Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-06-23
THE
PROFESSORS
SECRET
~ TROY ALLISoE
coDyfoht 1871. b. TJoy tufson
~ TROY ALLTSoR


4" W." "W.NAHNHNn -" "HE 49,
'or's mlnS. Every young woman IN the
senior Greek class realized a. He bad
shown symptoms Of Il FOR three weeks.
but this morning Il hsd assiimcd the
FORM OF nm unicnldblc fact. When tho
shy girl Of the class Rot rHtted and
construed a present inIlniti,e as a past
participic be dad not even notice It.
This same SHY little Ruth Payne bad
assumed the proportions Of a problem
TO Professor CisXtOn. The girl never
gave a decent recitation. yet passed her
examinations with Tie highest marks.
He had tried not to hnrbOr n suspicion
that she resOrted to unfair means on
examinations. but he could think Of
nothing else that would solve the mys-
terry.
The professors mind. however. was
agitated By a more complicated prob
lem than Ruth rayue's poor Rotations
In Greek. He had a guilty conscience.
lie felt that each and every pair Of
feminine eyes before him were search
lights turned upon his secret. He was
convinced that each young woman
knew there wac n package of letters In
his vest pocket. or course letters are
commonplace in a way and something
any man might lnnocently possess, but
these were anonymous. That was
enough TO make him turn crimson. but
the knowledge that lac had enjoyed
reading these letters and moreover had
actually mailed answers to the address
given hung over him like IA shadow.
He knew there had at various times in
the worlds history been other anOny-
nous letters. Really TO receive them
was n different matter. Ownership
lends n certain definite interest.
The professor constantly remember
ed the first Of these letters. He had
walked lelsurely to the postoflce after
the early supper. unconscious Of i'm
pending fate. The college town was a
small one, and it lent variety to life TO
W a postonce box and 60 for ones
mail rather than have it sent by the
college carrier.
On that memorable night he had tax
en- his letters and looked them over
listlessly until he came to the one that
was the proverbial bombshell In his
experience. He read II over three
times before his astonished faculties
were able to grasp the fact that there
was n woman, an unknown woman
who professed IN admiration for him
He was NOT quite sure that it was ex
actly respectable to have an unknown
woman write him a letter, md his pc
dantic soul knew that II 1t did not g
beyond tie bounds OF responsibility
at least must be called an impropri
ETY.. The first letter troubled his peac,
of mind for days. 1t was witty ant
bright and contained Just that delicate
soupcon OF fattery that charms tn,
man who believes he abominatcs 1at
terry.
Had not she lnslnuated that she ha(
met him occasionally and had beer
struck with the idea that he possessed
a depth OF understanding It would be
interesting TO fathom?
She further stated she was at that
time leading so quiet and restricted q
life that she was at a loss for some
real intellectual interest. His mind
Immediately pictured the sister Of the
president of the college, who was
spending a quiet winter in the small
village for the sake of her health. Yet
1t seemed impossible that q oma OF
SO much dignity and reserve could take
such a step even for amusement.
After pondering oyer the matter sew.
erRl days carefully and methodically
according to his custom. he had hest
tated and been lost. He had answered
that letter. The address given was IL
a nelghboring city, and he had found
himself going TO the postofice after
ward under the stimulus OF an unusua.
excitement. He had really been curl
Gus to see the second one
He had a haZy recollection OF al
adaRe that the second step in wrong
doing had won now as being less
difficult than the first. He felt posi-
tive symptoms OF pleasure In answer
ing the second letter.
He knew that the dignity OF his posi-
tIon would fall datter than the western
Roman empire IL the girls In his class
ouCt hOA an AAAAAAk INIT nN was a
factor In an anonymous correspond
ence. Nevertheless he grew more alb
sentmlnded every day. aud every day
his curiosity increased. this pedant Of
thlrty-hve who had all his life refused
ia take an atom Of interest in any
woman.
so the girls nudged each other anC
giggled as much as they deemed 4
permissible for members Of the senlol
class 10 giggle, and little. fair haired
Ruth Payne read her Greek. hopelessly
Involving all parts OF speech.
He was walking on the college cam.
Dus one afternoon meditating with
much satisfaction on the fact that hC
had at last gathered courage 70 beg
bis anonymous friend to disclose her
Identity and let him call the next time
he went 20 the city. Tie professor was
a shy man and had found Il required
all the nerve he possessed TO make this
request. He was thinking II could not
be many days before he received an an.
swer when he noticed Ruth Payne
walking In front OF him. porting over
a book In the manner OF a schoolgirl
who goes up for examination the mex