The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-16

sylvia was tnree years OLD When
she came to her grandfather's. This
she knew from the old servant; but
where her earlier years had been
spent or why or with whom she did
not know; and when her grandfather
was so kind. and her studies SO alb
/ sorbing, II did not seem worth while
to trouble about any state OF exist
ence antedating her first clear recol-
/ lections-which were OF days pune
tuated and governed by the college
bell. and of people who either taught
or studied with glimpses now and
then Of the women and children of the
professors households.
Sylvia knew the world chiefly from
her reading-Miss Alcott's and Mrs.
Whitney's stories at first. and st.
Nicholas" every month, on e. certain
day that found her meeting the post
man far across the campus; and she
| had read all the Frank" books-ths
! priced possessions OF neighbours
| boy.-from the Maine woods through
| the gunboat and prairie exploits Of
that delectLble hero. At fourteen she
had fallen upon Scott and Bulwer and
had devoured them voraciously dur
ing the long vacation. In shady cor
ners OF the deserted campus, and she
was now fixing Dickens characters
ineTaceably in her mind by Cruik.
shank's drawings. She was we'll
grounded in Latin and had q fair
reading knowledge OF French and
/ German. She was old for her age,
people said. and the Lane wondered
what her grandfather meant to do
with her.
The finding OF Professor Kelton
proves to be. as Cylvia had surmised.
/ a simple matter. He Is at work in a
quiet alcove Of the college library. a
man just entering sixty. with white,
/ close-trimmed hair and beard. His
/ face brightens and his eyes kindle as
{ he clasps Sylvia's slender, supple hand.
| 1T must be a student-are, you sure
| he isn't a STUDENT"
! Sylvia was confident OF It.
Very likely an agent. then. They're
very clever about Disgusting them
/ selves. I never see agents. you know,
/ Sylvia"
/ Sylvia declared her belief that the
( stranger was not an agent. and the
+ professor glanced at his book reluct-
antly.
Very well: will see him. wish
[ you would run down these references
/ for me. Sylvia. Don't trouble about
/ those 1 have checked off II can't be
+ possible I am following a false clew.
( I'm sure 1 printed that article IN the
/ Popular Science Monthly for l re-
call perfectly that John Fiske wrote
me q letter about it. Come home when
you have finished and Wen take our
usual walk together"
/ Professor Kelton had relinquished
his chair IN the college when Sylvia
came to live with him twelve years
before the beginning of this history,
and had shut himself away from the
( world; but no one knew why. Sylvia
was the child Of his only daughter. OF
whom no one ever spoke, though the
older members Of the faculty had
known her. as they had known also
+ the professors wife, now dead many
/ years. He was still a special lecturer
at Madison, and he derived some In
come from the sale OF textbooks In
mathematics. which he revised from
with changing educational methods
! The tradition of Professor Kelton's
+ sci olarship had descended to Sylvia
amusingly. She had never attended
school. but he had taught her sys.
/ tenatically at home. and his interests
were hers. The students attributed
to her the most abstruse knowledge,
and stories of her precoclty were re-
+ peated proudly by the Lane folk.
/ Many evenings spent with her grand
father at the observatory had not
been wasted She knew the paths Of
the stars as she knew the walks Of
the campus DR.. Wandless. the presi.
dent emeritus. addressed her always
as MY Lady OF the Consultations. d"
and told her solemnly that from much
peering through the telescope she had
coaxed the stars into her own eyes.
The professor found the stranger
Sylvia had announced waiting for him
at the cottage The young man did
not mention his own name. but drew
from his pocket a sealed letter.
is this Prof Andrew Kelton7 I
am to give you this letter and wait
for an answer"
Professor Kelton sat down at his
desk and slit the envelope. The let.
ter covered only one page and he read
slowly to the end He then reread
the whole carefully and placed the
sheet on his desk. and laid a weight
upon # before he faced the messen-
ger He passed his hand across his
forehead. stroked his beard and said.
speaking slowly:
You were to bring this letter and
/ bear back an answer to the writer,
| but you were instructed not to dis
ouss II in any way or disclose the
name or the residence OF the pearson
who sent you. So much learn from
the letter itself"
Yes. sir. know nothing OF the
contents OF the letter. I was told to
deliver 1t and to carry back the
answer
Very good. sir. You have fulfilled
your mission. Please note carefully
what say. The reply is No. There
must be no mistake about that,-do
you understands
IT am to report that you answered
No"
That is correct, SIR" replied Pro.
| fessor Kelton quietly. The young
man rose, and the Professor followed
him to the door.
IT thank you for your treble; It
has been a warm day. the warLest of
the season. Good-afternoon. SIR"