The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-09-20
The ThaVing Of The Professor.

| looked SUI younger. he WdS dSlldi
Of his Juvenile appearance. He ftlt
that it consortod poorly with his serl-
Gus calling. To be professor OF Eng
lish literature at an old and well en-
dowcd college at twenty-sevon was a
fact to be proud of, but the professor
| felt that his age was not a thing
| that should be Haunted in the faces
of the Observation-Disclosures in the
| faces of his grave and reverend sen
| iors of the faculty. So he decided to
assume the characteristics Of an age
more in harmony with his official dig
nifty. He affected black garments OF
| severe cat. He wore straight band col
| lars with narrow black ties. He deckcd
| his head with a stiff hat Of unusual
| height Of crown.
| Added to this outward semblance Oh
severity to temperament, the professor
| cultivated an artificial manner of
speech and an angular gait, both tend
| ing to convey the impression that he
was a person OF mature contempt for
the glibness and frisl;iness of youth.
| The professor was a born actor, and
! he somewhat enjoyed this make-be-
| lieve existence. After a while it be-
came second nature and was no longer
a task. There were times, Of course,
when he longed to throw off these arti-
| fetal shackles and be his true self
| again-and this longing was especial
| ly strong when pretty Mabel Benham
| rallied him on his mournful air. Pret-
| ty Mabel never seemed to have the
| proper appreciation of his dignity. She
was in the senior class of the woman
collee annex Of the university, and the
professor boarded with his mother. He
| had come to the city with letters of
| introduction to this estimable LADY,
and she had promptly offered him
| nome.
| 81 wonder" said pretty Mabel to her
| mother after one unusually elevating
course of dinner talk, "hoW long it
| took Prof. Philips to acquire that lab
| ored style of his?'
| ut doesn't seem quite natural said
her mother. But think he enjoys it"
He had been with them nearly four
months, when one afternoon some
body rang the bell. The maids were
busy elsewhere, so Mabel opened the
| door. She found the caller was hand
some young man, very neatly dressed,
| and very correct in department.
II beg your pardon" he said, as he
| 1p,,iy~ 10 hot h1f G
the home of Mr.. Jim Phillips, should
say Prof. James Phillips?"
EYES," replied Mabel, but the pro-
fessor is out just at present. He has
gone to the public library, but will re-
turn soon. Will you come in and wait
for him."
Thank you, WILL" said the
stranger. 81 have come all the way
from Chicago to see Jim, and l can't
| afford to miss him." He followed Mabel
into the parlor and took the seat she
pointed out Jim and are old chums,'
he went ont. I'VE were quite insep-
arabic in college, but during the last
few years have drifted apart. Is he
well and happy?'
"He is well. I'm sure" replied Mabel.
But I'm afraid he doesn't look quite
as happy as he might"
And the wicked girl INDUCED in an
inward giggle.
That's strange said the caller.
whats the trouble? Isn't he giving
satisfaction"
"Oh, yes" replied Mabel: "every-
body says he's rising man. You
know he's one Of the very youngest
professors In the country"
1T can't be financial difficulties"
said the stranger. Perhaps he's in
love?"
"Oh, no." said Mabel; ."he's much
too dignified to think of anything so
trifling."
"Jim Phillips dignifed!" cried the
stranger. Pardon me, but that's too
| good" And he laughed merrily.
Pray excuse me-" said Mabel, as
| she backed toward the door. The
| stranger Strengthened his face and
arose as she left the apartment. But
as she passed down the hall she heard
him softly. laughing again.
Mother" said Mabel as soon as she
reached her parent, there's an ele-
CANT young man in the parlor and he's
come all the way from Chicago, and
he knows everything about the profess
sor, and calls him Jim, and laughs at
his being dignified, and we must ask
him to stay to dinner"
But, really, DEAR" said the moth
er, "the professor might not like it. !"
"I'll take the chances" cried Mabel.
Don't you see? This is an opportunity
for lifting the veil Of the professors
past And she darted back to the
| parlor.
eff you have no other engagement"
she said in her prettiest manner, my
mother would be pleased to have you
remain to dinner"
My only engagement is to meet my
| old friend sail the stranger. Pray
thank your mother, and tell her l ac-
| cept her invitation with much pleas
| ura."
| Just then latchkey ratified in the
I - L. y