Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-08-17

| Mrs. HOdgSOn, would y0u-ah?' ne
asked politely.
Harriet" said Mrs. Hodgson as
she continued to snip off dead leaves
help the gentleman on with his over
coat"
As the professor went out he slam
med the door so hard as fairly to make
the dowerpots tremble, but Mrs. Hodg-
son only smiled. She had recovered her
! dignity and her faith in her art, and
despite sour criticism. The professor
determined never to forgive her now.
To prove it he ate voraciously of the
museum mutton pie for luncheon. The
result was indigestion, which he at
| tributed to the omelet.
He was rudeIy awakened next morn
ing by Harriet, who was sweeping and
busting in the sitting room. Hereto
fore, Mrs. Hodgson had made it a
point to attend to this herself, doing
it so quietly that the professor was
never disturbed. However, he took
his chop for breakfast and everything
else, even to the oyercoat lying on the
chair where he had thrown it the night
before, was as he had ordered.
After ransacking the drawers Of his
desk and paving over the disordered
papers on top of it in a vain search for
his notebook, which contained the
fruit Of three months researches, he
was anything but treasured by a hazy
recollection of having nodded over it,
and having carelessly laid it on the
chair at his side. This had happened
before, but he had always found the
note book on his desk.
Did you see a book on the f1oor?"
he cried to Harriet when she had
answered the fierce ringing of the
bell
You said anything on the floor"
Find it! Find it," he Numbered.
Don't dare to come back without it,"
Poor Harriet's face burned as she
went downstairs, for she knew if the
professor didn't, that the refuse wagon
had called some Is minutes before
The professor paced up and down
with anger in his heart against Mrs.
HOdgsOn and her omelets, until there
was a soft knock at the door, which
he recognized as Mrs. Hodgson's. He
presumed she had come to apologize for
which she would undoubtedly call "an
unfortunate accident" He would let
her know in plain terms that hers was
the worst conducted house in London.
Your book, professor" she said,
holding it out to him. Though Har-
riet had found it on the floor, picked
it out of the rubbish, thinking l could
do no harm, anyway"
''Er-ah! Thank you"
and [ have let the room for Satur-
day" she went on in a voice which he
thought was assumed to annoy him.
'Er-ah! Very we'll"
His friend observed that museum
mutton pie on that date was especially
good. The professor ate of it heartily
but was soon feeling SO badly that he
concluded to devote the remainder of
the afternoon to searching for rooms.
After climbing the stairs of seven diff
ferent houses he began to speculate
upon how in the world landladies were
able to let such miserable apartments
to anybody. At one place, in mo-
ment of Observation-Disclosures, he actually
asked if the cook could make good
Omelets. When the landlady said
yes" he told her abruptly that he
wouldn't think of taking her rooms.
1t was on his tongues end to add that
the making Of Omelets was not an art
to be spoken OF lightly, when he re-
membered that this was the very ex-
preston Mrs Hodgson had once used.
He determined never to utter the word
''omelet" again. Weary and cross, he
returned to his rooms. In the morn
ing noisy Harriet robbed him of his
sleep, and he went into his sitting
room to face chop and disordered
desk again.
Shall we have our customary NUT
ton pie?" the tempter asked at 1
o'clock.
II have an engagement today"
was the reply.
The engagement turned out to be a
little restaurant in Great Russell
street, and before he realized it the
yearning Of his stomash had put re-
quest for omelet into words. A fiat
creation, with no individuality what
ever, oyerdone on one side and under
done on the other, was placed before
him.
Don't you know" he exclaimed,
fretfully, to the waitress, that an
omelet is a work Of art, not 10 be"
Here ne stopped abruptly. But l will
eat-the thing" he added.
On Saturday morning when he went
out to his chop and disordered desk
two strange trunks in the corner Of
the sitting room reminded him that he
had not yet engaged another lodging.
Mrs HOdgson came in. She hoped that
his luggage was packed, as the other
gentleman was coming in an hour.
The professor did not reply. Twice
he lifted his cup of tea and set it down
without drinking.
Then I may take it that you are
ready?" she asked.
NO As matter Of fact, I've been
so busy that l haven't had time to
look about much for a place. If you
had a small room that 1 could have
only for a week, it would-he spoke
with great reserve-be in the nature
-ah-Of an Accommodation
1t happened by mere chance, as
Mrs. Hodgson was careful to explain,
that this was possible. Harriet was
sent to help him carry UP his belong
ings. When the wreckage left by the
wayside had been collected and every
thing he possessed was piled up helter-