The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-01-31

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He had no wish to bathe, but fearing
to vex her, meekly proceeded to per.
form his ablutions.
She, meantime, was vastly relieved.
She smiled to herself at the thought
of how unwilling he had seemed to
give the slightest trouble.
81 suppose he thought VIC Ameri.
cans never had any decent facilities
for q BATH" she reflected. Then;
"He really is remarkably good-look-
ing, for a scientist. If I had not
known what he was, I should have
thought he was just nice young fell
low and rashly tried to get on with
him. Oh, if George had not told me
in time % She shuddered as she
tho1gnt of her escape.
81 suppose he will be dried-up look
ing before long. He is whited-se-
pulchre kind of man now. ] could
not see the slightest sign of badness
in him, but his seething intellect is
bound to cook his hair off in few
years. Even George is n wee bit
bald. But how delightful that Mr..
Smith did not fathom my ignorance. "
She was SO elated that she went to
the piano and sang for half-hour.
She was startled by hearing some
one come rushing into the room be-
hind her. She wheeled on the stool
and encountered the gaze of Mr..
Smith, who stood before her, looking
decidedly uneasy.
81 beg pardon for interrupting you,
Mrs. Bodkine," he said; "but 1 wish
to thank You for your kindness and to
make my adieux."
"Why, Mr.. Smith" she began,
but he waved his hand apologetically
and confined:
81 am very sorry not to have found
Professor Botkine, but perhaps ! can
come again. There is just time for me
to catch the five o'clock train.
1t was her turn to be astonished.
She opened her lips to speak, but he
went on, nervously:
"Pray forgive my leaving you SO
abruptly. Thank you very much,
Good afternoon" and, bowling pro-
foundly, he was gone.
For moment she felt stunned.
Then flood of questions poured
through her mind. Was the man in.
sane? Or what had she done to offend
him? What would her husband say +?
What was there in science to turn an
apparently mice" young man into
such distraught savage?
'Ah recommend me to. plain,
commonplace man who has not bacilli
on the brain! !" she sighed.
The rest of the day seemed endless,
but at last she deserted Professor
Botkine, and with him rather desic-
Gated and "dug-up"- looking man.
"Oh, dear! !" she moaned; "there is
another scientist, know to look at
him. What will he do, l wonder ?
Dissect my cat, or say that he cannot
dine with us because he never eats
anything but bacterial"
Here we are at last" said the pro-
fessor; 81 found our friend on the
train. He had mistaken the train and
gone to Alameda. Mr.. Smith, let me
present you to Mrs. Botkine."
She welcomed her guest cordially,
but the minute she was alone with her
husband, she seized him by the lapels
of his coat.
"What joke have you been playing
on me?" she demanded; "who is this
Mr.. Smith?"
The professor looked astonished.
"Why, my dear, there is no joke.
This is the Mr.. Smith that told you
was expecting this afternoon. What
is the matter?"
''Matter" she cried; "who is the
Mr.. Smith that came here this after
noon with satchel, and asked about
your theories?"
"Why, we met him at the station.
He had few specimens to show me.
He is the son of my friend, Commo-
dore Smith, of San Francisco. He
had just run over for a short call. "
''A short call |" she echoed again /;
"what will he think of me? l sent him
up stairs to take that bath !"-Argo-
naut.