The Press., 1916-05-10

- other students, was under his author ity. 1t seemed to him now that the conditions were inverted. He appeared to himself nothing more than peda- gogue with so little income as to be barely able to tip the servants, while his former pupil was arrayed in "pur- pie and fine linen" and occupying so- cial position to which he could never hope for an entree, and if he was granted an entree he would not be able to support 1t.
 Miss Halliday's treatment of PrOfes sor Poland was calculated to throw him into a fever. She was not only gra- cious; she was as devoted to him as he would have been glad to be devoted to her were their positions reversed, lav- ishing on him such delicate attentions as woman will lavish on man she feels privileged to favor. In other words, courtship was going on. il which the woman was doing the court ing. The professor sometimes drifted resigning himself to this delightful spell she was throwing about him. an' sometimes suddenly came to realiza tion that he was standing on the brink of precipice.
 Now. if women were the privileged proposers they would doubtless neauii themselves far better than the men At any rate, they are by c superior del icacy far better fitted for the purpose To Miss Halliday what she was gil gagged in was as simple to her ss tle reconstruction of the Roman forum would have been to Professor Poland When she was ready for his pr0pesa she took him out into the garden ahf began to gather bouquet of flowers
 Are they for me?' asked the pro lessor.
 "For you7 No. I'm going to be mar ried."
 The professor felt as If some one ha' knocked the life out of him.
 "Who is the fortunate manT h' gasped.
 I'm not going to marry a man. Tn going to marry these flowers Several months had passed since Professor Poland had mentioned th' Indian custom to his class, and 1t d1t not occur to him that Miss Halliday words referred to what he had thel said. However, he was not afraid O such a rival and somewhat recovere' his equanimity.
 "Ohr' was his sole reply.
 Belle went on collecting flowers fo a posy and when she had done s' made a dumb show of affection fo them There was a stable on the plac and 8 we'll from which to draw water which was brought up by a pumI Belle went to the well, lifted trap door and threw her bouquet down int the opening. Then, without remark she sauntered back to the garden.
 Now, Professor Poland was not quit so stupid about the art of love a might be supposed. He attended Nils Halliday on her visit to the well, an when she led him to vine clad reces | and sat down on a rustic seat vagu connection between what she had don and the Indian custom he had embod fed in his lecture found lodgment il his brain. He realized that this migh be in lieu of a proposal. Surely 1t wa not encouragement for him to pro pose. It was either a proposal or was nothing. If it was proposal was incumbent on him to respond. l he responded and Miss Halliday's ac | meant nothing he would be in an un fortunate position. If she meant wha | l. nl hn 6o | he would still be in an unfortunat position. What should he do? 1 His inclinations decided him. "rhe honor you do me is, assur you, fully appreciated. Since low you and have loved you for some tim | 1t is not an absence of love that cause me to hesitate. It is the disparity o our incomes"
 "That, think, can be easily arrange' to your satisfaction. I am ready t settle upon you"-
 Pardon me; I cannot accept a sci clement. If I marry you shall do s with the expectation of always re maining self supporting. If I am to b rich woman's husband you must b poor professors wife"
 "I shall be very proud of your stand ing in your profession and shall d nothing to turn you away from 1t an your enjoyment of it.
 And so it was arranged that the pro lessor should still occupy his chair g the university. This he did for time Then his wife was calling on him COT tinually for some duty in connectio with her estates, and at last, findin that such duties took up the princips part of his time, he resigned his pro fessorship and devoted his whole tim l to the management of a propert which had by this time come to 1 considered a family matter.