Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-04-20

| profession. He led me into it. Jim is the
best amateur actor our old alma mater
ever rooted, and he gave me the first part
I ever learned in little farce he wrote
| himself. Didn't you, ,Iim?''
! A smile struggled across the professor
merrily. And William Gilbert laughed,
| too, and so did Mabel and her mother
| And then Mabel caught the eminent act
or's merry eye.
Il beg your pardon, professor" said
Mrs, .Benham, but you don't mind our
! laughing, do youY
/ Not in the least. replied the professor.
with cheerful grin. Il take 1t as a
compliment to my actor friend. It's his
business to make people laugh, you
know"
Il declare" said the actor. as they left
the table, Il haven't enjoyed a dinner so
much in don't know when. Here I've
been on the road for five months and
haven't dared to crack a make believe
/ smile. much less the real article l tell
/ you it's relief to get the risible muscles
| in working order again. I'd have walked
! all the way from Chicago for an evening
3s1ke this
They We're back in the parlor, and as
| speech Mabel caught his eye.
I'm afraid she said, that the pro
| fessor has permitted your presence to
make him forget Il promise he gave to
mamma this morning"
And what was that, if | may ask"
/ inquired Gilbert.
''He promised he would finish his talk
on 'Unorganzed Charity as Wrecker
/ of Spontaneous Sympathy during the
| dinner tonight"
Dear, dear: does he run EN- in serial
| style?' inquired Gilbert in tone of
mock solicitude But, there, it's too
| late now to cry over wrecked sympathy.
! The professor and / will walk down to
! the hotel. get my travelling bag, enjoy Il
good cigar and presently reappear and
make an evening of it. Do | hear any
| objection
Does the professor really smoker
said Mabel with lifted eyebrows.
Pray, don't be astonished at anything
| concerning my cloudy past that this al
| legged boyhood friend considers ii pleas,
ant to reveal said the professor.
The two men were not gone long.
! They came back in the best of spirits
! The professor was laughing merrily as
1 they entered and mother and daughter
| in the parlor, awaiting their return.
| smiled at the unwontcd sound.
! Then cnsued a most delightful even>
/ ing. Gilbert took possession of the
piano and proved himself a player of re-
! markable resources. And the professor
! SANG some aStonishingly amusing songs.
| for which Gilbert played the accompani-
ments And Gill ut told funny dialect
| stories. and he anu the professor had Il
! shrieking sidewalk conversation in an
awful German patois.
'You didn't know you were entertain
| ing a vaudeville angel unawares," said
! Gilbert as he glanced at his watch,
What! Why it's midnight. Here.
! this prccocious phenomenon must be tax
! on to bed. Say goodnight to the ladies.
| And they shook hands all around.
| As Mabel let her hand rest in the pro-
| fessor'S she softly said: Il think you
| are ever So much nicer than when you
are your real self.
! When the two men came down to
| breakfast the next morning the professor
| was wearing collar with bent corners
! and dark-hlue tie
Mr.. Gilbert presented me with these.
| he said when he saw the ladies AMUSED
| glances. I'm wearing them for his
| sake.
"How little il takes to make some men
| look handsome" said Gilbert rs ne stared
| at the professor with his head very much
| on one side II will be back here for
! a week in May" he presently added.
! ''and | hope TO see still further improve
ment in my honest but misguided friend.
| | will send you 4 box, madam. if you
will agree to provide a chaperon for la
/ mic Another thing. There is but one
| sure way to prevent his lapsing back TO
| his frozen fossil state"
And that iS?"
ITO keep him thawed out."-Cleveland
4 plain Dpnlnr