Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-02-19

vi a0"N vepv ep ''Papfe lapre
anglcwo-m, and his enjoyment was
enhanced by the fact that his beauti-
full German wife, who usually declined
to interest herself in anything which
she even suspected of connection
with science. was seated beside him,
giving eager little pressures to his
hand and uttering IL pleased exclama-
tion, in her pretty foreign accent,
whenever the toad made an extra
effort
The fact was that she, while cutting
| roses, had been the one to see the be-
| ginning of the contest, and felt the
proper pride of q discoverer. The
toad had been sitting still, looking as
if carved by japanese artist, and
giving no sign that it saw anything
The worm gave little wriggle us it
began to come out of the ground, when,
| quick as flash, the toad made leap
and seized the end of the worm in its
mouth.
Then began q tug-ofwar. Every
time that the toad gave pull, the
worm drew back. But the toad was
not to be discouraged. 1t jerked and
jerked until it fairly stood on its hind
legs. Still, it could not dislodge the
worm.
At this interesting point a train
whistled.
"Why, Selma !" said the professor,
''there is the train already. 1 had
quite forgotten that | must go the city
to-day. Where il my hat?"
''Do wait an instant, dear; Just see
what that toad is doing" she ans
wered, holding him back.
He glanced down and saw the toad
twisting its leg about until the worm
was wrapped twice around it, then the
toad gave n hop, and out came the
worm.
This had been too fascinating n
spectacle to the unwary professor.
He dashed into the house and back
again, kissed his wife, and, with
regretful glance at her ripping hair,
and soft blue eyes, started off.
suddenly he rushed back.
"Why, dear" he cried, 81 forgot to
tell you that that Mr.. Smith, the Cn.
madam, who wrote the paper on
bacteria, will be here this afternoon
to stay u day or two. He may come
before | am back "
She clasped her hands in mock
despair. "But what shall | do with
hm| she walled; "you know | can
not talk science and pollywogs!"
"Oh, don't be alarmed. He isn't
&c very dried up. just let him have
good soaking i'll bath-tub. Then he
will come ont perfectly human and
happy. He's an Englishman, you
know" and the professor, with a
laughing glance at his little wife's rue
ful expression, threw dignity and his
coat tails to the winds as he madly ran
down the street, looking like n great
black bird of prey" as Mrs. Botkine
laughingly remarked to herself.
But she grew sober as she thought
how ruthlessly science and scientists
seemed to dog her unwilling footsteps
Her husband certainly loved her, but
/ he had way of becoming utterly
absorbed III his studies, and then burst
ing INTO her reflections with remarks
winch sounded positively ghoulish.
ne hao appeared only yesterday in her
own private sanctum carrying a "hor-
Ilu snake by the tail, and, although
ne mad not yet reached the mitch of
Professor AGassiz who was sold to
have consigned infant serpents for
safe-keeping over night, to his wife,s
boots--she did not know where his ON.
thusiasm might lead
''Pm half afraid to go to sleep. she
had roguishly said to him one night
'Im afraid that your deepest Interest
even Ill me is only scientific, and | be
lleYe you arc capable of cutting m,
open to see what queer thing there j.
III my heart that love such bookisl
old bear with"
Now here was this Canadian com.
ing And how was she to be properly
II crested III his old bacteria and moi
disgrace her husband by betraying he,
ignorance on the subiect?" shs asked
herself.
Manifestly, he must take bath. end
everything possible must be dona n
make that bathroom attractive. SO that
he should stay there MS long as possi.
Bile. She went upstairs, and with he,
own dimpled hands got down II new
cake of perfumed soap. She eyed il
critically. Perhaps his severe scion
tiic mind would be disgusted witt
such ctfeminate luxury. Perhaps
who knew ?--hc might discover eve.
III it the presence of bac terra Sh
had heard it said that q man with