The Washington herald., 1907-05-15
PROFESSOR AND DEAD LETTER.
BY NELLIE CRAVEY GILMORE

Belinda's introduction to the new pro.
lessor was a distinctly unceremonious
one. Tripping lightly across the mud.
sogged pavement. she suddenly caught
one foot in a tangled heap of wire-hune
down from the telephone and telegraph
lines by the rayaging hand Of a recent
hErrtcane-and stumbled precipitately into
the arms Of a blond giant. who supported
her valorously TN she had blushingly
recovered her poise.
Thanks. awfully," she said, you have
doubtless saved my life"
Your frOck. more likely" he replied
lifting his hat, Il am no end glad hap
pened along at the propitious moment"
Belinda returned him q little comblna-
ton smile and nod as she lifted her
dainty. crisp skirts and pursued her way
cautiously across the slippery street.
Hardiman restrained his eagerness until
a reasonable safe length Of time had
elapsed before turning to look around.
lie had gained the opposite sidewalk by
this time. and his glance back at the girl
betrayed instantly to the casual pedes-
| trians that the professor had been abrupt
ly shaken from his phlegmatic attitude Of
mind.
Belinda turned into Oak street. all un-
| conscious Of the scrutiny that followed
her, and Hardiman continued his way in
| a tumult Of chaotic reflections. He
/ reached his hotel in a state Of mind that
was quite impossible. The very first look
/ into the girls face had thrilled him start
lingly; the accidental contact Of her deli
, cate form against his had finished the
/ Job. He told himself that # was a case
! Of love at first sight So much for the
explosion Of his lifelong theories! Then
/ a perfect regiment Of doubts and fears
: assailed him. Perhaps, after all. she was
not q girl. but a married woman.
/ The professor ate his dinner IN silence
/ Afterward he went to his room. and for
/ some ineXplicable reason exchanged his
dark suit for one Of lighter and more
/ becoming texture. He brushed his hair
/ painstakingly, placed a soft gray Alpine
hat on his head and sauntered forth in
. quest of-fresh air. Il was almost dark
/ before he returned, disappointed and odd
/ ~ depressed. He eschewed supper alto
/ gether and went back TO his room for a
! solitary cigar and meditation.
Meanwhile Belinda had reached home,
put on a pair Of dry boots and settled
herself for a quiet afternoon. School
/ would open on Monday and she would
not have many more afternoons 10 lounge,
| as they would be given over 10 outdoor
/ recreation after the trying hours Of the
morning The town clock striking s,
/ aroused her. She tore up the last letter.
: old love letters they were, and tossed the
/ bits into the CRATE Then she made
/ careful toilet and went down stairs to
/ dinner. Teddy Everitt was coming over
| that evening, she rec0llected. but for the
/ first time in many months the prospect
i Of visit from that individual gave her
/ no particular pleasure.
! Sunday morning she selected her most
! becoming gown and hat. l. was a per
/ feet day, and her satisfaction was almost
! complete. She created the usual stir as
/ she walked up the aisle of the village
/ church and took her seat near the front.
/ Less than five minutes afterward the
/ professor came IN and sat down in the
/ pew opposite. He had been waiting out
/ side half the morning, unObserved but
alert. After service Belinda gave him a
| neeting smile Of recognition. and for
| some reason that was new TO her turned
and hurried home as fast as her pretty,
| patent leather covered feet could carry
| her.
When school opened the following day,
| the first person she encountered on enter
ing the faculty hall was the new pro
/ fessor. She blushed to her ears. and try
! ing valiantly to retain her scholarly de-
meanor; but the doggal crimson showed
persistently through the tanned cheeks.
and her eyes were puzzles.
Hardman made no effort to conceal
his qualification. Or. If he did. he was
rot at all successful The rest Of the
teachers looked on in good-natured
amusement. None Of them were old
maids
In a month the acquaintance grew to
intimacy: in two. it became a serious
proposition; after three, the only thing
lacking were the words and the ring.
The professor had at last made up his
mind 10 propose. He had meant to re-
strain his ardOr till the close of the
term. bat when Il became manifest that
the adorable little instructor os grade
No. reciprocated his affection, pru.
ueliCe WAS lilibWH 10 TIE hlluS. lie sat
in his study. pondering. Suddenly he got
10 work dspOsing Of his reports in short
but thorough order. He made a point Of
never sighting his duties for anything
Then he drew forth a square envelOpe
and sheet of white paper to match. This
seemed to him the most direct and final
way Of settling matters between them
Belinda was q coQuette, there was no
getting around that fact, even in ones
most generous mOments, and Hardiman
was determined 70 corner her completely
lie composed his lines carefully; they
were inspirationaL And now that he
had broken the ice at last. he meant 10
carry things to a rapid finish The pro
fessor was nothing il not business-like.
He fished in a drawer and pulled out
a teachers resignation blank This he
put in a separate envelope, and directed
both to the dearest girl in the world.
The following morning. the postman's
shrill whistle brought Belinda herself 10
the door. She took the mail and glanced
through it hastily. rivers of scarlet flow
ing over her cheeks as she recognized
Hardimans familiar backhand. She tore
open the envelope eagerly, and scanned
the contents with whitening face. The
paper fell from her fingers and she leaned
Imply against the banister rail So-she
was asked. in the briefest possible way, !