The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1903-03-11
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, ONE PlUS ONE |
, EOUALS-WH ?;
BY FRANK CHlSWIck
BY FRANK CHiSWick
Copyright, 1902, by the

or Storm proposed to me last night.
SO silly! Why, never met him until
the institute opened. We were coming
home from the concert, and he
Miss Lingards laughing accents
reached the door of the cloakroom just
as Miss Waters and Miss Burrows
went out.
silly She is the silly one! The
most conceited girl | ever knew ex-
claimed Nellie Waters, swapping rub
Der band about her notebook.
Alice Burrows stopped for an imag-
mary travelling In her skirt binding, and
her friend did not see her quiyering
lips. When she stood erect once more,
they were joined by other teachers
and passed dOyn the corridor.
The first hour was given over TO
lecture ON chalk work in geography
but Alice was deaf 10 pedagogic sug-
gestions, blind TO the vivid drawings
Of the faddist who held forth before
the teachers of Tucson county, assem-
5led for the annual institute. Above
the voice OF the speaker rang insiStent-
~ the words Of Hattie Lingard-"Pro-
fessor Storm proposed 10 me last
night"
Well. why shouldn't he? thought
Alice despairlnsly. Miss LingSrd WAS
noted beyond the confines Of the eoun,
" as a beauty and eoqueSte. JUST the
sort OF young woman who would at
tract n studlous, earnest man Ike Mr.
Storm. Yes. why shouldn't hez WHIST
did he owe quiet. gentle Alice Bur
rows? He had spoken no word OF love
TO her, and yet Her cheeks flushed
crimson, and she bent her face closer
TO the notebook, whose pages were still
unwritten Ii had all been mistake.
She had misinterpreted the actions OF
this grave young professor who for
two years had conducted the classes in
mathematics at the institute. Perhaps
it had even been unmaidenly for her
to read the clear depths of his hazel
eyes.
The morning dragged YEARLY. AT
noon her appetite failed. BY the open
ing of the afternoon session madden
ing headache possessed her. During
the last period of the day her section
must report to Professor Storm. She
would have excused herself and gone
home only that every one knew she
must only sit In the depot during the
hot August afternoon. Mervale. her
home, was but a thirty minute ride
from the county seat. and to please
her invalid mother Alice made the trip
each day, thus deprivlng herself of the
small social functions arranged Tor the
evenings in honor of the visiting teach
ers, n humorous lecture, several recep-
tons and the concert.
Professor Storm had asked her to at
tend the concert with him, but she had
been forced to decline Now she
thought with increasing bitterness,
that he had quickly consoled himself
in her absence. Perhaps If, like the
other teachers, she had boarded In
town
"If any of you failed to grasp the
method used in that last problem, l
will be glad to remain short time ana
go over 1t again"
What problem? Alice pressed her
hand to her forehead and glanced hur-
riedly at her notebook. Blindly she
clutched at her pencil. Half dozen
teachers remained, and Professor
Storm was stepping down from the
platform. He reached her side.
what Is the trouble? Are you HIP
He glanced curiously from the clean
| page of her book to her flushed face.
For n few seconds speech was denied
her. Then she replied calmly, almost
coldly:
II fear my mind wandered. missed
the explanation entirely"
Storm looked at the clock.
you have forty minutes before train
time. Come up to my desk and Will
so over 1t with you"
Mechanically she followed his work,
wondering II 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 equaling
two"
She told the fib unflinchlngly, but
her eyes did not meet his. The other
teachers had gathered In Il remote cor
ner to discuss the absorbing question
as to whether hats should be worn at
the reception to be given that night
by the local woman's club. Storm laid
a cool, shapely hand over her feverish
one.
II WISH" he said softly. that you
would let me teach you that one plus
one equals-just one. May I-AliceY
1t had not been her mistake, after
all. lie had meant
Girls. are you ever comlngY
1t was Miss Lingard's voice, just
outside the door. Then Alice remem-
bered and drew away her hand.
Really, Professor Storm, II you ad-
vance such propositions as that |
shall lose faith In your knowledge OF
mathematics"
And with n metallic laugh she hur-
rled toward the cloakroom. Storm
looked after her with eyes first puz-
zled. then hurt. He had never pie
turcd her as wlllful flrt And she
had led him on. Yes, she had, He re-
peated the words again and again as
II to smooth his ruffied feelings.
The next morning Miss Waters was
waiting on the depot platform for her
friend.
"Oh, Alice. you ought to have been
at the reception last night" she com
mentcd as they walked toward the
high school. where the institute was
held. such larksl That little brag-
CART, Hattie Llngard, was the laugh
ing stock. Ii 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 Professor 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 tho con
cert. Well. she did succeed admirably
In rousing Freds jealousy. and he
positively refused 10 take her TO the
reception last night. and she had such
dream OF dress too. She had TO go
with couple OF girls Imagine Hattie