Graham guardian., 1921-04-29
MARY'S STRATEGY
BY JENNIE LITTLE.

20, 1920. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
Ezbon Markham. famous in astron-
Omy, ambIed leisurely along his favor.
ite path through the orchard, with his
heed in the clouds, as usual, and only
his feet connected with mundane
things. So engrossed was he ir plans
for the coming evenings work, that
he failed to notice the lovellneSs 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 dillgent bee worked overtime.
lOath to leave the treRSure-laden bios
SONS, while the descending sun beamed
with seeming satisfaction upon the pic.
twe which he had helped to create
Not the least attractive detail was
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
II.
At the sound of footsteps she looked
up, then swung lightly to the ground.
and stood smlllngly expectant. But the
professor was as blind 10 the little
teachers charms rs he had been to the
lambs, the butterflies and the blossoms.
and passed by without glance.
She stamped her foot In evaporation
ut the retreating figure. "WOuld any.
one but a mummy ignore me as ne
1oes, 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 ! doubt II 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 bug, he brought
II to me TO admire. II only those horn
rlmmed soup plates would get broken,
for I believe there are a pair Of fine
eyes behind them. He can't he day
over So but look at that shock Of hair
md awful old linen duster. Poor thing
He is like pltiful 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. cover 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
telescope. or perish in the attempt"
md 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 Jupiterr for hi
'yc1e, speeding noiselessly up behind,
ave him q jolt that destroyed both
his train of thought and equilibrium.
Before he could regain his balance he
vas over the. roadside, standing ankle
1cep in little brook that gurgled with
rlee at his predicament. and the offend
ne spPctacles lay in fragments on the
ground.
The collision had also unseated the
'ider, who sat in the dust trying TO
control her cOuntenance. Really" said
he professor with a peeved air step
oing out Of the water and shaking each
FOOT gingerly. like n cat who had been
trying TO steal the goldfish. "the road
seems wide enough for both of us,
without this untimely disturbance" and
lt that, the offender covered her face
with both hands, and her shoulders
hcaved SpasmOdically. He eyed her
with some concern. (Truly Mary had
not jumped at cOnclusiOns-they were
splendid eyes.)
Don't cry, child, accidents will hap
pen" he said more kindly; Jump up,
and he more careful next tlme;" 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 I'm 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 Mark
ham," she Uuavered, "but you should
have 6cen 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
mllar. But do not let the matter dis
turb you further"
Then she flashed a radiant glance
upon him. "Why. I am your right.
hand neighbOr at Mrs, Brady's table
Mary Mordaunt."
The professor unsuspectlngly met
| that lOok--and the scales fell from his
eyes. Was II possible that there were
objects ms beautiful ms 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
entered his neglected study, and walk
ing to the window viewed the midnight
sky. but when he looked nj the MILKY
| NNnr hn thnnmhi of a lnft-chepk dim.