Middletown transcript., 1906-12-22
aIl on BE middIe q De t2ble

:
Oh ! she cried You have
ne might ask some growl=ups !
instead he proposed but she
shook her head.
Let me have the children, please
Do you Ike children ?
don't see children very often,
lie confessed
Then / may have my parry
Certainly. if you really wish It.
shall enjoy it above every.
thing SHE held out her hand
4 npnlsively Do lct me say one.
thing. If ] had been a child, I
should haze liked to be your
little girl.
He took her hand and held it
light. II ! we're old as i pro.
fessor should be, tgould be
my big girl instead. As is, I'm.
afraid there's no way out Of it,;
bnt we can be friends.
Yes, she agreed emphatically
Then they went down to the
drawing room She was a good
pianist, and the professor had
some songs and some voice. They
had been trying sengs forau hour
when Mrs Fray pecped in. They
I'd not notice her. and she nodded
Iand smiled as she retreated down
the passage,
They II linda way out of it, she
prophesied.
The next night was Christmas
Eve. They drove into the town
lon purchasing expedition, for
which the party was largely re-
sponsible. He left her to mind
the trap while be went into the
jewelers.. He bought only a gold
brooch there, but be was fastid
ious in the selection, so 1t took
him long time. Meanwhile she
found a boy to hold the horse, and
bought 3 rack for post cards-and
stamps. It was extremely un-
tidy, she reflected, to keep them
loose in a drawer as he did, and
lit would be nice to have some
thing for him, if he should make
lher a present.
1T would have been pleasant if
you had been younger, he re-
marked as they were going home.
/ I rather wanted some one to look
after.
Il would have been pleasant too
if you had been older. she retort-
1 ed. / rather wanted some one to
look after me.
Unfortunately, he said, we're
as we are. There's no way out
of it.
No, she agreed.
In the evening they bad more
music, and afterward he taught
her billiards though, he pointed
out, the game could not be learned
properlysin less thana month.
If you had been staying here
altogether, he observed regret
fully it would have been different.
It is q pity she declared.
A great pity, he agreed.
She appeared exceedingly at
tractiye as she stood under The
light chaIking hsf cue elabor-
ateiy. The pity Of it struck him.
foreibly.
She Was downstairs first Ghristmss
m 3rning, and found tile brooch beside
her plate. So ste ran back to her room
aud brought the rack
Yeu would have made me quite tidy.
lie said, If ypu had been az ,onrg as a
little girl should be.
Yon would have quite spotted me, slse
fsei ined, III yon had been ~ old Al pro-
lessor ought to be.
fIs smiled ruefaliy and said that .hey
must make the bell OF ete another as
they were (; and she smiled back aud said
iAat her difficulty was to know vi hat was
thr best.
they Went 10 church. ID the morning
and for a long walk IN tile afternoon, and.
, , ii tie evening they played cards and
lslldards aid sang and last OF al they
talked across tie fire. Size admired him
because he knew 50 much, and lie adj
lts.ired her because she knew 50 little. So
4i,ey were both satisfied
Is las been the pleasantest Of days, the
professor vowed, when she vas going off
~ led, my dear big baby
The pIeasanlest q days, She echoed
sancily from lie door, my dear young
professor
The professor looked at himself in the
glass and shook his head Il were
older or younger lie nuttered. Pm.
lsnot Old, really. Perhaps Tut, tutl'
q better gel back 10 nay books io.mor-
fes. She's nothing but a child.
When 70 morrow came, lloa ever, lie
sis'cided tIlat Il was lis duty ID devote
hi,asel q liis xnest during iseT short
81. Tile iulluwirg day allsy had to
pss pare fr sile patty II the ss ening so
ii rOsirsr he could Iot work tllell. She
n,a I iestopfss Of many colored paper,
4 4 ile iang Them nip and put holly and
"a tgreal.s as HE direeted him. lie Vas