The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-09-18

on one Of the last occasions when she
reproved them for their thoughtless-
ness, and she was DULY assured BY the
th0ughtless ones that "Reggie was too
dense 70 find out."
II was known thatxn faculty gather
ings reference was sometimes made to
"0ur popular professor" and on such
occasions Professor Raymond always
beamed his utter satisfaction, much to
the amusement Of the other members
Of the faculty. NE
From those long walks developed
friendship, and from friendship de-
pendence, and then love, and before
spring had come Ruth and Professor
Raymond were engaged, and when col.
lege opened the next year they were
married and nicely established In one
Of the new brick terraced little cot
tages on the campus, with an evening
'sat home" to the students every week,
and special suppers and teas on fire.
quent occasions to the class to which
ASuttl Huu uciuuScu-t Chuno Which,
Ind paid the renowned honor to Pro.
fesspr Raymond.
First II was noticed that the pro-
fes4or left OF purple neckties, and
chose In their place those Of brown and
dark blue and gray. He must have
consulted a new oculist. for before
long he never bothered with having the
shades in his classroom drawn. Then
students began to notice that when he
passed them on tn campus, instead of
shutting by them with the look OF
DiQgenes In search Of an honest man,
he always met them with cordial
smile. and sometimes found pretext to
stop them, and pass the time Of day
with them. At his home were really
the most successful "at homes" on the
campus.
To be sure. Ruth's delicious sand
witches and chocolate topped with
whipped cream may have been the at.
traction, but 1t was not only the stu
dents. who attended parties In general
only for "the eats" who made point
Of attending the Raymond lat homes"
Professor Raymond always somehow
seemed to get laugh out Of the most
self:cOnscious and awkward Of hts stu
dent guests, and he seemed to realize
that once you lave made student
laugh with you, vol have convinced
him that you and he are on friendly
footing, and not separated by tho
chasm that lies between faculty and
student body.
Another summer passed, and when
the class to which Ruth had belonged
returned to their senior year there was
another balloting. The results plainly
showed that students change in some
ways from sophomore to senior year.
The honors Of pulchritude had passed
from the sophomore belle to another
girl who had not even been noticed two
years before; the favOrite color was
now crimson instead Of violet, and
there were more students whose ambi-
ton now was to become a millionaire
than In the year when the vote of the
class went in favor Of 'Writing mas
terpiece Of literature" But again the
vote for popularity went to Professor
Raymond. On this occasion. however.
there we're no peals of laughter when
the unanimous ballot was cast. On the
contrary there was solemn, almost
contrlte expression on the faces Of the
students as they voted, and formal
letter telling the professor Of his cleo
ton was sent to him, together with
the announcement that he had been
elected honorary member Of the class.
When the professor opened the let
ter Ruth was sitting beside him in his
study. and there were tears Of happi-
ness in her eyes as she read the an
nouncement It contained. II knew
they would-re-elect you," she said, with
an effort at unconcernedness. Regi-
maid Raymond put out two strong
hands and pressed both Of Ruth's
hands in them.
HD0n't you know" he asked, shat
I understand that you have won this
for met Could have been so blind as
not to see7 knew they despised me-"
he said, with a relic Of the old bitter
ness. "and no man ever longed SO for
student friendship as did. And you
came to show me how to win It."
"But-but you acted--we thought
that you believed it-that you didn't
see the abominable Joke"
'That was my little Joke on the
class, Ruth. dear. And after those
first weeks Of notification about 1t,
decided that my ambition was FIRST
to win your love. and then to win that
which has come to me today"
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