Evening star., 1912-09-08


"Al WELL hope?' the professor asked again, solici
tousy.
~Fine!" said the Major "Have cigar"
"No, thanks l don't believe III smoke just now"
murmured the professor. He endeavoring to read
just his mind to this crisis, his niece would prob
ably have called 1t. "BlOwy out, he continued.
"Wheres Eileeno"
"She went out after luncheon and hasn't returned"
The professor pondered
"Whv so serious, Harry" his sister asked.
"Oh nothing just wondering.
But she not to be deceived. Don't you feel
wel?"
"Oh ves perfectly
But how do you happen to be free at this hour?'
"Oh just happened to feel the need of little
cise that was all How is Eileen?'
His sister looked at him in some perplexity. "She's
we'll"
The professor reused himself "She grows pretter
every hour, he said yes Sr-every hour! Some
young will be carrying her off of these days
But | suppose you prepared for that.
Il suppose we'd better be-, his sister answered. with
sigh.
ably would have been the last in the world to
claim originality for the remark but he delivered with
a certain deep conviction and sagacty as the truth
had been brought home to him so forcby before
In fact, there was an audible overone in his voice,
which from gradually accumulatng righteous
wrath. 1t had begun to dawn upon him that Eileen S
surrender to his graver judgment might not have been
all that it had seemed. There hint of strategy IN
the air, shadow of doubt upon his recent victorya
very, very feminine kind of shadow and possible sou-
ton of that perfect sweet easonabeness with which the
little mink had seconded the wisdom of his plan In
deed the he pondered it. the deeper his suspicion
grew that in things-ove and war, tor example
he not scientist.
well" he added, with noble effort to condone the
oense, at least to suspend judgment until the evi
dence in, 1--WE were all young once
HIS sister stared at him. Harry" she said again,
more anMously than ever, "are you sure you're
welo"
"Oh nothing Only thought your mind seemed a
lttle-a little tired somehow. never heard you talk
so obviously
The professor laughed Zone is apt to talk obviously
when one talks of young folk was thinking of Eileen.
Now, there's nothing complex about Eileen, you
know
"I'm not so sure her mother answered.
And second thought the professor himself was not
so sure a. sometimes young man with her, he
began cautiously.
aHo! Ho!7 This was the Major. "Heen, he some
times young with her..
Even Helen smiled, and the professor felt that
he was talking more obviously than
"Who is t?' he inquired, and the Major shouted IN
his joy.
1Who are they? guess you mean"
"Ah very likely the professor admitted, with
touch of resignation in his tone "My eyesight for
young people isn't what it used to be. But 1t seems
little curious he added addressing his sister rather
than his noisy brother in law who still in a state
of helpless and utterly undignied hilaty at seems
little curious that they all should have red hair.
This sobered the Major: Il say he cried "Your
eyesght must be failing, Harry-or ours is You mean
young Holiday. He's the only red one
"And is he the favored one?' the professor asked.
The Major shook his head obviously. "Wel guess
you know more about that than we do
The professor started
"Judging from what you say, the Major added.
"Well, he seems nice gentlemany young fellow
the professor remarked. "a little nervous perhaps;
but that s only natural
Nervous roared the Major. Il should say he was!
Every time | look at him
swell, said it only natural" the professor inter
posed quietly
And the Major snorted. "But he's the most persist
ent c,1ss in the whole regiment
"Thats the kind that WINS said the professor. Il
know from experience.
"From experience 1t was the Majors turn, and
he prepared to make the of it. "From experienced