The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-24
PROFESSOR And BUTTERFLY
For the Sunday EAGLE:


the hop at the big hotel on the night of
! his arrival. He was standing near the
Nusicians' corner watching the dancers
fnd then the first violinist who made
dreadful faces as he played. The pr7a IS
!. SCR outwardly looked distinguished and
in wardly felt bored; at least he said to
himself he was bored though down below
: it all was a feeling of questioning as to
whether knowledge of the theory of
equations made up for a total inability
to dance the two step. The days when he
should have learned it had been spent
In struggle to stand at the head of his
class in college, while persuing the avoca-
lions of carrying papers and keeping
books for down town merchant. Then
later on. when his financial position was
on a frmer footing, he had sought the
society of the goddesses of the cube and
square rather than that of those more
variable ones-women.
At thirty-eight, therefore, the profess
SCR had gained fame and standing, to-
: gether with the culture that travel and
good associations give, but as he told the
butterfly later, his social training had
been neglected.
He first noticed the butterfly when her
partner his cousin, gave him a friendly
nod as they passed him and as they
came around again, the girl gave him a
quick glance as though interested
Through some remark Of her partner. He
noticed her white dress, dark eyes and
wavy hair and unconsciously followed
her graceful figure until at the turn of
the hall-when the music stopped and
III an instant his cousin was by his side
Jim afraid you're bored. I want to
Introduce you to Miss Gretney, the girl
q was dancing with just now. She was
INTERESTED in what 1 told her about you,
but you won't want to talk to her long
she is a regular butterfly"
Soon the professor was looking down
into the dark eyes and saying, I'm sorry
1 can't ask you to dance"
so am l, but if you will ask me to
have some frappe-'
Yes, I can drink frappe. May have
the honor?"
long that the waltz was well under way,
so they sat it out.
THE Blue Danube will never be worn
out said the butterfly, land yet it is
old. I have an aunt who tells how a
man proposed to her when they were
dancing that-he wasn't a good dancer |
and he tore her gown, SO when she got |
home and found how bad it was ripped, |
she sent him an unqualified refusal
THE Blue Danube makes me thing of |
moonlight voyage on the Rhine" said |
the professor rather slowly. He didn't |
know what to respond to the butterfys |
anecdote. But she was equal to the oc-
casion and answered quickly, you were
fortunate in seeing those castles by /
moonlight. We went down the Rhine in
the day time-and isn't it dreadful |
was SO interested in watching a crowd
of the cook tourists that 1 didn't see
half the castles. There was one man
with them who kept saying, I was born
at Bingen. At Bingen on the Rhine. l
felt like telling him to try Put me off at
Buffalo. o well, I can read about the
castles, if I ever need to know about
them. There's Mr.. Greene coming for
his waltz. Are you going to be here
sorsle time?'
Yes. several weeks" answered the
professor. Il hope 1 shall see you again"
20 you will" she answered, I'm al
ways around where there's anything
is1ing, and the butterfly doated off with
ldr. Greene.
| The professors cousin rejoined him and
khey walked away to have game OF
billiards before retiring for the night
Il wanted you to meet Miss Downes to-
night" said his cousin. she is awfully
brainy, writes, l believe, but is good to
talk to. How did you and Miss Gretney
get on?''
VERY well
''she is a cute little girl All the mon
here like her Did she tell you about
some of her adventures. She always has
q store of anecdotes on hand You shall
see Miss DoWncs tomorrow"
1t WAS the following morning. The
professor sat on the shady side of the
boat house drawing idly in the sand
with the point of his umbrella and wait
ing for his cousin who had stepped down
10 the beach to talk To some bathers.
Good morning. said a clear voice.
and the professor. looking up, saw the
butterfly in jaunty white duck suit
Are you working out a theorem,' she
went on after his deliberate greeting as
he rose and stood beside her. 1 never
knew but one theorem real we'll
what was that?' asked the professor
With interest.
The square of a mans affection for a
girl. varies inversely as the distance ,
between them"
Can you prove the converse?" asked \
he professor quickly. He could Joke on
his ground. readily
The butterfly wrinkled her brows. The
l can conyerse-it's my :
ong suit" she answered.
Il mean the opposite of n proposition"
the professor. Are woman's
Injections more durablc?"
Il can answer that but not by geome-
ry," said the girl" Some poet said !;
Absence makes the heart grow fonder- :
# the other fellow
'What-are You people discussing" said +,
he professors cousin coming up "You =
emember, Miss Gretney. sou promised +
. come out in my boat-now is a good :,
Inc Miss Downes is waiting and we ,,
our can have a good sailsV
Then the professor surprised his cousin.
he butterfly and most of all. himself. by
aging. Another time George. Miss i
iretney has already promised to 90 row. Il
ng with me-" a.
'Thank You! thank you,' said the s.
utterly forvently. "a minute later Miss d
)ownes srares me 81; she is 80 intcUcc- ie
ual- hate that kind of people-women it
mean she added blushing. n
Then You are NOT angry ut me-" he =
aid anNiously. 4 really don't know
Thac made me do it %
1T was an inspiration" and the brown
yes looked fun into his n moment.
Thus the rrofrSSts,, % ea..,,,,,4 ,;,,,- ga,