Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13
A PROFESSORS WEAKNESS |
From the Pail Mall Budget.

NAeAA tne MIL Budget.
HAS the mail gone?' asked the Hour
Hand. 1t gave a scarcely perceptible Jerk
as II spoke
The mail has gone" replied the Minute
Hand. with some acerbity And IL you
hadn't been as near asleep as doesn't mat
ter, you'd know the mail was gone You'd
know, too, that 1t was an Indian mail to-
night. and that it was two minutes late
starting. Why on earth don't you look
about your Pom me word you give me the
fair hump
Charing Cross Station was, by comparison
with its recent stress and turmoil deserted
A few people, who were still waiting under
the clock for other people who had arranged
to go with them to the play, but had mis-
taken the year, looked anxiously up at the
Minute Hand and said Bother and men
tally gave themselves just five minutes
more Porters came back from the plat
forms, furtively counting gains, and mop
ping their foreheads with the backs of
their hands.
"Oh! two minutes late, was it?" said the
Hour Hand, slowly.
BY gad!' said the other, with affected
admiration, you can grasp an idea quickly
when you like. How on earth do you man.
age it?"
1T reminds me- went on the Hour Hand,
placidly, ''of one night"
And told this tale.
Young Mrs. Waterhouse finished the writing
OF dutiful letter to her mother.
The letter assured the anxious old lady
That the writer was quite happy: that there
was really no necessity for worry, and that
mamma might make herself quite content
at Biarritz. Godfrey was the best of hus-
bands, and, although of course much en-
gagged at South Kensington with his fear
tully abstruse experiments and his new
book on steel fibers, he was extremely at
tentive and kind. And she was, with much
love- mammals affectionate daughter, Helen
Waterhouse.
Mamma won't believe it," said young
Mrs. Waterhouse, with a kind of comic
despair. She is always wanting to know
about the skeleton. Thank goodness, there
isn't oner'
On the clean blottng pad was an impress
of some of her husbands writing A pal
ette-shaped mirror stood OH the table, and
haf unconsciously, she turned the pad to-
ward it.
wonder to whom he has been wrIting?"
1t was quite easy to see. Mrs Water
house glanced at it casually at first; then,
her face fiercely pink, with much attention:
Il want you, my dearest, to believe that
L am quite true to you. am bound by
certain ties to others, but to you, my sweet
heart my own dearest Alicia
"Alicia!' cried Mrs. Warehouse aloud,
as she painted and sat back in her chair.
Alicia! Alicia who. L wonder?''
She knew his writing well that she
could scarce be deceived on that point. The
whole thing in moment was clear. Her
dear mother, with less cramped expert
ence of the world, had been right, after
all
There is a 81 eleton," said the trembling
Mrs. Waterhouse. She tore up her letter
to Biarritz into many pieces. As the last
fragment went into the ferns in the fire.
place she felt a kiss upon her neck.
Don't do that, please" she cried.
BEG pardon" said her husband. Did
frighten you?"
He took off his hat and adjusted his
pincenez. His GOODNESS almost took her
breath away.
II must say, Godfrey" she declared.
that 1 can't help admiring your-your
cheek"
MY love, 1 admire yours. I meant to
have kissed 1t just now"
She took up a newspaper and. twisting it
violently in her excitement, made an en-
deavor to speak with calmness.
Il have been reading rather an interest
iEg fragment, Godfrey. Shall l tell you
what it is?''
quote away"
of vantage furnished by rug the letter 20
Alicia. The professor dropped his glasses
and looked intensely disturbed.
Now, my dear love"
my dear Helen, then, will you allow me
to say"
Il only want to know one thing: Did you
write this ridiculous stuff please?'
why, yes. I'm not going to deny that.
OF course. it's only part Of the letter to
the girl. but If you like 1 can tell you what
happens afterward.'
Il don't want to know. II this gets known
what will be thought of you? You will be
the laughing stock of all your colleagues"
That's very true" acknowledged Prof.
Warehouse with concern; that's very
true, and 1t must never get known. I can't
drop the affair row, unfortunately; but you
know'-he smiled at his wife a little anx-
iously--"there really is no harm in 1t, and
I'm not the only man who"
"Reallyr' In tone of remote and frigid
interest.
II frankly admit. though. that 1 should
be very sorry for 1t to get known. OF
course, 1t seems to you very foolish thing
to do"
by no means
But I really don't believe that / could
have endured the strain of writing that
new work Of mine If, at the same time, 1
had not"
Let me ask you one more question,
please. 1 understand. Godfrey, that you
are sorry now that you ever lent yourself
to such a-such despicable business"
That's not quite the point, dear" He
was recovering now his usual composure.
That's not what I'm sorry for I'm sorry
to be found out wanted to keep ii quiet
But tnereS no earthly reason why anybody
but ourselves should know. After all, every
man has his hobby"
"Geoffrey! l won't listen to you"
We'll, my dear. can't force you to- can
1? l believe If you would only let me tell
You the whole affair from beginning to end
you wouldn't be so much annoyed about 1t,
1t really isn't SO bad as you think Alicia
is most delightful girl, and 1t has been a
recreation for me, you know; and l have
been slogging away SO of late, and"
The door slammed. Mrs. Warehouse
went upstairs to her room and hurriedly,
very hurriedly, packed portmanteau
There was time to catch the mail at Char
Ing Cross. and she meant to catch it. The
great thing was to get away to Biarritz
away from the sitting atmosphere of this
house. away from London. She rang for
her maid.
Parker"
Yes, maam."
The mail goes at from Charing Cross,
I Think"
1T used to go at g. ma am" said Parker,
cautiously. when we went away, IL you
remember"
Yes. yes, of course. I want you to pack
a bag for yourself and We will catch the
mail tonight
Catch the mail. ma'am, tonight?'
Yes. yes. Lose no time. please, and send
out for a cab"
"Well, / never" murmured Parker
AIras M ~1rl 4.