The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-26
PROFESSOR AND DEAD LETTER
By Nellie Cravey GiIImore.

Belln ua to thV ht" pAO lessor was a distinctly unceremontous one. Tripping lightly across the mud sogged pavement, she suddenly caught one foot in a tangled heap of wire flung down from the telephone and tele- graph lines by the ravagtng hand Of a recent hurricane-and stumbled precipi- tately into the arms of blond giant. who supported her valorously till she had blpshingiy recovered her boise.
 Thanks. awfuiiy." she said, you have doubtless saved my life"
 Your frock. more likely" he replied, lifting his hat T am no end glad l happened along at the propitious moment"
 Belinda returned him little combina- 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 reasonably safe length of time had elapsed before turning to look around. He had gained the opposite sidewalk by this time, and his glance back at the girl betrayed instantly to the casual pedestrians that the profes- sor had been abruptly shaken from his phlegmatic attitude of mind.
 Belinda turned into Oak street, all unconscious of the scrutiny that fol-
 
 way in a tumult of chaotic reflection. He reached his hotel in state of mind that was quite impossible. The very first look into the girls face had thrill led him startlingly; the accidental con tact of her delicate form against his had finished the job. He told himself that 1t was a case of love at first sight. So much for the explosion of his lifelong theories. Then a perfect regi- ment of doubts and fears assailed him. Perhaps. after all. she was not girl, but a married woman.
 The professor ate his dinner in sil- ence. Afterward he went to his room, and for some inexp1icabie reason ex- changed his dark suit for one of light CT 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. It was almost dark before he returned He eschewed supper altogether and went back to his room for solitary cigar and meditation.
 Meanwhile Belinda had reched 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 to lounge, as they would be given over to outdoor recration after the trying hours of the morning. The town clock. strik- ing 6, aroused her. She tore up the last letter, old love letters they were. and tossed the bits into the grate Then she made a careful toilet and went down stairs to dinner. Teddy Everitt was coming over that evening, she recoIlected, but for the first time in many months the prospect of visit from that individual gave her no par ticular pleasure.
 Sunday morning she selected her most becoming gown and hat. It was a perfect 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 op- posite. He had been waiting outside half the morning, unobserved but alert After service Belinda gave him a fleeting smile of recognition, and for some reason that was new to her turn ed 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 entering the faculty hall was the new professor. She blushed to her ears. and trying valiantly to retain her scholarly demeanor; but the dog ged crimson showed consistently through the tanned cheeks, and her eyes were puzzles.
 Hardiman made no effort to conceal his qualification. Or if he did, he was not 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. 1t became serious proposition; after three, the only thing lacking were the words and the ring.
 The professor had at last made up his mind to propose. He had meant to restrain his ardor till the close of the term, but when 1t became manifest that the adorable little instructor of grade No. reciprocated his affection, pru- dence was thrown to the winds He sat in his study, pondering. Suddenly he got to work disposing of his reports in short but thorough order He made a point of never sighting his duties for anything. Then he drew forth square envelope and sheet of white paper to match. This seemed to him the most direct and final way of set ting matters between them. Belinda was a coquette. there was no getting around that fact. even in ones most generous moments, and Hardiman was determined to corner her completely. He composed his lines carefully; they were mspirational. And now that he had broken the ice at last. he meant to carry things to rapid finish. The pros lessor was nothing if 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 to the door. She took the mail and glanced through 1t hastily, rivers of scarlet flowing over her checks as she recognized Hardiman's familiar sback- hand. 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. to resign, and she had dared to dream she had been so sure--she had been such fool She smothered the sob in her throat. and in quick scorn of her self dashed the hot tears from her eyes Then she pulled herself together sharply and went upstairs. With trembling fingers she filled out the blank and directed 1t 10 the board.
 Drab weeks followed Every effort the professor made to gain an audience with Belinda failed. He had mortified and insulted her flagrantly and she would see that he got no more chances to repeat the indignity. As to Hardt- man. he was on the rack. Fool-like he reflected. he had rushed in and frightened her away with his maudlin, importunate lovemaking-and thus lost her for good. But perhaps after all