Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1920-07-09
MARY'S STRATEGY
BY JENNIE LITTLE.


Ezbon Markham. famous IN astron-
olny. ambied leisurely along his favor
lite path through the orchard. with his
head in the clouds. as usual. and only
his feet connected with mundane
things. So engrOssed was he in plans
for the coming evenings work. that
he failed to notice the loneliness Of the
waning afternoon. The fruit trees were
like huge pink and white bouquets. A
group Of lambs frIsked and bounced on
the velvety grass from sheer JOY Of
living. Two belated butterflies winged
their golden way upward into the blue,
and diiigent bee worked overtime,
loath to leave the treasure-laden bios
SONS, while the descending sun beamed
with seeming satisfaction upon the pic
ture which he had helped to create
Not the least attractive detail was a
girl perched on low, broad limb. read
Ing and drinking In the sweetness Of
the canopy above her. There Is one
picture that no artist can ever paint.
Lie Mt ease under an apple tree. look
Ing up Mt the sections Of blue sky seen
between Its foliage, and you have found
1t.
AT the sound Of footsteps she looked
up, then swung lightly to the ground.
and stood smilinsly expectant. But the
professor was as blind to the little
teachers charms rs he had been to the
lambs. the butterflies and the blossoms,
and passed by without glance.
She stamped her foot in evaporation
Mt the retreating figure. "Wou1d any
one but mummy ignore me as he
does, and never even ask me to walk
with him on n day like this? Ever
since he came to Mrs. Brady's six
weeks ago. the only conversation he
has favored me with IS. please pass
the SALT" and doubt II he knows
which Is II and which is me- Why,
the old entomologist who boarded here
last summer was much more human.
for whenever he fOnnd n particularly
horrsd. creepy. Gravity bug. he brought
1t TO ire to admire. IF only those horn
trimmed soup plates would get broken.
for 1 believe there are n pair Of fine
eyes behind them He can't he n day
over So INT look mt that shock of hair
and awful old linen buster. Poor thing!
He Is like pitiful Httfe boy who needs
mothering and doesn't realize It,"
An imp of mischief peeped out in
her sudden smile as she wTfcired him
disappear. "Over the stiIc. up the hill.
and around home by rhe cross roads.
Marry. dear. IT'S up to- you ia cull his
attention to the fact fiat there are
STARK to he spen on eart1i without n
telescope, or perish In the attempt"
and she ran back toward tie house,
The professor had taken his sci,ed-
ulrd tramp amt was on the home
STRETCH rehearsfne his LATEST lecture.
sssAnd sn the reiittinn OF t1ie as+ral
bodies th,--.i,impns Jupiter" for a bf-
cycle. speeding .WisrleSsly UP behind.
gave him n jolt that destroyed both
his trairp Of thought and equilibrium.
Before lie could regain his balance he
was over the roadside. startling onRre
deep in little BROOK Tint gdrgled with
giec at his predicament, and the offend
ing spectaeies Iny in fragments or fine
ground.
The collision haii' also un>eated tffe
rider. who sat in tile dust trying to
control her"eOuntenunce. Really" said
the professor with 4 peeveT mir: Step
ping out of the water and shuRing each
foot gingerlt, like a. cat who ind been
trying to steal the goldfish. "tlie road
seems wide enough for botn' Of rs,
without this untlmeft disturbance" and
at TINT. the" offender covered her face
with both lands. and her shoulders
heaved spasrn0dlcaf7S. He eyed Her
with some concern. (Truly Mary Ind
mot Jumped att concitIsions-tfiey were
splendid eyes)'
, Don't cry. chilli! accidents will IMP
pen" he sara more kindly: 'ihmp wp,
and he more cnrefili next time" but to
his surprise lie discovered that lie mad
helped not acfiild. 5ut an Enthusiastically
young lady to Her feet. He dropped
her hands rs If titey had burned him.
and the little teacher turned a tearwet
face In his direction. How coW.f he
know that only by biting her Iips IN.
mcrcifully eould she keep from burst
ing into laughter.
''PleaSe pardorr me, Professor Mark
hnm," she q,Invered, "but you should
have been on the footpath and
turned the curve from the crossroads
| too quickly"
"You have the advantage Of nne," re-
! turned tire professor in his most stilted
tones, Though your face seems IA
miliar. But 10 not let bhe mktter dis
turb yoS further"
Then she flashed radiant glance
upon him. "Why. am your right
hand neighbor at Mrs, Brady's table
Mary MOrdaunt."
'rhe professor unsuspectingly met
that 1Ook-ond the scales fell from his
! eicS WaS II nnsSihle TINT thnre unre