Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1920-06-02
MARY'S STRATEGY
BY JENNIE LITTLE.


ms rect 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
IKE 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 satisfaction upon the pic
fure 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 Its 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 a glance.
She stamped her foot In evaporation
at the retreating figure. "woeld any
one but mummy ignore me as he
does, and never even ask me to walk
with him on 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 l doubt IL he knows
which is 1t 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. II 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 80, 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
4 attention to 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-
uled tramp and was on the home
stretch, rehearsing his latest lecture.
And so the relation of the astral
bodies to-jumping Jupiteri" for BIZ
cycle, speeding noiselessly up behind.
gave him a 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 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 to
| control her countenance. REALLY" said
the professor with peeved air, step
ping out of the water and shaking each
| foot gingerly, like 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 spasmodically. He eyed her
with some concern. (Truly Mary had
not. jumped at conclusions-they were
splendid eyes.)
ttTnnfN
pen he said more kindly; lump up.
and be more careful next time" but TO
his surprise he discovered that he had
helped not child. but an Enthusiastically
young lady to her feet. He dropped
her hands as If they had burned him.
and the little teacher turned 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 a radiant glance
upon him. why, l am your right
hand neighbor at Mrs. Brady's table
Mary Mordaunt"
The professor uEsuspectingly met
that look-and the scales fell from his
eyes. Was 1t 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.