The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-15
CONTRARY
TO PRECEDENT

DtoukntoH suVusu nave Deeu Iht, Dhlu
headed. nearsIghted and shabbily dress
Cd; he should have talked In slow
deliberate tone; he should have paid
heavy compliments TO the young won
en-, and at all times and In all places he
should have been absurdly absentmind
Cd.
The men Of science whom Miss Gov
erly had met heretofore ut the Bren.
tons country place had always been
very much Of this description-sta
servants who sat horse with AZ much
grace as they would have ridden a rail,
who infallibly lost themselves when.
ever they went shooting and who spent
much OF their time reading before the
library FIRE tones whose very titles
were depressing In their profundity.
The fact that Stoughton held the
chair Of biology at one of the big west.
ern universities seemed irreconcilable
with bis youthful face and his almost
boyish enthusiasm over the horses and
the shooting
When he was presented to Miss Gov.
erly Just before dinner on the day Of
his arrival, that self possessed young
woman frankly told him that he had
upset oil her preconcelyed ideas Of
him.
Stoushton laughed delightedly.
1--WE fooled the world into thinking
I am biologist, but between you and
me don't mind confessing I'm an
oyergrown boy" he whispered TO her
as she went In to dinner on his arm.
II was a dinner that Stoughton long
remembered-th mellow candlelight,
the gay banter, but most Of all the
quiet, gray eyed girl beside him, whose
few words were always to the point
and whose smile was something q god
from high Olympus might well sue for.
All through the dinner Stoughton,
under the spell Of that smile, was at
his best His timely repartee and his
brilliant flashes OF wit kept the table
In genial uproar, but when the men
were left TO the decanters and the
cigars he fell into brown study, idly
twirling spirit glass between his
thumb and finger and smiling quietly
to himself as he recalled Miss Gov
erly's white throat and the pretty poise
OF her head.
Stoughton managed to be much with
Miss Coverly during his stay at the
Brentons'. They rode together In the
crisp autumn mornings; together they
beat the nelghboring coyerts for grouse
and partridge; they strolled a6eld In
the gorgeous twllights,
Stoughton, who had never before
given the matter much thought, dis
covered he was possessed of heart,
and the alternate flashes of hope and
despair this discovery brought about
gave him ample opportunity for stud.
les In antitheses.
AT the end Of the second week there |
came day OF gray, monotonous rain. |
In the billiard room the men were striv- |
Ing 10 amuse themselves with much |
smoke and nm occasional BIZ OF brilliant |
play The women We're endcavorIng TO
kill time with C'le latest novels and long
neglected correspondence,
Stoushtou sought the library. where
A biz log sputtcred eheerfully Oh the
hearth. He drew Il chair before the
lire and, picking mp book nj random,
began 10 read.
There was Il sound OF light footsteps
1n the polished hoor and a quiet voice
said mockingly;
AT last you yield to precedent. All
-he others read ponderous books be.
Tore the fire"
Stoughton turned Miss Coverly stood
It the other end Of the fireplace regard
ng him gravely.
"The othersy" he said inquirlngly
Is he laid the book down.
"The other men Of science" she ex.
planned.
did they read bound volumes OF
herman funny papers7' he laughed,
Don't tell me" she said In shocked
ones, you are reading the Fllegende
Slatter?"
Caught red handed" he confessed.
You seem to have no respect for
PRECEDENT" she pouted.
"lou told me TIE other gentlemen Of
cience who came were fat and bald
eaded and vague as TO IDEAS Tell me.
ave ! grieved you very much in not
ollowing the precedent in these
hings2"
Not tremendously" she laughed.
Look here" he said suddenly. "Dld
ny of those scientific fossils propose
D your"
Goodness! what an absurd ques.
lonw said she.
did theyf" he twisted.
Certainly not!'
"Well, you see, my-er-chief desire
not to follow their established precc-
ent," he remarked pointedly.
The girl flushed; the professor came
step nearer, The girl retreated; the
rofessor advanced sturdily. In cor
or he caught her and held her fast.
Contrary to precedent" said he
'enly, Il shall ask you to marry me-"