The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1894-09-08
HAD TO HAVE A BATH

at Berkeley.
lie was ~dclighteely watching the eff
forts Of his pet toad to capture a very
large ~anglewor1n, and his enjoyment
was ENLARGED by the fact that his beau
tiful German wife. who usually deciIn-
ed to interest herself IL anything which
she even suspected Of a connection with
science, wns seated beside him, giving
eager little rre&sures to his hand and
utte1iEg o pleased exclamation IL her
pretty foreign Iece4t Whenever the o
made an extra effort.
The worrl gave q little wriggse IS it
began to Gene o,5 o. the ground, when,
quick IS = FISH. the toad made a leap
and scizea. sc ED CT the worm in its
mouth.
Then be-. the tug of war. But the
toad was nc. , be discouraged. 1t jerk
ed and jerL.oa until it fairly stood on
its hind legs. Still it could not dis
lodge the wol1A.
At this interesting point a train whis-
tied.
'sWhy, Selma" said TIE professor,
there is the train already! l had quito
forgotten that ! must go to the city to-
day. Where is my HAITI"
do wait an instant, dear. lust see
what that toad is doing!" she answer
ed, holding him back.
He glanced down and saw the toad
twisting its legs about until the worm
was wrapped twice around it. Then the
toad gave a hop, aud out came the
worm. This had been too fascinating a
spectacle to the unwary professor. He
dashed into the house and back again,
kissed his wife, and, with a regretful
glance at her ripping hair and soft blue
eyes, started off.
Suddenly he rushed back.
"Why, dear, he cried, II forgot to
tell you that MI. Smith, the Canadian
who wrote the paper on bacteria, will
be here this afternoon to stop a day or
two. He may come before l am back"
She clasped her hands in mock de-
spair.
"Oh, don't be alarmed! Just let him
have a good soaking in a bathtub.
Then he viii come out perfectly human
and happy. He's an Englishman, you
know"
She grew sober as she thought how
ruthlessly science and scientists seemed
to dog her unwilling footsteps. Her hus-
band certainly loved her, but he had a
way Of becoming utterly absorbed in
his studies and then bursting into her
reflections with remarks which sounded
perfectly gkoulish.
Now here was this Canadian coming!
And how was she to be properly in
terested in his old bacteria and not dis
grace her husband by ~betraying her
ignorance on the subject? she asked her
self.
Manifestly he must take a bath, and
everything possible must be done to
make the bathroom attractive, SO that he
would stay there as long as possible. She
went up stairs, and her OWL dimpled
hands got down a new cake OF perfumed
soap.
She eyed it critically. Perhaps his Sc
we're scientific mind would be disguised
with such effeminate luxury.
She would place beside it a cake of
white CASTLE. Then, whatever his tastes,
he must be pleased.
She put the alcohol and a cologne
bottle within easy reach, got out smooth
and rough tow els and a bath blanket,
saw that the shower bath worked, and,
with a sigh of relief, went down stairs
to impress the cook that during the en-
tire afternoon there must be plenty Of
hot water in the boiler.
Suddenly a happy thought struck her.
She went into her husbands study and
brought out every book on bacteriology
that she could find. These she ranged
on a shelf at the foot of the bathtuh.
Standing ont a little beyond the others,
as if but just showed in, was Mr..
Smiths own pamphlet on bacteria.
Mrs. Botkine pinned on the wall some
colored illustrations of various forms
of bacteria and then surveyed the effect
with the calm satisfaction of a general
who foresees the success of his maneu-
vers.
She had done all size could. With this
virtuous feeling she was able to 60
about her occupatiUus for the day and
in the afternoon even banished the
thought of her expected guest enough to
take a quiet nap.
She was awakeled by a knock at her
door, and the maid handed her a card
bearing the seemingly innocent inscrip-
ton, ssMr. Worthington Smith"
She fingered outside the drawing