Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1921-01-18
By ALVIN BARTLETT

u
nance to the life OF Hugh Pierson,
and as to the fanciful and sentimental
little that was dreamy or idealistic had
ever entered his thoughts. He was as-
tronoEer at Boyden college. was
looked upon by his professional asso-
ciates and the students as very wise
and gifted person in his especial line
OF scholastic dignity. and when he was
seated at his table In the little cupola
with revolving windows and scanning
the armament he was all In class by
himself, for he knew every stellar at
traction intimately.
1t was just before twilight and the
professor was gazing sadly at the far
nebulae OF thelmilky way, and wonder
ing how many thousand years II would
take to reach Venus In taxicab when
a fiery sphere with a long tail fioated
across the lens Of the telescope.
II declareP uttered the professor,
gluing his eye closer to the instrument
Then a wild uproar assailed his
sense Of hearing. The campus beyond
the little surface tower of observation
was free territory for any who chose
to invade II as TO stroll or exercise.
Gazing out through the window at his
side, the professor made out two little
urchins waillng franucally and point
Ing upward. The comet the erudlte
astronomer had viewed was forthwith
revealed In its real form and sub
stance. Caught on wire running
from the pagoca TO the main building
was a wobbllng, whirllng object, kite
but attractive and unique and not OF
the ordinary paper type. Its lantern
attachment was extinguished as the
tail switched that appendage around
the wire. The professor went outside.
What is II, my little mani" he in
quired Of the five-year-old leader OF
the youthful mob.
please, sir, I'm Teddy Bigger" came
the doleful reply, "and Winnie is my
sister"
what has that TO do, with It, Teddy
Bleyer, IL you pieasei" challenged the
professor, always kindly with children.
Amos Mansey here" and the lad
indicated an urchin about his own age,
a chubby, resolute faced chum mani
testify Of ruder stripe, ''says he that
old silk waist Of your sister win make
a beautiful faced kite and II did but
II broke loose. And we made the tail
out of some OF her poetry pages. and
now it's caught In the wires. And may
be we hadn't ought to have used the
stun, and it's too late now-boo-hoo |"
Professor Pierson cast his eye crit
ically aloft. "See here, little man." he
observed, at is too dark to risk climb
ing that pole and reaching for the
wires, but l viii see that first thing IN
the morning the kite is rescued all safe
and sound"
"oh, viii you-win your" pressed
the small grateful Teddy eagerly.
Wont i be glad And, say because
you look so kind and smart and good,
won't you take the kite back to Winnie
and tell her all about itf''
Professor Pierson smiled quantity, !
but the confidence placed in his abil-
ity to do almost anything In the esti-
nation Of little Teddy Bleyer and his
artless, sincere compliment won the
day.
Give me your sisters address, little
Teddy Bigger" he directed.
The professor was an early riser. He
escaped observation and possible ridi-
cule by arming himself with a long
pole almost before dawn and getting
the kite safely to terra firmn- Its silk |
face was unmarried, but its tail, formed /
mostly Of folded sheets Of paper tied |
with knots OF cloth, needed some I'M
tangling. He was pursuing this part |
Of his task when one came free, then /
another and for over an hour Profess
sor Pierson sat engrossed In scanning |
Sister Winnle's poetry sheets"
Poetry He was not much given TO
II, but he knew that here we're the sim
cere outpourings Of a guileless, artless
soul, amateurish but fervent and as a
polished, cultured student he recog-
nized the true afflatus. Professor Pier
son began to take dreamy interest In
the young lady he had never seen. The
silk face Of the kite could probably
never again be used for even patching.
but the transcripts of vagrant
thoughts Of beauty were intact Sister
winnie's poetry sheetsl Really, Pro
lessor Pierson had Toasted on senti-
ment and was glad OF 1t.
1t was odd. but the professor made
An Immaculate toilet that morning. He I
even placed a rose bud In his button
hole. He wore a really attractive tie.
almost SPORTY" a student observed to
a companion as they passed the astute
astronomer on the campus.
e II It had not been that Miss Winnie
Bleyer was the most artless. human
and bright-souled Of woman kind, the
professor might have been dreadfully
As 1t was he performed
his mission gracefully and well, and
pleaded for little brother and his COM
Danion, and for the first time he
viewed a pretty girl with ewes opened