Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-08-18

lay among the unpdld DlllS, ana re-
iSardec il with terror and disgust. III
! Would only settle that, think could
get the other people TO wit till the
beginning of next session if have 4
llcNt session. But where on earth am
to get twenty five pounds? And
L once dreamed of helping them AT
| h home" Miss Peck laid the letter
aside. and bowed her head ON the
ledger.
Two tears triclSled down the pounds
land pence columns, and Others would
have followed had not knock at the
parlor door caused Miss Peek to ar
rest them ere they dropped. The UNI
happy lady sat up and blew her nose.
Come in, she said, and blew her
nose again
Professor Runlpus, said the house
keeper, ushering i'll the gentleman Who
bad taught advanced mathematics To
Gle advanced young lady during the
past session. The professor taught in
iseveral ladies' schools. ana had a few
private pupils. whereby he earned a
moderately uncomfortable income. the
greater portion of which he spent on old
books of alchemy and astrology. He
aud his few aoquain,lnces We're the
lproprietors OF second-hand book shops.
He was s. and looked ten years older;
! his face was clean shaven and
wrinkled: he Was tall and thin and he
was the possessor of an immense head.
destitute of hair and of a peculiar
| knobby appearance. Altogether he was
! far from being prepossessing, Vet he
had kindly eyes. and his smile. when he
gave 1t liberty. WAS wonderfully genial.
He entered Miss Peek's parlor some
what bashfully. and when the lady blew
her nose for the fourth time he stan-
mered something about hoping she had
not contracted summer cold. and
begged leave to shut the window.
Pray leave ii open, professor said
Miss Peek. recovering herself. and clos
ing the ledger with one hand While she
gave him the other. The weather is
suffocating.
True returned the professor: but
YOU should be careful of chills. How
ever. l suppose it's none of my BUSH
ness
Miss Peek smiled in spite of her mis-
cry; the professor employed the latter
phrase so often.
II thought you were going off on a
holiday today" she remarked.
Il leave tonight" he replied. II
merely called for Il book I was careless
enough to leave-a book on comic sec
have troubled YOU but the maid in
formed me that everything had been
cleared from the school: and
l.
is. If you wait a moment I'll bring it
to you. You are going to London, 1
SUPPOSE"
The professor bowed and replied in
the affirmative. London. or rather the
British museum had been the scene of
his annual holiday for years. by care
full saving during the session he usually
contrived to accumulate enough money
to keep him there for month. but this
summer. by great fortune. he was the
posSessor of funds sufficient to sustain
him for nearly double that period. and
he WAS looking forward to a glorious
spell of hard research among certain
literary treasures of the museum.
When Miss Peck had left the room to
procure the volume on comic section. he
smiled 10 himself and rubbed the left
breast of his shabby frock coat. within
which reposed his pocl<e tbool>. He MAS
going to have such Il holiday!
He seated himself near the door and
relapsed into pleasant meditation. Ere
II minute had passed. however, he was
disturbed. not by the entrance of Miss
Peck. but by Il piece of paper which a
puff of wind blew across the room to his
large. clumsily shod feet. He stopped
to pick it up: but before he touched it
his eye caught the following words in
typewritten characters: 90 immedi-
ate payment failing which we shall re-
luctantly be compelled'-
What-what?" murmured Profess
sor Bumpus; and, grabbing the letter.
he proceeded 10 read it from beginning
to end. 1t was an exceedingly peremp-
tory demand for the payment of TWEEN
ty-five pounds, ten shillings, and three
pence sterling, due, or rather Overdue,
to Messrs. Clure & Coyle, the we'll
known money lenders.
Dear me-" said the professor to
himself. What a pity! However, l
suppose it's none of my business He
stepped softly across the room, depos-
tied the letter nthe desk, and returned
TO his seat near the door. II shouldn't
have read it but, somehow, l wasn't
Never dreamed of her get
ting into debt, poor thing! Knew she |
wasn't making much; hut-well Well.
suppose it's none OF my business. Tut,
what a fool l am! She was crying
when | came in. That was why she
blew her nose. Bless me! but it's
rough on a woman. | wish
The flow of his thoughts WAS interrupt
ted by the return of Miss Peek who
handed him the book he had inquired
for. and smiled brightly as she did so.
shes been washing her face, poor
Ihng.' thought the professor" Many |
thanks" he said aloud, flushing because
Of the feeling of guilt that possessed |
aim. Nov. Ii won't intrude further.
You you'll let me know about the next |
session., please, when it suits you
"Oh yes; l shall inform you in good |
lime" returned Miss Peek bravely. /
And hope you Will have Il larger class
han you had this last session, Profess
sor Bumpus,' she added, trying to
augh.
"Ela. ha. Ii can't be much smaller,
anyhow! But | shouldn't wonder if /
you have Il Very full school in the al-
umn, Miss Peek. | really shouldn't T
De the least surprised. In fact, from
| had with the parents
If Your pupils yesterday, I'm inclined
hat you will have many new pupils
leXt session. Indeed, ILL., But
Professor Bunpus was not Il practiced