-been married, both of
you, long ago."
"You may trust Miss Ferguson,
answered Mr.. Scruggs. "rm an
audacious scoundrel, you know, but
you will find Miss Ferguson as rigid
as-as the North pole"
Miss Ferguson could not have felt
more uncomfortable than she did now.
To conceal her confusion she turned
TO arrange some grasses in vase,
which, MS soon as she touched it,
tumbled to the floor, breaking into n
dozen pieces. STOPPING quickly to
pick these up, now blushing very red,
she awkwardly upset large easel aud
its painting. Then she rose mp very
quickly aud left the room, mortified
20 the verge of despair. She wondered
If she would ever dare to see Mr.
Scruggs again.
The following morning she had her
breakfast sent to her, complaining OF
headache. and did not venture down
stairs until she heard Mr.. Scruggs'
footsteps going out of the little gate
and down toward cabin where one
of his queer fancies took him at every
opportunity to converse with an
ignorant but self-important and
garrulous woodman settler. Then she
crept softly down and entered the
parlor-a there sat Mr.. Scruggs
looking into the fire.
With an effort Miss Ferguson con,
trolled herself.
"Good morning, Mr.. Scruggs," she
said. II thought heard you going
ont this morning."
mot /, this day." he replied, 81
am disposed to NOPE. I have sen
Silas down to bring my woodmar
friend to see if he cannot cheer mt
mp. Are you i'll, Miss Ferguson?
imagine that you used to lool
stronger"
~ an well now." she answered. "'
have changed since you saw me last. >
IL believe you are more beautiful,
he declared.
"Don't fatter me-" she protested.
~, fatterl" be exclaimed. "Whel
viii you learn. Miss Ferguson. that