The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1920-04-22
MARY's STRATEGY
BY JENNIE LITTLE.

ony, amDled IelSurely along MS FAVOR
lite path through the orchard, with his
mead 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 a diligent bee worked overtime,
loath to leave the treasure-laden bios
SONS, while the descending sun beamed
with seeming satisfa ction 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 at ease under an apple tree, look
ing up at the sections of blue sky seen
between it's foliage, and you have found
it.
At the sound of footsteps she looked
up, then swung lightly to the ground,
and stood smilingly expectant. But the
professor was as blind to the little
teachers charms as he had been to the
lambs. the butterflies and the blossoms,
and passed by without glance.
She stamped her foot in evaporation
at the retreating figure. "Would any
one but mummy ignore me as he
does, and never even ask me to walk
with him on a 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 I doubt if he knows
which is it and which is me. Why,
the old entomologist who boarded here
last summer was much more human,
for whenever he found a particularly
horrid, creepy, Gravity bug he brought
It to me to admire. If only those horn
trimmed soup plates would get broken,
for believe there are pair Of fine
eyes. behind them. He can't be a day
over IS, but look at that shock of hair
and awful old linen buster. Poor thing
He is like pitiful little boy who needs
mothering and doesn't realize it."
An imp Of mischief peeped out in
her sudden smile as she watched him
disappear. "Over the stile, up the hill
| and around home by the cross roads
Mary, dear, it's up to you to call his
attention to the fact that there are
| stars to be seen on earth without s
telescope, or perish in the attempt
and she ran back toward the house.
The professor had taken his SEIZED
uled tramp and was on the home
!, stretch, rehearsing his latest lecture
And so the relation of the astra
bodies to-jumping Jupiter!" for a b!
cycle, speeding noiselessly up behind
gave him jolt that destroyed bOtI
his train Of thought and equilibrium
Before he could regain his balance he
was over the roadside, standing ankle
deep in little brook that gurgled witt
glee at his predicament, and the offend
ing spectacles lay in fragments on the
ground.
The collision had also unseated the
rider, who sat in the dust trying tt
control her countenance. "Really," sale
| the professor with a peeved air, step
| ping out Of the water and shaking each
foot gingerly, like a cat who had beer
! trying to steal the goldfish, "the roa(
| seems wide enough for both of US
without this untimely disturbance" ant
at that, the offender covered her face
with both hands, and her shoulders
heaVed systematically. He eyed he1
with some concern. (TruIy Mary hat
not jumped at conclusions-they were
| splendid eyes)
Don't cry, child, accidents will hap
! pen" he said more kindly; Jump up
and be more careful next time" but tc
his surprise he discovered that he hai
helped not a child. but an unmistakably
young lady to her feet. He dropped
her hands as if they had burned him
and the little teacher turned a tear-wet
face in his direction. How could he
know that only by biting her lips I'M
mercifully could she keep from burst
| ing into laughter.
| please pardon me, Professor Mark.
| ham," she quavered, ''but you should
! have been on the footpath and ]
turned the curve from the crossroads
too quickly"
You have the advantage of me-" re-
turned the professor in his most stilted
tones, Though your face seems ia.
miliar. But do not let the matter dis.
turb you further"
Then she flashed radiant glance
upon him. "Why. I am your right.
hand neighbor at Mrs. Brady's table
Mary Mordaunt.'
The professor unsuspectingly met
that look-and the scales fell from his
eyes. Was it possible that there were
objects as beautiful as stars which all
this time he had been overlooking;
he threw back his head and breathed
! deeply of air that seemed to set his
pulses bounding with new life. What
sunset! What a night! What a
girl! Oh, Mary, you have certainly
done your work well.
Several hours later the professor