The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-22

~
Tom tore open the letter which had
sust been brought in to him. IL was
evidently brief. He read ii at a glance,
then threw A. down on the table IN an
energetic expletive.
Il beg your pardonl" said politely
Tom pulled vindictively at his bud
ding mustache.
''I ought 10 beg mothers PARDON; he
muttered, "for swearing over her iiotel
But would you believe what she says q,
Certainly" said i, with sweet seri-
business, 81 would take your mothers
word against million"
'sOh!" he exclaimed, impatiently,
ssYou know don't mean that. DO shut
up till tell you'll"
j threw away the stump OF my cigar,
clasped my hands, and assumed an atti-
tude of hungry attention.
Tom muttered something about my
being AN idiot, but hastened TO share
with me the .tidings which had SO dis
turbed him.
@My distinguished uncle, Prof. Henry
Jerrold, win be here tonight. Mother
says we mitst >pake it pleasant for
mimi" y.
''That's . tuIy prospectl" said J..
what paytic{oug aseies sSarp 1a arS TsI, spuss ms
that. and Jrli tount w how TO manage
him." ha,
.oh. TIM pxa9 they a, q know everything,
Bobl" was the ubIlind reply, 'but this
IS too big problem even for your in
tellect. It's too bad, with mother just
comfortably out of the way, and the
little game oil arranged for tonight,
and the picnic to the island SO nicely
planned for tomorrow. We can't take
him IN. We can't leave him out It's
TOO rough. lltogether!"
sBut who is he?" i persisted. "It may
mot be as bad rs you fancy!"
~He's professor of mathematics in
some western collegel" said Tom. "a
big gun dn his way, you know. There
are half a dozen OF his books over on
that shelf next to the fireplace. Fas-
cinnting things on the Calculus, and
6urds, and Comic Sections"
A.Ahl" said i, rising languidly and
going over TO the shelf in question.
NMathematics. perceived And very,
very dusty, Now, my dear boy,
the case simplifies itself amazingly.
Have these books nicely busted and
leave one of them lying on this table
beside your own easy-chair. This will
make him feel at home and please him
greatly. Mathematicians are, next to
scientists and musicians, the vainest of
men. Moreover, unlike other pro-
fessors, the professors of mathematics
sre in q measure human. They all
drink whisky-usually Scotch. Let him
have the library here all to himself
and with pen, ink, paper and whisky
he'll be happy all night, till we tell him
it's time to go to bed. Mathematicians
generally sit up, lost in a problem, till
they are told it's bedtime. Well have
oar little game in the breakfast room,
and tell him it's whist. Mathematicians
approve of whist; but he won't want to
play, because he'll understand that the
party is made up!"
Somewhat fatigued by this eloquent
dissertation on mathematicians, i flung
myself down on the broad lounge. As
for Tom, he beamed upon me gratefully.
"Old man" said he, you have states
mans brain. And what about the pic7
mic tomorrow"
"'Sufficient unto the day is the evil
thereof,'" said /, airily, waving aside
the problem. "I'll devise some way OF
escape before the time is upon u.s."
Toms normal cheer of countenance
had now returned to him.
Jet up, Bob," said he; "let's go down
TO the club. want to arrange some,
thing about the picnic"
Now, 1t would have suited me better
10 stay on the lounge and think. love,
10 spend my mornings in luxuriously
thinking of what / will do some other