The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1906-10-11

rave up his somewhat seedy coats and
queer, loose collars, and box present
" arrived from New York bearing the
hall mark Of fashionable tailor. And
Marta felt that crisis had been reach
ed when the loss Of some of the finest
speciments of fora in Trayers' collec-
ton only moved him to a temporary
regret. He no longer spent his days
porting over books. Instead, he studied
the moods of Miss Betty Gainsboro,
and came to the conclusion that there
was nothing on earth more incompre-
hensible than woman Once, when
the canoe had nearly overturned, she
had shown herself valiant in the face
of danger, yet the sight of tiny garter
snake made her seek refuge on the
nearest fence, where she perched in a
panic till Travers had killed it.
One evening when Travers was re-
turning from lecture he had given at
the summer school of an adjoining
town he noted tall young fellow,
fair haired and broad OF shoulder, get
OF at the Hampstead station and strike
along the village road like one accus-
toned to the place. The professor fol-
lowed little in the rear At the
Gainsboro gaH the young fellow turn
ed, and Betty, who was lingering on
the lawn, few to meet him with out
stretched hands -.
"Oh, Dickr' she cried, an unmistak-
able thrill Of surprise and Joy in her
voice. OF the rest Travers saw and
heard nothing. He stepped back quick
" into the shadows. What right had
he to be witness of a lovers meet
ing?
You must have had tiresome day."
said Marta solicitously, 'for you're as
white as sheet"
I'm an old fool" groaned Travers
to himself, "an old fool! How could
ever have supposed that she could care
for me? Why, I'm nothing but book
worm-all my life has been spent in
mnsty volumes and class rooms, and
now He looked toward the Gains
boro house, where the glimmer of Gig
arctic shone like freely through the
darkness and the cheerful tunk-a- funk
of a banjo came on the night air.
"Love," said the professor slowly, was
not, intended for me-"
Thereafter, to Marta's satisfaction,
he stayed indoors, forsaking his canoe
and applying himself listlessly to his
books. But Marta was quick to read
the signs and soon realized that all was
not well with the young professor.
That he should fall In love had been
trouble enough, but to be refused by
chit OF a girl with no more brains than
a butterfly, that was not to be borne,
and Marta ssanger rose the longer she
thought OF 1t. But when, after artfully
questioning the professor, she found
that he had not asked Miss Betty
Gainsboro to marry him, then there
ragged in Marta's heart battle between
the desire for her own supremacy and
the desire for Travers' happiness. The
latter conquered
81 see," she remarked to Travers as
she entered his study bright and early,
dnster In hand, Il see that Miss Gains
horo's cousin, who's been visiting there,
has gone. He's going to marry girl
otit west and Miss Gainsboro's to be
Bridesmaid. Just read it in the paper
this morning. I'm sorry to, disturb you,
professor, but you know this is clean
Ing day. l won't be long. Suppose you
80 out In the orchard and wait till I'm
through?' Marta had seen the flicker
Of a white dress between the trees.
Trayers, absentmindedly clutching a
paper knife, went out into the orchard
in happy daze and came face to face
with, Betty Gainsboro.
8 Looking for specimensY'l she. de-
manded, catch. Of laughter In her
tone.
:. NO." said sEravers, s.for I've POUNDS
perfect one at last, rose of all the
roses that L mean to cherish forever; IL
you will let me, Betty"
IF you don't mind the thorns," she
whispered.
And Marta, watching them from the
study window, snrreptitiously wiped
her eyes. II do believe I'm glad of It
after ALL" she said huskily, though
know he'll never get his meals ON
time"
SHOW Shall Ye Escapepe