The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-10-19

on one of the last occasions when she
reproyed them for their thoughtless
ness, and she was Only assured by the
thoughtless ones that "Reggie was too
uense 20 find out"
It was known that in faculty gather
ings reference was sometimes made TO
"our popular professor" and on such
occasions Professor Raymond always
beamed his utter satisfaction, much to
the amusement Of the other members
of the faculty.
From those long walks developed
friendship, and from friendship de-
pendence, and then love, and before
spring aad 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
Eat home" to the students every week,
and special suppers and teas on ire
uuent occasions to the class to which
Ruth had belonged-the class which
had paid the renowned honor to Pro-
fessor Raymond.
First it was noticed that the pro-
fessor left off purple neckties, and
chose in their place those Of brown and
dark blue and gray. He must hava
consulted a new oculist, for before
long he never bothered with having the
shades in his classroom drawn. linen
students began to notice that when ne
passed them on tn campus, instead OF
shutting by them with the look OF
Diogenes in search of an honest man,
he always met them with a 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 Eat homes" on the
campus.
To be sure, Ruth's delicious sand
wiches and chocolate topped with
whipped cream may have been the at
traction, but it 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 his stu
dent guests, and he seemed to realize
that once you have made a student
laugh with you, yoC- have convinced
him that you and he are on friendly
footing, and not separated by tine
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 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 were no peals Of laughter when
| the unanimous ballot was cast. On the
| contrary there was solemn, almost
contrite 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 1t contained. Il 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.
7Don't you know" he asked, shat
understand that you have won this
for me? Could I have been so blind as
not to see? I 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
1 see the abominable Joke"
aThat was my. little Joke on the
class, Ruth, dear. And after those
first weeks Of modification about 1t,
I decided that my ambition was first
to win your love, and then to win that
which has come to me today"