The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-28
THE EVENING STORY
Plain Sewing.
(By Jane Osborn.)

(By Jane Osborn.)
There's no use talking, Jimmy,
I've got it in me and I'll win OUT
Thomas FRANKLIN held his drawing
board at arms length and regarded
it with pride.
ooh, you're getting there all right
replied his companion, with a scorn-
ful emphasis on the getting, land
dare say I'm getting there too.
Meantime we have to live in this fire
trap of place, and look happy on
one square meal a day" He closed
his law book impatiently and began
to walk restlessly up and down the
room. Tell you the truth, Tommy,
I'm up against it. I can't begin prac-
tlcing law for a year, and after I've
paid my tuition and examination fees.
I won't have enough for carfares-
much less for the landlady or the
tailor"
| SORRY can't forward the cash, old
man.. Thomas replied; "but until
| get started I'm a trif1e pinched my
self. But when I've had just a bit
more practice, there's no limit to what
I'll command. Do you know they say
some cartoonists GET
ooh, know all about that" inter-
rupted James impatiently.
| Don't be peevish, Jimmy. I was
just about to suggest that we give up
our bedroom and carry on our entire
housekeeping in this spacious apart
ment- Do you see ?"
ooh, no. I couldn't let you double
| up like that" James objected. But
do you know what we can do-that
| is if we keep the two rooms? We can
buy few second hand chairs, a black
board and a table. ard I can put a
sign on the door and an advertiser ent
in the paper and start in giving les
sons
"Lessonsi" gasped Thomas. elm
music, or French-and whom would
you teach?" He laughed with I'M
feigned amusement. You give les
sonsi Why. the people in this neigh
borhood can't even speak English. A
lot of time they would have for les
sons"
s'That's just it. They can't speak,
or read or write English. and 1 can.
Therefore 1 will put sign on my
door: Prof James Mapes, teacher Of
English, Englische Lehrer. etc. Reas-
enable rates. and I bet you collar
button will have all I can do in, no
time.''
DOUBTLESS, doubtless" nurmured
his friend. "And while you are in
structing your congress OF nations In
here shall have to put my eyes out,
working in the bedroom. The light is
wretched in there at any time. =
"You can stay just where yotI are
This room is big enough, and If you
don't like the idea Of being seen we
can put the screen around your cor
lner"
"I1l consent to be screened said
Thomas, eff you will promise to let
ME alone.'' Then after a moments
pause he asked: Jimmy. what is
plain sewing?"
'.PIain sewing!" echoed his friend.
''Why, I suppose it's just plain sew
| ing Use your imagination,
"Of course, I know in q general way,
but give me an example"
'tDarning socks. or sewing on but
TONS" suggested James. But why on
earth do you want to known"
Thomas explained There is g. lit
tie girl of nineteen or twenty, who
lives around the corner on the ground
floor of one of those old-fashioned,
two-story, frame houses: nice, digni-
fed girl-looks as if she came from
the country. I've seen her quite often,
and-well, you see, there's a sign in
her window that says, Plain Sewing
was just wondering if I couldn't help
her out. I somehow don't like to have
her do darning, do you2"
James looked up with sarcastic
smile. "Tom, I think you'd better
make your donations to the charity
organization. This personal inVestiga-
ton is waste of time"
But Thomas paid no attention to
this thrust. SCI think I'll get some
stuff he explained, land have her
make it up into window curtains.
That's plain sewing, I guess. Well
get the landlady to put them up for
us in here"
Two weeks later James Mapes was
porting over his law books with a re-
lieved mind.
Thomas came in, laden with a large
bundle, and gazed with satisfaction
about the room. 1.-THE sign on the
door, the chairs, the blackboard he
exclaimed. "How many pupils?" he
inquired.
"There are six so far" said James,
land one is coming tonight. That will
more than pay for the room, and
am sure to have others"
Thomas unfolded an oblong of swiss
and examined it,
"They are done well.' he said, with
warm approval. THAT must be hard
work. making those stitches"
"Any one can do that" said James,
casting an Indifferent glance at the
curtains. you just put the Stuff in
the machine. and keep your foot on
the pedal. How is she. your plain
sewer, anyway"
why, to tell you the truth, she's.
a little timid and standoffish. 1 had
to go five times about the curtains.
First to see about them. and then with
the samples. then with the goods
swiss she calls it-then with the meas
urements of the windows, and then to
get the curtains. But I paid her pref
ty well, SO I think she will be all
right. What's that?"
Some one was knocking on Prof.
Mape's door.
you get behind your SCREEN" he
directed. That's one of my pupils
While Thomas disappeared into his
sanctum, the professor of English
opened his door to his new pupil
Good evening"" he said, and
Thomas heard footsteps coming to-
ward him. What sort of instruction
do you wish ?" James asked.
st want to be taught how to write
and spell and figure" said the young
woman simply. 81 had to leave school
when I was small, and now 1 have
come to the city to learn shorthand
and to learn to typewrite. and I can't
begin till make up for what didn't
learn when I was little.'
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