The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1922-04-04
Grapes and the
Professor
By MARTHA MAcwILLIAMs


@. 1922 by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Love Is the law of my being. my
real life, indeed" Miss Maitland
sighed unctuously to Professor Grant,
lifting her eyes, then Instantly drop
4 ping them as though abashed by such
kapproach to self-revelation. She was,
by estate, spinster Of uncertain age,
thirty In her own rose-lighted parlor,
something far beyond that in plain,
unequivocal daylight. BY profession
lion-hunting was her speciality. Since
she was more than rich and In the
very forefront Of clubdom, she had
splendid chances for her favorite
pastlme.
But like John Gilpin's wife, she
had frugal mind. Other folk might
extravagantly dine and wine and make
house-guests of visiting celebrities
the town went In for culture up to Its
elbows-but she confined her efforts
to afternoon receptions; they were
too elaborate to be classed as teas.
Since she had her pick Of the lions
the receptions were not too many,
I three at most In a season, but they
! gave her liberty to be among those
present wherever celebrity was on
view or hearing In other houses. Her
guest list was highly catholic; being
a highbrow reformer to the bone, she
made point Of ringing In now and
again some one Of her tradespeople-
I milliner, caterer, florist. whatnot--and
showed them fine high courtesy that
made the new-rich stare.
! She belonged, you see, to the holders
| of unearned increment-there were
three generations between her and the
ancestral blacksmith whose shop had
grown up into big pillow factory. OF
| course. the folk who kowtowed to her
saw In these casual guests proof of
her sincere democracy, her excellent
heart--no less. But there were cap
! tious ones who sneered that she had
more substantial reasons; that such
invitations were paid for In discounts
and special privileges. But they were
nothing compared to the unbelieving
multitude which was won't to say Of
her favorite platitude, Love Is the law
of my being" that It was gospel truth,
since Miss Maitland loved nobody but
herself. Her money, of course. being
impersonal, ranked above humanity.
Orphaned ten years at least, and
without brother or sister, she lived
alone in grand, rather gloomy house,
set In wide yard at the top Of the
avenue-the towns finest street. Els
peth Cameron, her cousin companion,
of course did not count. A small,
mousey, faithful person, lacking other
shelter, with barely enough income TO
ciothe herself scantily, and neither
training nor opportunity for work. she
was Cousin Annals willing and CRATE
ful slave, effacing herself joyously at
need In the other woman's service. She
many half-worn garments and sort
Of moonlight social position.
Cousin Anna was glad to have
Elspeth included In invitations. but
adroit In so arranging things that
they could rarely be accepted. Elspeth,
you see, was like the paying guests
with difference, that she paid as sign
manual of Miss Maitlands philan-
thropy. This, in addition to being sec
rotary, seamstress In extraordinary,
errand girl, maid and overseer Of the
servants, was no bad return.
Elspeth's heart sank sometimes at
thought of her future IL Cousin Anna
should marry. But she bravely masked
her tremors and made the small jests
as to wooers her benefactress purred
under. Miss Maitland had truly had
beaus a plenty-but for the most part
they had evidently been captives to
her rent roll and bank account rather
than her charms.
Despite hawkish nose and tight,
thin-lipped mouth, she was not i'll
looking in full regalia. Stately things
suited her almost oriental darkness
so did the glow and flash of Jewels
and the softenings of rich fur. Also
her background set Off all these things
SO 1t Is not strange she had rather
taken the visiting professor by storm
he was tallish, lean and good-tem-
pered, widower of long standing, and
verging now upon forty-five-the per-
ilous years Of indiscretion for the male
Of the species. running thence to the
coffin lid.
Likewise he had impressed Miss
Maitland. She was aweary of single
life, of queening It in her provincial
environment. The atmosphere of
big college appealed strongly to her
imagination. so she had given her In
tending sutton glance for glance, sigh
for sigh, and was fully persuaded to
accept him when next he came to
town--a matter still indefinite In date
but sure to happen.
The two of them made fine, stately
pair In the dining room. II was rich
ly ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS carving, rare rugs
much Furnished silver and cleaning
glass, to say nothing of fine antique
mantel and really creditable pictures
hung sparely above the wainscot.
Just now II was at Its best-candle-
lit with long table running cat-a-
cornered, and all too crowded with
Gates of the best. II was decorated
with frult--the centerpiece mound
OF dollhouse grapes, cleaning translu-