The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-06
1T was an awful snaker Ruth gasp

1T was an awful snakev' Ruth gasp
cd when she opened her eyes.
After the girls had taken her to the
house he picked up the Greek Syntax
the had dropped in her fright
A sealed letter. ready for mailing.
dropped out. The address was plainly
Professor r. G. Claxton," and the
writing was in the familiar hand of
the anonymous lady
He sat down Imply on the nearest
iron bench. There seemed something
awry with the universe. Was Il Dos
sible that this pretty child had written
such letters-a little blond girl who
blushed furiously and stammered ev-
cry time she was spoken to In class!
He opened the letter eagerly. Its
superscription gave him that privilege.
he noticed, too, that the girls name
written on the fly leaf Of the Greek
Syntax was Identical with the writing
on the envelope. He read on to learn
that he could call on her at the end Of
the college year when he passed
through the city on his way home-if
he still cared to meet her.
The professor went to his room, his
thoughts In chaotic condition.
That night he followed her to the
corner Of the veranda, where she sat
gazing abstractedly on the moonlit
lawn.
$50 have met YOU" he said quietly.
He sat down beside her and looked at
her intently. "And-so-you-are
-woman?" he added slowly.
She gave a frightened gasp and look
ed at him with terror and shame In
her eyes.
1T was-awful Of me, know. 1t was
dreadful thing for me to do" She
turned away from him, and he could
see she was trembling with nervous
ness.
1T has given me more pleasure than
anything that ever happened in my
whole life" he said simply.
She gave him one quick glance ana
hurried into self justification.
81 have always been timid," she said
in an intense whisper, land was so
mortified when 1 would get nervous
and fail In my Rotations. The minute
you asked me question every thought
seemed to leave my mind. l got more
embarrassed each day. l got desperate.
I determined you should know l was
capable Of having a thought. That
wild scheme Of writing you anony-
nous letters came, and-I wrote them.
I'm -very-sorry." And the professor
heard the sob In her voice.
He answered earnestly: I'm glad-I
shall be eternally glad-if you tell me I
need never give up those letters. They
have become part Of my life"
The girls eyes grew wide with emo
ton. He gazed at her wOnderingly, try
ing to understand how he had failed to
recognize her before Now she seemed
some one that had been in his life for
ever. He had been lonely, and he re-
membered that she herself was an Or
phan, that after the close Of the term
she would take up the burden of teach
ing.
"I-you mean that you want me to
keep on writing to you" she asked
shyly.
II mean that l want to teach you
how to talk to me-" he said, smiling. II
want to keep with me forever the wom-
anly companiOnship Of my letters"
She gasped in establishment.
But thought you believed me stu
pid. l couldn't recite my Greek to you
decently to save my life"
The professor looked into her star
tied eyes and laid his hand on hers.
81 don't care if you couldn't tell
Greek from Chinese" he said sOlemnly,
deriding the hobby Of years.
But don't you think me frivolous,
doll baby kind Of girl?" she question
ed timidly.
He leaned over and touched her fair
hair with all the reverence Of a child
who has never before owned golden
haired doll.
Il think you are the sweetest thing
on Gods EARTH" he said, pressing his
lips to her hand.