The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-05-10
THE
PROFESSORS
SECRET
BY TROY ALLISON
Copyright, 1901, by Troy allison

AHSAO was oOHletHlug Oh tue pfOIeSS-
ors mind Every young woman Ia 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 present inhnitive as past
participle he did not even notice it.
This same shy little Ruth Payne had
assumed the proportions of Il problem
to Professor Claxton. The girl never
gave decent recitation, yet passed her
examinations with the highest marks.
He had tried not to harbor 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
| knew there was package of letters In
his vest pocket, OF course letters are
commonplace in a way aud something
any man might jnnocently possess, but
these We're anonymous. That was
enough to make him turn crimson, but
the knowledge that he had enjoyed
| reading these letters and moreover had
4 1xaf,. all IL i.
given hung over him like a shadow.
He knew there had at various times Iii
the worlds history been other anony.
nous letters Really to receive them
was different matter. Ownership
lends a certain definite interest.
The professor constantly remember
ed the first Of these letters. He had
walked leisurely to the postofTice after
the early supper, unconscious of inn
pending fate. The college town was a
small one, and 1t lent variety to life to
own postotfice box and 60 for ones
mall rather than have 1t 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 it over three
times before his astonished faculties
Were able to grasp the fact that there
was woman, an unknown woman,
| who protested an admiration for him.
He was not quite sure that 1t was ex-
actly respectable to have an unknown
| woman write him letter, and his pc
| DANTE soul knew that IL 1t did not 20
| beyond the bounds Of responsibility ii
| 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 1t would be
interesting to fathom?
She further stated she was at that
time leading SO quiet and restricted a
life that she was at loss Tor some
| real intellectual interest. His mind
Immediately pictured the sister OF the
| president Of the college. who was
| spending quiet winter In the sman
village for the sake of her health. Yet
1t seemed impossible that a woman OF
SO much dignity and reserve could take
such step even for amusement.
After pondering over the matter sew
eral days carefully and methodically,
tated and been lost. He had answered.
that letter. The address given was in
q neighboring city, and he had found
himself going to the postoffice after.
ward under the stimulus of an unusual
excitement. He had really been curt
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 fatter than the western
Roman empire IL the girls In his clast
once got an inkling that he was
factor In an anonymous correspond
ence. Nevertheless he grew more alb
sentminded every day, and every da,
his curiosity increased, this pedant O
thirty-five who had all his life refusa
ia take ap atom Of interest In nm
woman.
So the girls nudged each other AM
gigglcd as much as they deemed 4
permissible for members OF the senio
class to giggle, and little, fair hairet
. Ruth Payne read her Greek, hopelessl,
, involving all parts Of speech.
He was walking on the college cam
pus one afternoon meditatlng witt
/ much satisfaction on the fact that b
had at last gathered courage to be,