The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-05-16

pose for her hand. His letters were
them without almost reverencing the
writer. She refused to exhibit them,
but few hours later Susie had the
meanness to steal and read every one.
She saw that the professor had neg
lected photography and grammar In his
schooling, and the only beautiful thing
she could discover about the eplstles
was his statement that he sought for
"harte" to beat responsive to his own.
1t was no use to say anything further
to Aunt Milly. She was ''sot" In the
matter and loyal to the absent one. A
week later Professor Holden arrived.
He was g distinguished looking man.
vs. Susie looked him over she believed
.he could distinguish him from most
fakirs by the grease on his hair and the
set Of his ready made coat He was n
fairly agreeable man of big words and
eccentric ways. He hadn't come to
propose secret marriage or al elope-
ment but to boldly declare his love In
the face Of everybody and ask for Aunt
Milly's hand. Aunt Florence was In
clined to be neutral, and Susie had
nothing to say. So It came about that
the lovers pledged themselves. and the
marriage day was set for three months
ahead. Susie's seeming Indifference
was annoying to the happy hearted old
maid, who wanted everybody to rejoice
with her, but the only explanation she
received was:
"I'm doing lot Of thinking just now,
and you wait till get through, and I'll
congratulate you"
Shit had dim remembrance Of hav-
ing seen photograph of the professor
before. She cudgeled her brains for a
week. and she still doubted as she took
the train for New York one morning.
On reaching the city she took cab to
police headquarters, In Mulberry street.
and when finally ushered into the de-
tective department she astonished the
inspector IN charge by asking to look
at the rogues' gallery.
ANY particular picturer he queried.
Yes, sir; want to find the photo
graph Of the man who Is going to
marry my aunt If don't stop him,
though 1t Just occurs to me that you
can't have pictures of professors here"
"Oh, yes, we have, scores of them,''
he replied. "Here's Professor Mar.
shall, who delivered lectures on as
tronomy and robbed postofTices the
same night; here's Professor Massarin.
who made a study Of plant life and
worked the gold brick racket at the
same time; here's Professor Du Bols,
the eminent student of geology, who
went about New Hampshire studying
rocks In the daytime and stealing
horses at night; here also
you needn't go any further" inter
rupted Susie as she turned away. Are
you looking for Professor Du Bois?"
IT'D give $500 to see him on little
matter Of business"
Susie said nothing on her return
home. 1t was only when the newspa-
pers containing an account of the ar
rest Of the professor arrived BY post
that she took Aunt Milly out into the
orchard and handed them to her to
read and asked:
What are you going to do about r.
"Why-why," answered the dazed
woman as she let the papers fall from
her hands and looked about her in a
pitiful way. IL ought to faint away.
oughtn't I7~
"Yes, think that would be the prop
er caper."
Then I willv
And she did, and when she returned
to consciousness her romance was
-oded