The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-07-20


room and brought her chair, set
ting it firmly down on the train Of ths
new skirt. Judith smiled little,
and pulling her dress away sat down
The professors embarrassment was
evident collectively he had COTTON
somewhat used to these young wo-
men, but individually they represent.
ed mental torture. Judith folded hel
hands over the book and looked al
him.
II have come to make confession,
Prof. Dodge" she said clearly. The
professor looked his surprise and
amazement, ST have been cheating In
chemistry all this year. don't like
the study, but it isn't elective, and ]
had to take it to get my degree. I
suppose you are surprised and disap-
pointed in me; but Ellen Bently has
either told or prompted me in answer
ing nearly every question you have
asked me"
She stopped and looked at him !;
somehow the professor had forgotten
his usual embarrassment, and was
looking straight into her brown eyes.
Judith flushed under his glance.
81 know it was wrong and despi-
cable of me" !" she went on firmly, IT
never did it in any of my other studies.
I hope you will believe that. didn't
like chemistry and Prof. Burdgess
was old and never seemed to see or
care for anything that went on in the
class. / don't know what you will
think of me-" she ended, looking at
him appealingly.
81 think well of you for wishing to
end such deception and coming here
and voluntarily confessing it"
Judith felt her cheeks get crimson.
"But didn't wish to end it, must
not let you believe that. and I wouldn't
have thought of confessing, only
Ellen made me see what / was doing
by refusing to help me any longer. "
The professors lower lip pulled in
between his teeth, and he looked at
the floor for moment.
"What do you wish to do?" he
asked at length.
Anything you say, professor. I'll
confess before the class if you wish,
and take the years chemistry over !;
of course, l know that means not
graduating until next year."
A light came into the professors
eyes, somehow it came to him, and
there was great joy in the thought,
that here was a woman he could nm
Gerstand and feel and talk with in
common fellowship.
"There is no need of your doing
that, Miss Mercer. s" and Judith look
ed up at the sudden ring in his voice.
eff you have time and wish to come
to me every evening after school for
a half hour we can easily make up the
half year you have lost
Judith held out her hand, "Thank.
BBfga she Afs salai zinc ESD 81 you. 3D. ahd !iSd owe
both Ellen and you a debt of graft
tude."
She came faithfully to her lessons ;
at first the professors confusion and
timidity was forgotten in his interest
in the student but after awhile the
thought of Judith came between him
and his books, often when he was
reading he would suddenly become
conscious that he was not seeing the
printed words on the page before him,
but seeing pair Of brown eyes, and
thinking of the girl who worked so
faithfully at her chemistry. When
he recognized this fact his old timid-
ity returned and he was afraid to look
in Judith's eyes for fear she would
read the truth in his and feel only
pity for him and the professor was
proud. He avoided looking at her
in the class room and asked her as
few questions as possible. Judith
felt the change. 81 suppose he dis
likes me, and hasn't any faith in me- !"
she thought remorsefully, and some
times when he directly avoided ask
ing her question she could feel the
tears fill her eyes.
Finally his constrained manner dur
ing the lesson after school made it
almost unbearable to her, and she re-
solved to ask him that afternoon If
she could not stop them. During the
chemistry class she was at retort
making an experiment; she felt nerv-
Gus and miserable, and the fumes
made her sick and faint !; she reck-
lessly put the glass retort over too bot
a flame, there was quick report and
the glass burst, sending its fragments
over the room and for the first time
in her vigorous young life Judith felt
her head reel and herself falling.
The professor was standing near
her with his back turned, putting up
a symbol on the blackboard. He
heard the report, and turning caught
her in his arms. For an instant the
old timidity and embarrassment al
most overwhelmed him, he had not
recognized whom it was he had saved
f.cm falling, then he looked down
and saw it was Judith.
The professor had been the best
half-back on the foot ball team, and
his presence of mind had never been
known to desert him in an emergency.
He held her on his right arm and was
conscious Of a thrill of joy as he
thought what strong right arm 1t
was. Some of the girls crowded
anxiously around him.
"Please stand back" he said with
calmness that surprised even him
self. "Miss Bently, open the window,
and Miss Evens bring some water as
quickly as possible. !"
He began stroking her forehead
and face with his free hand. Now,
the professor knew from his study of
medicine that the patient should be
laid down and the head should not be
kept higher than the body but some
1-~-~, 1rn xr,oesfnd &0 beam Aha hr0mn