The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-12-14
The eComing Of
the Professor
BY w. r. Rose.

the roads were free from dust. The
young woman in the shining trap with
its handsome chestnut horse had greatly
enjoyed her five mile drive from the dis
tant blue hills to the wayside railway
station. She was handsome girl of
erect carriage and faultless coat and hat,
and the station master touched his own
nat as an unaccustomed tribute TO this
perfect visitor.
The girl leaned forward and called to
him. "Mr. Watkins, is the 2:30 as late
as usual today"
Been here and gone, miss" the man
replied. You can see her smoke above
the trees there across the mcdder. Ac-
TALLY on time today" he chucklcd.
The girl looked yeXod.
That's very provoking!" she cried.
II came to meet a stranger, an elderly
gentleman. Did you see him?'
The station master shook his head.
NO such person got off here" he
drawicd. The only passenger But
Helen Nane with hurried THANK YOU
and a light crack of the whip was driv-
ing up tho road on the way home.
She had come to the station to meet
Professor Gray. She had never seen this
eminent scholar. and She was quite sure
she never desired to see him. Her fa-
ther had written to her to meet the
elusive educator, and her fathers wishes
were law. lie had run across the pro
fessor several times at social gatherings
and seemed to be charmed with him. He
certainly must have been charmed with
him or he never would have invited him
to pass Il September week at Eagles
Nest, the Nanes' summer home.
Helen had pictured to herself the man
likely to captivate her father. Some
staid and venerable individual, of course,
with a brain crammed with intellectual
sawdust and a range of conversation that
covered the whole scientific gamut from
cuneiform inscriptions to troglodytes and
microbes. Nice sort of man to have
around for whole week-and papa away
too. OF course this professor was Il
bright man in his own stubbly field and
had delivered some astonishingly well
prepared lectures. Her papa had said
so, and papa was a good judge of all that
sort of thing. But he very evidently was
not n good judge of an all round agrcea-
BILE guest.
Luckily the professor hadn't come
Helen couldn't be blamed for that. She
had met, or at least tried to meet the
train her father said he would take, and
he hadn't come. Her conscience was
easy.
And then Rupert suddenly pricbed up
his ears. Helen Vane looked ahead and
saw the cause. 1t was man. Evident
ly a young man, for he walked with a
long, firm stride, and his shoulders were
broad and square. A satchel held by a
strap was slung across one of these broad
shoulders. He wore blue flannel suit
and light soft hat. Evidently a sum-
mer tourist idly rambling about the hills.
AS Helen neared him he looked around
and raised his hat. He was bright
faced fellow, with dark hair, and Helen
fancied he must be still on the sunny
side of 80. She stiffiy nodded and drove
on. But when she had gone few hun
dred feet she drew in Rupert and waited
81 beg your pardon" she said, with her
grand air; did you arrive at the station
by the 2:30 accommodations
lie stood beside the trap with his hat
off. He certainly looked very well with
out it.
Il did," he answered.
And was one of your fellow passen-
gers an elderly gentleman-an elderly
gentleman who looked as if he might be
"a scholar?"
"An elderly gentleman" repeated the
stranger.
"Hes. | was on my way to meet him,
but the train, which is usually late, ar
rived just before | did. He is Professor
Gray, friend of my father. Perhaps
you have heard of him."
The name has a slightly familiar
sound" the stranger said. Let me see.
Isn't he tall and very spare?"
yves" said Helen.
"And quite gray and wrinkled and
wears large shiny glasses-and stoops a
good deal and seems creaky about the
jointsy"
81 have never met him." said Helen, a
little taken aback by the extreme ac-
curacy of the portrait, but | think he
answers your description very closely.
And you saw himY
The stranger shook his head.
NO" he said in a tone of deep re-
gret. Il am quite sure there was no
such person on the train"
Helen Vane slightly frowned
THANK you very much," she said
stiffly as she gathered up the reins.
ut is very kind of you to show so
much solicitude" said the strange.
thoughtfully. 1T would be very un-
pleasant to have so old a gentleman go
astray and lose himself among these
hills. He might not be found for days"
Helen touched her whip to Rupert,
and he bounded away. But when they
came to the long hill she let the glossy
chestnut have his head and presently
the stranger with his long light stride
overlook her again. He bowed and smi1.
ed and strobe on. When the top of the
hill was reached, he was standing by
the roadside and looking down into the
valley. He did not turn as she neared
him, but he spoke.
"Oh. OH" he cried as il to himself,
what a beautiful view! The pine trees
marching down the hills, the tinted
square of meadow land below, the thread
Of sparkling silver between! How love
lyw
"You seem to enjoy scenery" said
Helen. with faint smile, his exuberance
was so boyish.
1T fills me with such delight that |
want to dance" he answered. you sec
haven't had much chance to crafty my
self, along this line for several years, and
it's like an intoxicant to me-"