The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-06
The EVENING STORY
Miss Starts Boarder.
(Bv John Hopewen-)

Professor Trent peered near-Slghted-
Iv at the quaint little house set in the
midst of an old fashioned garden.
Thcre were hedges of lockwood smell
ling pungently sweet under the June
sun: there were prim NEEDLESS borders
where sweet alyssum and mlgnonette
flourished fragrantly; there were pop
pies of many gay tints- Birds sang IN
the trees, bees hummed in and out
of the flower hearts, and back of the
house. where there was tiny strip of
beach, the tide rippled musically over
the stones.
Fragance of flowers, song of birds,
hum of bees and the sweet salt smell
of the creeping tide-indeed, this
idyIlic spot was the place Professor
Trent had been looking for. Here he
might complete his article for the
| Scientific Weekly" under the most
favorable circumstances
He opened the gate and went up the
path to the front door. A rap of the
, old brass knocker brought bright
eyed birdlike little woman to the door.
With her was waited a delicious smell
of freshly baked ginger cookies.
He lifted his hat and looked mildly
at Matilda Starr.
Miss Starr" he asked.
Yes" she twittered. Wont you
come in and sit down?'' She looked
curiously at his travelling bag.
THANK you,'' and Professor Trent
bowed his tall head and entered the
quiet gloom of the quaint hall. lie
followed his hostess into a little alcoVe
filled with bookcases.
This is delightful" murmured the
professor delightedly.
'"It is pleasant" agreed Matilda; III
you'll excuse me minute I'll take my
cookies out of the Oven.
She tripped away and the professor
shifted hungrily at the doors that
h. Ii a.
tiida returned with goblet of birch
beer and plate of hot cookies.
maybe it will taste good after hot
walk" she smiled.
after you are rested you can tel
me what it is-books, I suppose" with
another glance at the leather bag.
"Books?" ne repeated vaguely
cor maybe it's flower seeds-but it S
kind of late for those-or eXtract 5,
Now, if it's extracts, you're just in
time"
Professor Trent stared at her. Was
the woman crazy. he wondered?
Matilda was somewhat perp1exed.
All the agents she had ever met had
been garrulous.
s"Then it's pills or brushes hazard
ed Matilda. You see, 1 can almost
guess what an agent is gong TO sell
by his looks"
Professor Trent laughed Outright
and surprised himself exceedingly, for
he had not done more than smile for
many years.
Matilda blushed and the professor
noted it instantly.
81 must beg your pardon" he said
courteously, but it is your turn to
laugh when I tell you that l simply
forgot what 1 came for. I've got
wretched memory and if 1 could only
get the one word that would give me
a clue to my errand here l might eX-
plain. Dear me. what was it 1 wanted
to ask your"
Matilda nodded her head sympa-
thetically. She had heard of eccen-
trio people. She had cn uncle who
was so absent minded that he forgot
to eat many of his meals. She looked
at the leather bag and received an
inspiration. Perhaps you were going
to ask me the way to the hotel,' she
suggested.
Board" shouted the professor ex-
citedly.
tWhat?" cried the startled SPINS
ter.
Il wanted to ask you if you would
take boarder? The postmaster sent
me here" he explained smilingly.
''Why-I have taken boarder now
and then" unused Matilda; land my
niece is stopping with me now and she
can help-why, yes, if you think you
would like to come
"Delighted,' and presently the bar
gain was concluded and Prof. Trent
carried his bag up to the large. Law
ender scented spare bedroom ana
breathed a sigh of contentment.
If were married and had a home
like this within committing distance
of the city-life would be worth liv-
ing-with the right woman, of counsel"
he murmured..
When the midday meal was over the
professor retired to the garden with
his writing materials. Here was
rustic summer house with a round |
table and rustic chairs. Virginia |
covered it and sent long grace |
full sprays to the ground.
Here Prof. Trent spent the mid |
days, between meals; he was |
always surrounded by piles of books |
and reams of paper-but somehow the !
article for the Scientific Weekly did |
not progress. Somehow it was hard |
to write. The faintest Whit of cook |
cry from the kitchen sent him sour
rying to the back door like a hungry |
boy and he, Aho in his city boarding
house ate sparingly of good things and
confined himself to cereals and eggs
and cups of nauseating hot water, now
without remorse cherry tarts
and hot crullers and fresh baked pies
L do believe he's fattening up,
Delia.'' said Matilda proudly as she
watched her boarder return to the
house.
Della giggled. HE needed it, Aunt |