The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1915-01-20
Professor and
Dead Letter
By NELLIE cRAyHy GILMORE

monious one. tripping lghtly
across the mud sogged pavement,
she suddenly caught one foot in a
tangled heap Of wire-fung down
from the telephone and telegraph
lines by the ravaging hand of re-
cent hurricane-and stumbled pre-
cipitately into the arms of a blond
giant, who supported her vigorously
till she had blushingly recovered
her poise.
Thanks, awfully," she said. "You
have doubtless saved my life"
"Your frock, more likely" he re-
piled, lifting his hat. 81 am no end
\ glad happened along at the pro-
pitious moment"
Belinda returned him little
combination smile and nod as she
lifted her dainty, crisp skirts and
pursued her way cautiously across
the slippery street.
Hardiman restrained his eager
ness until reasonably safe length Of
time had elapsed before turning to
look around. He had gained the
opposite sidewalk by this time, and
his glance back at the girl betrayed
instantly to the casual pedestrians
that the professor had been abrupt
| ly shaken from his phlegmatic at
titude of mind.
Belinda turned into Oak street all
unconscious of the scrutiny that fol-
lowed her, and Hardiman contin-
ued his way in a tumult of chaotic
reflections. He reached his hotel
in state of mind that was quite
impossible. The very first look into
the girls face had thrilled him
startlingly. The accidental contact
of her delicate form against his had
finished the job, He told himself
that it was case of love at first
sight. So much for the explosion
of his lifelong theoriesl Then per-
feet regiment of doubts and fears
assailed him. Perhaps, after all, she
was not girl, but married wo-
man.
! The professor ate his dinner in 81
lsnce. Afterward he went to his
room and for some inexplicable rea-
son exchanged his dark suit for one
1 of lighter and more becoming tex
ture. He brushed his hair painstak-
a ingly, placed soft gray alpine hat
on his head and sauntered forth in
4 quest of--fresh air. 1t was almost
ozark before he returned, disappoint-
4 ed and oddly depressed.
| Meanwhile Belinda had reached
home, put ON a pair of dry boots
4 and settled herself for quiet after
4 noon. School would open on Mon
day, and she would not have many
more afternoons to lounge, as they
would be given over to outdoor rec
reation after the trying hours of the
morning. The town clock, striking
6, aroused her. She tore up the
last letter-old love letters they
were-and tossed the bits into the
\ CRATE. Then she made careful
toilet and went downstairs to din
ner.
Sunday morning she selected her
most becoming gown and hat. 1t
was perfect day, and her satisfac-
ton was almost complete. She Gre
ated the usual stir as she walked
up the aisle Of the village church
4 and took her seat near the front.
4 Less than five minutes afterward
the professor came in and sat down
in the pew opposite. He had been
waiting outside half the morning.
unobserved, but alert. After service
Belinda gave him a feeting smile
of recognition and for some reason
that was new to her turned and
hurried home as fast as her pretty
patent leather covered feet could
carry her.
When school opened the follow
ing day the first person she en-
countered On entering the faculty
hall was the new professor. She
blushed to her ears and tried val
iantly ITO retain her scholarly demean-
or. but the logged crimson showed
persistently through the tanned
cheeks, and her eyes were puzzles.
Hardiman made no effort to con-
ceal his qualification, or il he did
he was not at all successful. The
rest Of the teachers looked on in
very quiet and good natured amuse-
ment.
In a month the acquaintance
grew to intimacy. In two it became
a serious proposition. After three
the only things lacking were the
words and the ring.
The professor had at last made
~ a. L.