The Lamar register., 1920-04-21
MARY'S STRATEGY
BY JENNIE LITTLE.


oIny. ambled leisurcly along his favor
lie path through the orchard. with his
head in the clouds. as usual. and only
tls 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.
group of lambs frisked and bounced on
thr velvety grass from sheer Joy OF
living. Two belated butterflies winged
their golden way upward into the blue.
| and diligent bee worked overtime.
| lOath to leave the treasurc-laden bios
| SONS. while the descending sun heamed
with seeming satisfaction upon the pic
ture which he had helped To create.
Not the least attractive detail was a
girl perched on a 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 al the sections of blue sky seen
hetween Its foliage. aud You have found
II.
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 II glance.
She stamped her foot in exasperation
at the retreating figure. would any
one but a mummy ignore me as he
all
/ with him on day like thisr 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 IL 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 found a particularly
horrid, creepy. Gravity hug. he brought
/ II TO Inc to admire. II only those horn
trimmed soup plates would get broken,
for I believe there are n pair Of fine
eyes behind them. He can't he day
, over ~. hut look at that shock OF hair
and awful old linen duster. Poor thing
He Is like pitifui little boy who needs
mothertng and doesn't realize IT
An imp OF mischief peeped out In
her sudden smile as she watched him
disappear. "ovcr the stile. up the hill.
/ and around home by the cross roads.
Mary. dear it'- up 10 you TO call his
attention 10 the fact that there are
stars to be seen on earth without a
telescope. or perish IN the attempt"
and she ran back toward the house.
The professor had taken his sched-
uied tramp and was on the home
stretch. rehearsing his latest lecture.
And so the relation OF the astral
bodies to-jumping Jupiter" for bi-
cycle. speeding nolselessly up behind.
gave him JOLT that destroyed both
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 with
glee at his predieanent. and the offend
Ing spectacles lay In fragments on the
ground.
The collision had also unseated the
rider. who sat In the dust trying TO
control her countenance. Really" said
! the professor with a peeved air. step
ping out OF the water and shaking each
foot gingerly. like q cat who had been
trying TO steal the goldfish. "the road
seems wide enough for both OF us
without this untimely disturbance" and
at that. the offender covered her face
with both hands. and her shoulders
heaved asmodically. He eyed her
with some concern. tTruly Mary had
NOT jumped at conclusions-they We're
splendid eyes.)
Don't cry. child. accidents VIII hap
| pen he said more kindly: Jump up.
and he more careful next time :" but to
his surprise he discovered that he had
helped not a child but an unmistakably
| young lady to her feet. He dropped
her hands as II 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 un-
mercifully could she keep from burst
Ing into laughter.
please pardon me. Professor Marx.
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"