Middletown transcript., 1906-04-07
..onarIsrrn rRoN LAsr wEEKl

sH1paliEs az is his letter. VIII Hhei'ihe
nnpps an envelnp that
q to corar with'his arms,
please."
WY opened the letter,
srote TO this man that l
Gould command. ifan oppor-
~ was offered you. I"
'eAnd what does he say about the OPP
portunity?" demands d the girl quickly.
Romney fingered the letter uncertainty.
stPll just tell you what he Gays, because
the language is rather"
'Read itY commanded the diminuti, 9
woman. '.No matter what it is, read it. :
And Romney, with qneer expression
on his face, read: "Great Scott, Fanlks!
what do you think OF me? I'm trying to
hire teacher, not adopt child. Don't
talk to me about the essence OF womanli-
ness and all that rot. If you've got
senior up there who looks twenty five and
tins the scales at decent figure and can
awe a six-foot boy into silence at one
glance, trot her out"
Romney folded the letter, slowly occu-
pying himself with it for a long while.
The silence in the room was disturbed by
q single sound. 1t was because OF that
sound that Romney took unlimited pains
with the folds OF the letter.
Finally he looked up and said gently:
ssMiss Bart, have you thought OF posi-
ton as governess? know OF such a
position, and it seems to me that you
would be eminently fitted"
Lalia interrupted quietly "No, Pro-
lessor Faulks, want school-room all
to myself, with live boys and girls in it..
don't want one little cooped-up hot
house plant to tend. This is only the first
failure, Her voice grew strong and
buoyant. 81 shall not surrender until
next June. Perhaps" hopefully, but
still with . little catch in her voice,
"when you send this photograph out with
my application, those principals will not
be reminded of child, but Of director
OF children"
A few days later Romney called around
at the Alpha Gamma chapter-house. 1t
was Saturday morning. exactly the time
that he ought not to have called. maid
left him standing in the hall while she
went upstairs in search OF Lalia. ROM
ney sauntered down the hall to the library
exactly the place lie ought to have
avoided, thought small senior clad in
short skirt, her head crowned by dust
ing-cap and her dress protected by big
apron.
II beg pardon-0h, Miss Barr ex-
claimed Professor Faulks, stopping short
at sight OF Lalia standing on the second
shelf OF a bookcase dusting the top row OF
books.
And, ''Oh, Professor Faulks p in
half-yexed, half-amused tone "l'm 60
ing to stand right here and finish this
row." speaking over her shoulder, land
then want you to make yourself useful
as well as ornamental Can you?'
Ear more useful than Ornamental,
ma'am. At your service, said Romney,
pulling his mustache in delight.
He cast his hat into corner, seized
a big calico cloth lying on the floor and
stepped up to the bookcase. Let me
help you," he begged, tile big-boy nature
in him responding to the little-girl nature
in Lalia. who could not summon bit OF
dignity, clinging to shelf aid arrayed
like maid.
She turned a flushed, smiling face on
Romney. ''I'm away above you at last!'
she cried, looking down in his face up
turned near her own.
You're that any day." he laughed,
cup so bigh don't dare reach for you.
Now" quickly changing his tone, ''slonR
what line do you want me to be trans
formed from the ornamental to the USE
ful2''
"Along the highest line OF dust away up
there on top" gaspcd Lalia, pushing her
dust cloth among the books.
"That support won't hold us both, will
,it2'' asked Romney testing the second
shelf.
ssNot at ALL" retorted the miniature |
lady, lit takes so much more to support
= ...o., sl,ar a sror,o,l -
For half an hour, delicious half-hour |
to the professor of history, the two worked
and laughed together, its being Lalia's
turn to assist the maid in her Saturdays
dusting. Atlast the small senior stopped,
feather-duster in air.
asHave you heard Of any other positions
for teachers, Professor Faulks?"
eyes," he said hesitatiDgIy, II brought |
the letters to see whether you wish to ap-
ply. Here's one" lie sat down beside
the window and drew an enyelop ont of
his pocket. ''This is from principal up |
the Hudson-private school. lie writes
to state requirements: She must be an
experienced teacher, near thirty, good
conyersationalist, calculated in all re-
spects to be model for girls, decidedly |
tall without being in the least angular,
graceful and attractive without being
firt.' Do you wish to hear any nloreg' he
broke off to ask.
no. said Lalia. Whats The use?
Tall, experienced and Thirty that
throws me ont. +"
swell, here's another from man down
in Pennsylvania lie wants a teacher,
no age specified, no experience required"
''Goodi I'll applsl' exclaimed Lalia.
.'But wait, " interrupted Rpmney. He
is emphatic on one point: she must be
plain and unattractive To men,"
II can apply then, | CA Y urged Lalia
ID unaffected excitement what kind
OF school is i,?''
A boys boarding RVnney /
laid the letter aside with All air Of final
ity-s'whicli edncates rather old boys, ]