Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-21
The Professors
 Slow Wit,
By HATTIE PRESTON RIDER
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 Copyright, 1ooa, by Daily stery Pub co.,


 EFT me remind you, Anne, sad
 Aunt Adelaide, sharply, that naturally the professor and Della have no desire for your company when they wish to be alone
 Thes axiom being sound. Anne's ready blush and questioning glance seemed uncalled for
 T hadn't meant to be forward, aunt
 The elder lady frowned.
 Have I said you were?" she re- sponded, tartly. as she tied her bonnet strings. But the professor is-ahem- eccentric, and he needs all the oppor- tunity Della is likely to give him. :
 A laugh spanked into Anne's blue eyes, but it stopped there, for the door opened abruptly to admit Della herself. The young lady dropped frowning into the Morris chair.
 'tYou might have waited" she whined Bring the blue suit, Anne. worst! He talked every minute of the fauna of his idiotic Germany. Why on earth didn't he stay with them?. It was hateful of you, mamma, to drag me down here to be bored to death!'
 Inasmucn as Della had given the household no peace for months. till this momentous visit was paid, tho ac- cusation was at least irrelevant. But Delia's moods had swayed the family so long they did not even causa re- mark.
 Anne, her eyes still shining, brought the gown, and knelt to lase the trim boots.
 "NThe professor will get impatient, waiting" fretted her aunt
 Della laughed derisively
 Not he!n she scoffed He is tod slow-witted for that even
 Anne checked an impuls1ve ratort Surely, the handsome Germans great mind, like his splendid physique, was above such weak shafts! So, sedately, in her gorgeous cousins shadow, she went down the broad stairs to the hall where their host waited.
 The professor was q relative by mar riage only, and a widower of some six years standing. It was Delia's open secret that, other matrimonial chances failing, she would reward what she chose to consider his long devotion to herself. The others had failed; now, what more fitting than that she take the one step of maidenly encourage ment that divided them2 But the third week of their visit was passing, and the professors blind eyes con tfnued to miss Heaven-sent chances for declaring himself. Truly, there was excuse for Delia's private ill-tem- per and her mothers nervous irrita- bility
 Anne followed demurely by her aunt's side, as they went down the avenue The absurdity of 1t all was still bringing out her dimples; for Anne was young, and husband-huHting only a jest to her. She did not once open her lips till the quartette stopped before the huge plate-glass of & down town store. Della insisted on going inside.
 'sI'll wait here, aunty," Anne sald
 She drew a sigh of relief as her com panions disappeared No one dreamed what gall there was to Anne's chalns as dependent and virtual lady's maid in a family of genteel poverty.
 A hand-organ was playing at the corner, and she sauntered toward it, telling herself that Della would take ample time for her shopping. Some thing sweet within her seemed swell ing to burst it's bonds, to cry out it's fellowship to the hurrying, in- personal throng that surged past her What a delicious world, if only one might get chance to taste the real in stead of the artificial!
 Presently the player struck into a new tune "The professors national air!" She followed it softly, telling herself she had no right, though; and meanwhile remembering, reckless of the deepening pink in her cheeks, how dearly he loved his birthiand.
 "Lieb Vaterland, magst ruhig sein,'' she hummed, thinking what an effect i've defense, indeed, his broad shoul- ders might prove, either to country or woman; when, deep and soft, bass voice behind her took up the refrain: