The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-28
> THE 6
Professors Servant
THE
BY Fedden TindalI.


his face wore an expression Of en-
during thought and abstraction, his
hands were folded motionless upon
his knees.
And yet he was this day unusually
excited. He was reused from the
eve monotony of his days; he had
displayed a little calm, Unconditional
pleasure at this meeting with an old
friend.
For opposite him, on the other side
of a brightly burning fire, sat the
man who was probably the only
friend in the world who would have
troubled to seek out this strange
recluse.
You have changed little, my
FRIEND" said the Professor slowly.
Have I? Well, I have learned to
take the rough with the smooth, and
on the whole, my life has been a
happy one. Yet, all the same, 1 am
growing old. Why, do you know I
am a grandfather"
The Professor spoke more slowly
than ever.
"Ah? your life has been happy;
so you may we'll keep young. You
always had the faculty for enjoy
ment. I have studied much; but that
I have never learned"
ut is a pity" said the other
quickly.
Granted. But now it is too late
to undo what has been done. I have
q certain amount Of brains, I have
earned a sufficiency of money, at one
time I had much cheap fame. But
now all seem valueless. Life does
not hold much Of joy for me, my
friend"
"I am sorry. I fancy you have
missed the human side of life"
1T has eluded me. Once I strove
to pursue tin vain"
"Have you ever loved a woman or
a child?"
children are strangers to me.
Women? There was n woman
once, but she was false"
"And who was she? May I ask"
"She was my wife"
"Your wife," The friend of old
days was filled with a great astonish-
ment. 81 had no idea that you had
ever married"
1T was many years ago. I sought
happiness; as I told you, for me it
proved elusive"
"She is dead?"
81 neither know nor care. She
left me one year after marriage"
"Alone?"
"I have never even troubled to
inquire. She was gone. I would
not bring her back-not by one word,
one glance, one uncontrolled desire.
She died to me when she destroyed
all my faith in woman"
you had been happy with herr"
"Her mere presence made my hap
piness."
"And hers?"
"I judged her by myself. I always
imagined that I made her life happy;
[ was mistaken"
There was a certain pathos IN
this sudden revelation of an unsus-
pected humanity. The thought that
love had ever laid her magic hand
on this cold man of work and loneli-
ness was passing strange.
How long ago was all this?". The
old friend put the question difidently,
and there was a very real sympathy
underlying his quiet tones.
Eight years ago she left me. 1t
seems to me a lifetime. All the youth
and the brightness left my house
with her. I was cid, she was so very
young. All, my dream was in truth
foolishness."
Your life must be very lonely, cid
friend. Whom have you to nurse
you and care for you?"
MY servant. He is a good lad.
Six years he has been with me, and
in all that time he has neve left me
once. Yes, his is the only faithful
ness that I have known. I have
grown fond of him"
A soft tap at the door had passed
unnoticed, and now a slim youth
same into the room, bringing a tea
tray with him. Very softly and care
fully he moved about, arranging a
little table by the fireplace, and set
ting out all sorts Of delicacies there
on. Then quietly he handed his mas
ter the cup of cocoa which he made
for him every afternoon.
What else will you have?" he
inquired.
MY usual toast. Butter it for
me-" the Professor said shortly.
Pour out tea for my friend also, be-
fore you 60"
And the friend sat watching silent
~, and he thought how wistful were
the lads fine eyes. how much sad
ness their depths seemed ~concealing.
"It must be a dull life for a boy"
he thought to himself. HE is GER
tainly extraordinarily faithful" And
once the subject of his thoughts had
left the room, he spoke aloud some