Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-30

was conscious of appearing
fool while Miss Warren stood looking
at the floor in that respectful attitude
which a student is supposed TO main
tain in the presence OF professor.
At the same time there remained
tiny curve at the corners of her
mouth and a soft look in her eye that
puzzled and at the same time made
me feel very queer.
Select my topic for me, professor"
she said. 81 will use any you name.
and l am sure that with the feeling
ever present that it is your choice /
shall write a good grafton"
wondered what she meant by that.
ain that case viii choose the one
you first named. Augustus Caesar.
From this time Miss Warren took
hold of the matter seriously. She con-
suited me constantly, and as 1 saw
her Grafton grow up under my en-
couragement and influenced here and
there by my suggestions my interest
in the young oratreSs constantly IN
creased. / forgot about the girl who
had honored me With her love and be-
gan to wish that Miss Warren might
stand in her place.
On commencement day, when the
salutatorian stood up in the attire OF
girl graduate-spotleSs white-and in
melodious voice spoke in a language
that died many centuries ago, 1 lis
tened in rapt attention / was IA
miliar with it all. but as l listened to
the words come forth. every one enun-
ciated musically. it seemed to me that
ho hann hon NH
full, so impressive. as that of Cicero
and of Horace.
Once only the speaker cast her eyes
down upon me, sitting with other
members of the faculty just beneath
her. when uttering q sentence in
which she had made an error and
which l had corrected for her. Instead
of the Latin word "amare," Ito love-"
she had used the word "amavi," Il
have loved" Her beautiful orbs sank
to mine only for moment, then were
raised to the thrOng.
1 could not but be astonished that an
grafton so beautifully delivered and so
well composed should have produced
so little effect. But when l remem-
bered that | and possibly one or two
others alone understood what the
speaker was talking about my sur
prise faded into regret that the au-
dience could not have enjoyed it as
did.
/ did not see Miss Warren after the
delivery of her speech. but called upon
her that evening-before her intended
departure-to congratulate her upon
its merits. l found her expecting me,
and so enthusiastic was 1 over her eff
fort of the day that. taking her hand
to express my enthusiasm, I found it
difficult TO release it. When 1 did so
she led me to seats where we could
sit side by side. and l went over her
grafton, repeating sentence after SEN
tence in rapture.
/ was surprised that she did not
show evidence of being especially
pleased at my encomiums. She listen
ed somewhat impatiently to them and
when | rested for breath said:
do you wish me to tell you before
I go the name of that girl who has
given you her hearth"
No; 1 don't"
We were sitting close together, she
bending forward, toying with some or
namental work on the skirt of her
dress. so that my eyes fell upon the
curves of her waist. Something
know not what-got into my arm. and
without my consent it dropped upon
the waist For a moment / was fright
ened; but, seeing that she paid no at
tention to what l had done, l took
courage.
What else occurred during that event
full evening l consider too sacred TO
give. 1 have written it out in a dead
language, which no one but myself IL
likely to understand. Before we part
ed l said to her:
"Since we are betrothed, perhaps you
may not object TO tell me who is the
girl who has given me her heart"
Don't trouble yourself about her."
she replied ''She is not worthy of so
guileless a man."
All this happened years ago, and I
have since learned how stupid 1 was
not to even suspect that the saluta
torian of that year, having become at
tached to u bookworm, was obliged to
turn his attention from the dead Ian
guages to herself or leave him to his
books. She cared not for Augustus
or the vestals or any other of the per-
sons she proposed to make her theme.
There was a living person Of more
importance to her than even the dead
emperor. That person, / am proud to
say, was the bookwOrm-myself.
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