The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1899-04-06
The PROFESSORS PRESENT.
THE STORY or AN EASTER HAT AND AN
EASTER MARTYR By PETER M'ARTHuR.
IcopyrIghl. ls9a. by the Author. !

N kMM
NJ ~ o GET letter with a
S-v--Ll-, check in it was such
\ fi an unusual thing that
NeGCS Professor Barton
(lblH thought there must be
HID some mistake There
An was no reason why
any one should send
-------------------J him one. for he had no
dealings with the outside world For 80
years he had had an assured income
that barely suficed to pay the household
expenses His wife or daughter always
collected it. and he seldom handled
money except on Sundays. when his wife
gave him dime tot put in the collection
But before laying the letter aside. in
order to have it returned to the post
man he had the curiosity to look at the
note which was inclosed and then he
found that the check really was for him.
Many years ago just after he had
left college Professor Barton had writ
ten series of essays on "Iberian Folk
lore George Borrowe and the Gyp-
sizes In Spain, 'Loyola. "Torque-
mazda and THE Inquisition He had
forgotten all about it while toiling at
his great life work lamentations on
the Pentateuch. but the war with
Spain had caused a sudden demand for
books dealing with the Iberian penin-
sula, and his publisher had placed on
the market asfew copies of his volume
that had been stored in the cellar for
years, and here was check for S14. SO
in payment of the royalties that had
unexpectedly accrued
well. bless my soul said the pro.
lessor This is very remarkable. had
actually forgotten all about that book.
| wonder if have a copy of it on my
shelves
After II long search he found u dusty
copy ON top shelf. and smiled softly
to himself for it recalled old enthus-
asms and ambitions
81 wrote that book to make money
enough to get married Dear. dear.
what Il state of mind was in at that
time Mother was as much interested
in it rs was. and used to read to her
each night what had written during
the day Put if | had waited for the
money from it we would not have been
married till now must go and tell
her ahout it. and IN give her the check
for il WAS really for her sake that |
earned it.
But rs he rose to go to her an idea
occurred to him. and he paused After
n moments thought his face flushed
with happiness and he exclaimed en-
Enthusiastically
That's inst what I'll do I'll buy
her a nice present with it 1t is years
since bought one. and it will be a sur
prise Now | wonder what had better
getf Let me see; it is too late to get a
Christmas present ! wonder when her
birthday is 1t is some time in the
spring | know What a shame that
have neglected it so long that have
forgotten il ! wonder If it was ever
entered in the family Bible
He went out into the sitting room
and. seeing his wife busy with her sew
ing he stole up and surprised her with
kiss
Dear mer she cried. blushing like
II schoolgirl "What is the matterY
Something just reminded me Of
when 1--WE were married and when
came in ynn looked so much as you
used to that felt Just rs did then
And he patted her gray locks With the
fondness of lover Bat the idea of the
present was in his head and he did not
stay for more explanations Going to
the family Bible he found that her
birthday had been entered with her
name aud that it was near at hand. He
then hunted m an almanac. and found
that her birthday fell ON Sunday. and.
what was more, ON Easter Sunday.
That recalled to him how he and she
had walked TO church on Easter Sunday
when they were lovers. and how pretty /.
she looked in her bright Easter bonnet
hhaye It, he finally exclaimed to
himself Il win buy mother nice
Easter bonnet tor a birthday gift. and
she and VIII walk to church. as we
hsed 20 years ago
Fnh Of his new idea. the professor
asked for his overcoat and hat and an. <
nonnced that he was going down town.
Such thing was unprecedented. but
he seemed so happy and mysterious
ahout everything that his wife and
daugsler let him 80 after seeing TO il
tHat his coat was buttoned closely. his
'Iuiier IN plnce AMI his gloves on. And
rs Do was going out the door he sur.
prised his wife with another kiss. and
Ihare was something boyish in his
laugh as he noticed her confusion. On
The street he walked with an unaccus.
TONED life and spring. for he was not
turning over in his mind some problem
If higher criticism. as was bis habit
When walking
81 should really walk more. " he said
o himself MS the exercise started his
hood circulating and sent it tingling
his finger tips. This spring weather
makes me feel like boy again.
lie knew that the first thing he must
Q was g Get his check cashed, 80 he