Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-01-09
SEVENTY-FIVE
AND BOARD
By NJ. p. MERRYMAN

uTHly MAfluu iust ptfticleS Uonteu
along the slnntlng sun paths that slid
abruptly Into shndow at the tables
edge. The assistant professor OF biol
ogy sat bumped over Il book that
lay upon the table before him. but he
was not concentrating. nt least not
upon the text. with n thump Of his
fist that set the book jumping he
raised his hcnd and looked about the
big, quiet room.
TIE assistant professor took on his
glasses and rubbed his eyes and
stretched. Then he showed his hands
Into his pockets. tilted back In his
chair and surveyed the shelves OF dog
enred volumes opposite him. II gave
hin nm Immense satisfaction, this bare,
%low-vnulted room with It's brown walls
and solid. brown tables and It's rows
and rows Of books.
The assistant professor pulled out n
crumpled bit OF paper from his pocket
and smoOthed Il out upon the book,
after which he continued to regard II
with an expression OF ironlcnl nmuSe-
ment. II was Il check made out to him
for the amount OF twelve dollars and
nifty cents n sum he had received In
payment OF a scientific article which
II had taken him two months to write.
II was a good article. too, but accord
Ing to more than n editor mot suf-
hciently popular In tone"
He had been trying to make a de
cislon. This last contemplation Of the
scrap OF paper In his hand had served
TO tOpple the scales. lie closed the
book with n bang, uncrossed his long
legs, rose from the table and ambled
down the aisle to the door. outside
he stood for nm instant blinking In
the strong light. When he closed his
eyes they still registered printed book
pages. With something OF the feel
ing Of n stranger he turned and scuifed
along the lenf-strewn path TO the lake.
Now that there was no longer any
doubt about his departure the inti-
mate landscape seemed MI at once un-
familiar and different. lie felt already
detached from lt-and sorry.
The moment the tip OF her canoe
veered round a bend in the shore line
he recognized II and whlstled. The
assistant professor OF English whis-
tied her answer and waved an undlg-
nlied paddle In greeting as her small
craft slipped into sight.
want to conner" she called, invit.
lngly.
"Surei"
IAN right Climb ini"
The canoe nosed lnndwnrd and
slushed into the sand. with n lunge
which shot the boat into deeper water
and himself mirnculously. into the
bont, the new passenger embarked
and took charge OF the paddle.
"Where tot" he asked.
"Oh. anywhere" she replied and
smiled nj him.
II, selected the most distant spot on
the lake, laid the paddle ncross the
canoe and rested his elbows on II.
''Tnkes longer this way" he ex-
planned.
She laughed and leaned sideways TO
witch n swirl Of red and yellow leaves
that went scuddlng along the surface
of the water like n fleet OF toy sail.
boats. The red OF her tam-o'- shnnter,
however, held more fascination for
him. At length the leaves whlrled out
OF sight and she settled back In her
seat to feast her eyes upon lake and
trees and sky.
"Fm so sorry for all the folks who
live In cities" she said.
"Whyf"
She looked up inqulrlngly at the
question. lie had snapped Il out so
abruptly II puzzled her a little. He
had begin padding, too. %furiously.
"'Whyf'" she repeated. why. be
cause they MISS all this 70 She waved
a brown nrm toward the rusting woods
that Swallowed them. wouldn't YOU
hate 10 miss ltf' she querled. The
blade In his hand cut q long swath
before he answered,
IL expect 10 miss lt-after next
sunday" be snld.
"You-you mcan-T Her question
hung unfinished,
yes, Pm going uway-to the city"
he said dryly with n pucker OF his
mouth M n even the taste OF the
words WIS bitter to him.
"Ohi" She BIT her lips and tried 10
go on speaking naturally. but her
brain appeared 20 be turning a somer.
sault-and no words came.
yes" he went on duly. "rm GO
Ing away. Decker has a fellow here
now who can take my place. They've
given me these last two days TN col