Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1909-07-23
D THE e
Professors Servant
Ey Fedden TIndaII.

5o0oooooooooooooooocooo66o
The professor was always quiet,
his voice was ever slow and drowsy,
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
even monotony of his days; he had
displayed little calm, Unconditional
pleasure at this meeting with an old
friend.
For opposite him. on the sr side
Of 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. l have learned to
take the rough with the smooth, and
on the whole. my life has been a
happy one. Yet. all the same. am
growing old. Why. do you know 1
am a grandfather"
The Professor spoke more slowly
than ever.
"Ah? your life has been happy;
so you may well keep young. You
always had the faculty for enjoy
ment. have studied much; but that
have never learned"
ut is pity" said the other
quickly.
Granted. But now it is too late
to undo what has been done. have
certain amount of brains. have
earned a sufficiency of money, at one
time I had much cheap fame. But
now all seem valueless. Fife does
not hold much Of Joy for me. my
friend"
II am sorry. fancy you have
missed the human side of lIfe."
ut has eluded me. Once I strove
to pursue it-in vain"
"Have you ever loved a woman or
child?"
children are strangers to me.
Women? There was one woman
once, but she was false"
"And who was she? May / ask?"
"She was my wife"
"Your wife?" The friend Of old
lays was filled with a great astonlsh-
ment Il had no idea that you had
ever married"
1T was many years ago. sought
+ happiness; as l told you, for me 1t
proved elusive"
''She is dead?"
81 neither know nor care. She
left me one year after marriage"
"Aione?"
IL have never even troubled to
inquire. She was gone. woul I
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?
81 judged her by myself. always
imagined that made her life happy;
was mistaken.
There was 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 tbis?" The
old friend put the question diffidently.
and there was very real sympathy
underlying his quiet tones.
Eight years ago she left me. 1t
seems to me lifetime. All the youth
and the brightness left my house
with her. l was old, she was so very
young. All, my dream was in truth
( foolishnsss"
Your life must be very lonely. old
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 never left me
once. Yes. his is the only faithful
ness that have known. have
grown tond OF MN.
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 delicaeies 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
Iy, and he thought how wistful were
! the lads fine eyes. how much sad
ness their depths seemed conceaiing.
at must be dull life for a boy. 50
he thought to himself He is GER
lainly extraordinarily faithful" And
Bnce the subject of his thoughts had
eft the room. he spoke aloud some
II these ideas concerning him.
81 like your lads face; be has eyes