Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-04-22
A Merger
By FREpEKICkE CLARKE

Miss Agatha Browne WAS rh!rty-tve
and looked older. She had been pretty
when she WIS Il Sirl-thst could easily
! be seen from the regular contour Of
/ her face. her soft, clear skin, ANA the
gray eyes which even her JetructorS
allowed would be beautiful II she did
not hide them behind those hidcouS
round Spectacle lenses. Miss Agatha
Browne WAS professor 0f economics At
Ledl:aIn seminary, which. as most
people know. receives only selected
;;iri p"n!lS from among tho first fHIni-
lies Of TIE South.
Prof. Sampson Boyle,t instructed
he same select Young ladies In Ro-
man history. The young ladies Of Led
ham seminary might have been seen
with their heads very close together
one evening after the professor had
concluded his lecture. lie Ind been
expountling The Marriage Customs of
the Samnitcs."
Mustn't it have been dreadful In
those days!" said Miss Philippa Clark,
reading from her notebook. "Just
think Among the Samnite ladies 1t
was not an uncommon thing TO take
the Initiative In the proposal OF mat
rimonial alliance. When gentle glanccs
and hints failed to accomplish their
purpose the Snmnite woman did not
hesitate to address herself openly to
the backward suitor."
"Dreadfull" exclaimed Miss Mary
Campbell. one az the most select of
the young ladies. "Why, ii was grand"
Professor Boyictt appeared unusual
~ preoccupicd nn the second day aft
erward.
Er-One moment. ladies' he began
| as the class waited its dismissal. Can
anyone tell me whether there Is a-cr
! any attuchc Of this institution whose
Initials are \. By
Miss Agathu Browne, professor Of
economies" chantcd the class. And
the professor. after staring speechlcss-
ly at them for IN instant. suddenly
bolted through the door
At that instant Miss Browne was
saying:
"a most Insulting thing has hap
pencd TO mt, girls. I hesitate to men,
ton 1t, and should NOT. did 1 not fear
it Is some unworthy member Of this
seminary. l have received an anony-
| nous letter contuining-in short, 4
proposal If marriage"
"Oh. no. Miss Browne!" exclaimed
the class fl horror.
Ladies'. your attitude docs you
credit" said the professor Of econo-
| mics. "Er-by the way, is there any
| person connected with this seminary
whose initials are S. By
"Prof. Sampson Boylett." shouted
the class In economics in unison.
Then an extraordinary thing hap
pened. Behind Miss Brownies large
spectncles reddish hue, arising in
| the neighborhood If either ear. spread
and expanded until it completely COW
| cred her face.
| Dear me. this IL very painful I"
! murmurcd Miss Browne. THE class
| is dismissed"
The class. released from lis duties.
"uShcd TO the windows and looked out
| Ipon the campus. 1t saw Miss Browne
| emerge from the portals OF the IA
nous institution of learning with Il
hurried and yet furtivc step. if such a
! term could be applied TO any quality
or attribute OF Miss Browne With
| her umbrella folded in her hand, the
! professor of economics picked her way
! down the Graveily walk toward the en-
| trance. Then the class and Miss
Browne simultaneously perceived a
| second figure, a bent, irrcsolutc, mid
| dle-agcd figure approaching the same
| portals from the classroom in Roman
history.
And then occurred Il peculiar phe-
| nOmenon such as had never been
| known to happen during the memory
of the class. For Miss browne. instead
| OF continuing upon her reSolute way
! toward the gate, made Il short cut
across the S"ggy rrass-Miss browne.
! whose state OF health was ALWAYS
! known to be exactly commensurate
with the hySicnic condition of her
| OycrShOeS
And, rs an immoyablc body enc0un-
! tcrs an irresistible force, so Miss
! Agatha Browne encountered Professor
! Boylett beside the portals Of the Led
ham Seminary for Young Ladies'. The
! professor saw bcr, Strengthened him.
self, and spoke.
| ''Er--nmong the Samnitcs there ex-
! isted custon'~-hc began.
Il have always told my class" Miss
Browne remarked Mt the same mo-
mcnt, that the custom which re-
| strains the female half Of the com.
! IpuEity--"
! (which J would Ike the last to con.