Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-01-09

ed out in desperation. flushing to the
brim of his scholarly hat.
Fedora's face was snffused with sud
den color, and she gave an inartcuiate
little murmur quite beyond interpreta-
ton.
There was an interval, during which
neither spoke for several minutes. The
professor was the first to break the
pause.
.Aiadly, terribly, foolishly In love
he said. emphasizing the last adverb
as though it included the sum total of
human imbecility. Fedora shot at him
a glance of bewiIderment.
ITO think" she said, making a
mental observation, that he could be
SO violent"
There was another pause. She dug
one dainty hand into the soft turf and
looked at him sliyly out of the corner
of her eye. The professor spoke again.
What do you think OF ity' he asked
abruptly. his gaze resting upon her
face with suppressed eagerness.
s1-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 I
do?"
He toyed nervously with a,dead twig
as he spoke and searched her face mar
rowly for encouragement.
Fedora reelected for a moment, then
nodded with decision.
1T depends" she said dryly, fixing
her eyes upon his with serious look.
Yes" The professor turned to her
with quick smile.
Fedora pondered again, then dropped
her eyes half timidly and twisted the
corner of her handkerchief
"on-the other one, you know-the
girl she went on, with soft blush.
The professor gazed at her in silence,
his kind eyes full of perplexity.
Does she=care for you?" asked Fe-
dora in n low voice, looking away.
That's precisely the point" said he,
pushing back his hat. 81 want to find
out"
rs she pretty?'
"BeautifulP' replied the professor,
with enthusiasm. "She has the most
magnificent brown eyes in the world
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 few mo-
ments. After q little she leaned for
ward to pick flower, her heart throb-
bing violently, and the color faded
from her face
The professor drew long breath and
sighed. ''she doesn't give ME any en-
couragement," he yentured, regarding
her with questioning. half wistfuI
Perhaps" said Fedora family, as If
to herself. "she cares for some one
The professor stared at her in CON
olSIuullOll.
81 never-thought-of- that" he said
slowly, dismay stealing into his tones,
as his eyes sought hers with an intense
look as though searching her inmost
soul.
The pause that followed was unbro-
ken for some moments. Finally he
spoke.
Il hope-you have not made mis-
take" he said, rising to CO. ''because
1t meant so much to me-everything."
BE 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 brlght-to his and said slowly,
her voice half tremulous:
Just tell her-in 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. Fe-