St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-09-07

advances on his part toward friendli-
ness or at least in the direction or
better acquaintance.
Here am" called. lin the pa
vilion. IL you wish to see me-"
AHA. hear you become an invalid.
my dear sir" With that the profess
or's great bulk doomed In the doorway
against the glare outside. II have
come to condole with you. II you allow
it."
ITO smoke with me. too. ! hope"
said. not little pleased.
'.rhat / will do" he returned and
came in slowly. walking with percepti-
BILE lameness. 1.-The sympathy | offer
is genuine. 1t is not only from the
heart; 1t is from the latissimus dorsi."
he continued, seating himself. Il have
choosed this fine weather for rheuma-
tism of the back"
He took from his pocket a worn
leather case. which he opened. dis
closing a small, Drowned clay bowl OF
the kind workmen use. and, fitting It
Will a ECQ SACAns AG AAlCO ~ Will d
dark and sinister tobacco from a
pouch. Always my pipe for me-" he
said and applied match. inhaling the
smoke as other men inhale the light
smoke Of cigarettes. .Ha. it Is good!
1t is wicked for the insides. but 1t Is
good for the soul. When | am alone l
am a chimney with no hebdomadary
repose. smoke forever. It is on ac-
count OF my young friend am tenn
perate now"
He has never smoked, your young
friend?" I asked. glancing at my WIS.,
itor rather curiously. fear.
s.Mr. Saffren has no vices" Profess
or Keredec replaced his silver trimmed
Epectacles and turned them upon me
with serene benevolence. HE is In
good condition. all pure, like little
children. and so II l smoke near him
he chokes and has water at the eyes,
though he does not complain Just
now take vacation. Ii Is his hour
for study, but | think he looks more
out Of the front window than at his
book-yes. very much since the pass
ing of that charming young lady some
days ago."
"You say your young friends name
is Safrren? '
"Oliver Saffren" The benevolent
gaze continued to rest upon me. but
shadow like a faint anxiety darkened
the Homeric brow. Finally he said
abruptly. ut is about him that have
come to talk to you"
81 shall be very glad"
''Ha, my dear SIR" he cried, ''but you
are a man of feeling: 1t was the way
you have received my poor young gen.
ueman'S excuses when he was so rude
which makes me wish to talk with you
on such a subject. 1t is why l would
not have you believe Mr.. Saffreu and
me two very suspected individuals
who hide here like two bad criminals"
mo, nor | protested hastily. '"rhe
name of Professor keredec"-
1.-The name OF no man." he thunder
ed. interrupting. ''can protect his rep
utation when he is caught peeping
from a curtain! Ha, my dear sir.
know what you think. You think:
He Is a nice. fine man, that old pro-
fessor-oh, very nice. only he hides
behind the curtains sometimes. very
fine man-oh, yes. only he is spy.
Eth? Ha, ha.'
"Not at ALL" l laughed. Il thought
you might fear that | was spy"
"EhY' He became serious.
~ supposed you might be writing a
book which you wished to keep from
the public for time and that possibly
you might imagine that 1 was a re-
porter"
$50! And that is ALL" he returned
with evident relief. mo. my dear sir,
fess my shame. / wish very much to
know what kind of man you are.
And so have watched you"
Why" asked.
''The explanation is so simple; it was
necessary"
because of-of Mr.. Saffren?'' said
slowly and with some trepidation.
Precisely" The professor exhaled
a cloud OF smoke. because l am
sensitive for him and am his guard
ian, but am not his guardian by the
law"
81 had not supposed that you were"
said, because. though do not I'M
derstand his-his case. so to speak, 1
have not for moment thought him in
sane"
"Ha. my dear sir, you are right!' ex-
claimed Keredec. He is as sane as
anybody in the whole world! Ha. he
is now much more sane. for his mind is
not yet confused and becobwebbed
with the useless things you and put
into ours. A few months more-ha. at
the greatest a year from now-and he
will not be different any longer. He
will be like the rest OF us, only"-the
professor leaned forward. and his big
fist came down on the arm of his
chair-''he shall be better than the rest
Of US. But IL strange people were to
see him now" he continued. lit would
not do. There are so many who judge
quickly. If they should see him now
Ehnzx z,aiSzht 4iir,iz ho IL not inst Ei0ht