The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-04
One PLUS ONE EQUALS WHAT?
By FRANK CHISWICK

Gil. Half dozen teachers remained, and
Professor Storm was stepping down from the
platform. He reached her side.
What is the trouble? Are you ill.,"
He glanced curiously from the clean page
OF her book to her flushed face. For few
seconds speech was denied her. Then she
replied calmly, almost coldly:
Il fear my mind wandered, missed tho
explanation entirely
You have forty minutes before train time.
Come up to my desk and l will go over It
with you.'' &.a
Mechanically she followed his work, won-
dering il the ordeal would ever end. But her
voice did not culver as she rose.
THANK you. 1t is quite simple now-as
simple as one plus one equalng two"
She told the fib unfinchingly, but her eyes
did not meet his. The other teachers had
gathered In remote corner to discuss the
absorbing question to whether hats should
be worn at the reception to be given that
night by the local womans club. Storm laid
cool, shapely hand over her feverish one
II wish,'' he said, softly, that you would
let me teach you that plus one equals
Just one. May I-Alice?'
1t had not been her mistake, after all.
| He had meant
Girls, are you ever coming?"
| 1t was Miss Lingards voice, just outside
| the door. Then Alice remembered and drew
away her hand.
Really, Professor Storm, If you advance
| such propositions as that shall lose faith
In your knowledge of Mathematics.
And with a metallic laugh she hurried
toward the cloakroom. Storm looked after
her with eyes first puzzled, then hurt He
! had never pictured her willful f1irt. And
she had led him on. Yes, she had! He re-
! peated the words again and again as II to
| smooth his ruffled feelings.
The next morning Miss Waters was wait
ing on the depot platform for her friend.
"Oh, Alice, you ought to have been at the
reception last night she commented as
| they walked toward the high school, where
the institute was held. ''Such larks! That
little braggart, Hattie Lingard, was the
| laughing stock. It seems she wants to mar
ry Fred Baker, whose father owns nearly all
the stock in the Tucson bank. She hoped
| to rouse his jealousy by flirting with Pro-
| fessor Storm. That Is why she started the
story that he had proposed to her, and they
say she even asked him to take her to the
concert. We'll, she did succeed admirably in
| rousing Freds jealousy, and he positively re-
fused to take her to the reception last night,
and she had such a dream Of a dress, too.
She had to go with a couple of girls. I'M
agtne Hattie Lingard doomed to the society
of girls on long walk home under the trees!
Not even Professor Storm appeared on the
scene to console her. I believe he saw
through her trick because he was SO cool
to her last night at supper. We sit at the
same table. 1 don't believe he ever had any
idea of proposing to her.
Miss Waters ratified on OF the evening 8
pleasures, but Alice heard nothing. She
, could only think that perhaps the idle boast
,, of a pretty, vapid girl had come between her
and lifelong happiness. A mad longing to
shrek in her misery, to strike the girl who
caused it all, suddenly possessed her, and she
walked like one in dream to the institute
,, doors.
The period just before the noon recess was
, given over to mathematics. Professor Strong
was quiet collected, authoritative as ever
! during the lecture hour, at the close OF
. which the teachers, rejoicing in their free
dom, hurried toward the various exits. Alice
was almost at the foot Of the line. Miss
Waters called from the doorway:
alice dear, will you please bring my al
= zebra? I left it my desk"
With downcast eyes Alice reached for tho
, forgotten book. 1t lay on desk just IN front
+ | of Professor Storm. A faint flush tinged her
cheek, and her hand trembled.- - s.ll
II He stepped to her side, and the chattering
voices of the outgoing teachers almost
2 drowned his words.
IT hope you are feeling better to-day. No
headache?"
For an instant Alice hesitated, then raised
e her eyes to his, and courage to make right
the wrong came to her.
1 II have been solving little problem in
! mental arithmetic, and with the solution
b comes relief"
v "Yes?" he said eagerly. why didn't you
. let me help your"
] The room was empty now. She leaned for
ward just trife; her glance met his,
wavered and fell.
0 1T was so simple-iust that one plus one
equals"
0 "One!" he exclaimed triumphantiy. II felt
r sure you would find that answer II I were
patient"