The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-08-16
DrOfeSSOr and
4 Dead Letter.
BY Nellie crAVsy GiIlmOFs.
copyrighted, 1907, by p. O. EastmaAG
BY Nellie cravsy GIIlmOss.

PROFESSOR WIS ulsuncLty unCe1NmU11- L
Gus one. Tripping lightly across the |
mud soggcd pavement. she suddsnly |
caught one foot In tangled heap Of |
wire flung down from the telephone |
and telegraph lines by the ravaging |
hand OF n recent hurricane--and STUN |
bled precipitntely into the arms Of q
blond giant, who supported her valor-
ously till she had blushingly recovered
her poise.
Thanks, awfully," she said. ''You
have doubtless saved my llfe"
your frock, more likely" he replied,
lifting his hat II am no end glad
happened along ut the propitious mo-
ment"
Belinda returned him a little COM
| blnation smile and nod as she lifted her
dainty. crisp skirts and pursued her
way cautiously across the slippery
| street.
| HardIman restrained his Oageru@aa
until reasonably safe length Of time
had elapsed before turning TO looB
around. He had gained the opposite
sidewalk by this time, and his glance
back ut the girl betrayed instantly 10
ihe casual pedestrians that the profess.
or had been abruptly shaken from his
phlegmatic attitude of mind.
Belinda turned into Oak street all
unconscious of the scrutiny that FOL.
lowed her and Hardlman continued
his way In a tumult Of chaotic redec-
lions. lie reached his hotel In q state
Of mind that was quite impossible.
The very first look into the girls face
had thrilled him startlingly, The ac-
. cldental contact of her delicate form
against his had finished the job. He
told himself that 1t was case Of love
! at first sight. So much for the expIo-
sion OF his lifelong theoriesl Then q
: perfect regiment of doubts and fears
assailed him. Perhaps after all she
was not girl, but a married woman.
The professor ate his dinner In 81.
lence. Afterward he went to his room
and for some inexpiicabIe reason en-,
9 changed his dark suit for one Of lighter
Q and more becoming texture. He brush
j. ed his hair paInstakingly, placed a soft
J. gray alpine hat on his head and saun
tered forth In quest of-fresh air. II
was almost dark before he returned
disappointed and oddly depressed. HC
eschewed supper altogether and wen
ls back to his room for q solitary cigal
u and meditation.
u Meanwhile Belinda had reached
home, put on a pair OF dry boots ant
settled herself for a quiet afternoon
School would open on Monday, and sh,
II. would not have many more afternoons
"a to lounge, as they would be given owe
a to outdoor recreation after the trying
70 hours Of the morning The town clock
n. striking O, aroused her She tore vi
A. the last letter, old love letters the,
"A were, and tossed the bits into the crate
a. Then she made a careful toilet ant
" went downstairs to dinner. Teddy Nv
il. erltt was coming over that evening, sh
V. recollected, but for the first time i
N. many months the prospect of a visi
no from that Individual gave her no PAL
q. ticular pleasure.
M Sunday morning she selected be
!. most becoming gown and hat. 1t wa
I perfect day, and her satisfaction wa
- almost complete She created the usui
- stir as she walked up the aisle Of tn
- village church and took her seat nes
- the front. Less than Ave minutes AZ
We erward the professor came In and q
he down In the pew opposite. He ha
been waiting outside half the morning
unobserved, but alert. After serviC
Belinda gave him a heeting smile {
recognition and for some reason thI
- was new to her turned and hurrie
- home as fast as her pretty pateI
- leather covered feet could carry her.
When school opened the followlu
n. day, the first person she encounterg
~, on entering the faculty hall was Il
new professor. She blushed to b.
- ears and tried valiantly to retain b,
~ scholarly demeanor. but the Dogs
=, - crimson showed perslstently throus
~ the tanned cheeks, and her eyes we
- puzzles.
Hardimau made no effort 10 eonce
~ his qualification, or, IL he did. he wi
not &C all successful The rest OF d
teachers looked on in good natur
amusement. None OF them were 0
es maids
- In a month the Acquaintance grew
wv intimacy. In two II became a serio
proposition. After three the only thll
lacking were the words and the ring
The professor had at last made
ihu his mind TO propose. He had mea
mo TO restrain his arior till the close
, tire term. but when II became mantle
that tho adorable little Instructor
lus grade No 4 reciproeated his aGecti
IrO prudence was thrown to the wins
- He sat In bis study ponderlng. 81
- denly he got to work dlsposing OF
~ reports In short. but thorough. ord
~ He made a point Of never sighting
duties for anything. Then he dr.
Nv forth square envelope and sheet
white paper to match. This seem
TO him the most direct and anal W
- OF settling matters between the
|. - Belinda was q coQuette. there was
- getting around that fact. even IN on
- most generous moments. and Har
-. man was determined to corner I
completely. He composed his liz