The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-06
THE
PROFESSORS
SECRET
By TROY ALLISON
Copyright, 1901, by Troy Allison

OF 3 uluu. Every young woman IN the
senior Greek class realized it. He had
shown symptoms Of it for three weeks,
but this morning it had assumed the
form Of an undeniable fact When the
shy girl Of the class got ratified and
construed a present infnitive as past
participle he did not even notice 1t.
This same shy little Ruth Payne had
assumed the proportions Of a problem
to Professor Claxton. The girl never
gave decent recitation, yet passed her
examinations with the highest marks
He had tried not to harbor q 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 more complicated prob
lem than Ruth Payne's poor Rotations
In Greek. He had guilty conscience
He 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
hACW tACAC Woo q RoChuSC VI lCIkCKS Ill
his vest pocket. OF course letters are
commonplace in way and something
any man might innocently possess, but
these were anonymous. That was
enough to make him turn crimson, but
the knowledge that he had enjoyed
actually mailed answers to the address
given hung over him like shadow.
He knew there had at various times in
the worlds history been other anony-
nous letters. Really to receive them
was a different matter. Ownership
lends a certain definite interest.
The professor constantly remember
ed the first Of these letters. He had
walked leisurely to the postoffice after
the early supper, unconscious Of I'M
pending fate. The college town was
small one, and it lent variety to life to
own postoff1ce box and go 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 ono that
was the proverbial bombshell in his
experience. He read it over three
times before his astonished faculties
were able to grasp the fact that there
was a woman, an unknown woman,
who professed an admiration for him.
He was not quite sure that it was ex-
actly respectable to have an unknown
woman write him letter, and his Pc
dantic soul knew that if it did not go
beyond the bounds Of responsibility it
at least must be called an imprOpri-
ETY.. The first letter troubled his peace
Of mind for days. 1t was witty and
bright and contained just that delicate
soupcon Of fattery that charms the
man who believes he abominates fat
terry.
Had not she insinuated that she had
met him occasionally and had been
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
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
it seemed impossible that woman OF
so much dignity and reserve could take
such a step even for amusement.
After bordering over the matter sew
eral days carefully and methodically,
according to his custom, he had hest
tated and been lost. He had answered
that letter. The address given was i'll
a neighboring city, and he had found
himself going to the postoffice after
ward under the stimulus of an unusual
excitement. He had really been curl
Gus to see the second one.
He had a hazy recollection of an
adage that the second step in wrong
doing had won renOwn 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-
ton would fall flatter than the western
Roman empire if the girls in his class
once got an inkling that he was
factor in an anonymous correspond
ence. Nevertheless he grew more alb
sentminded every day, and every day
his curiosity increased, this pedant OF
thirty-fve who had all his life refused
ia take an atom of interest in any
woman
So the girls nudged each other and
giggled as much as they deemed 1t
permissible for members Of the senior
class to giggle, and little, fair haired
Ruth Payne read her Greek, hopelessly
involving all parts Of speech.
He was walking on the college cam
pus one afternoon meditating with
much satisfaction on the fact that ne
had at last gathered courage to beg
his anonymous friend to disclose her
identity and let him call the next time
he went to the city. The professor was
a shy man and had found it required
all the nerve he possessed to make this
request. He was thinking it could not
be many days before he received an an
swer when be noticed Ruth Payne