The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-05
EVENING STORY
The Professors Shirt

10y FRANCES hdW.J
The professor stopped as he was
passing the little house next door. for
there on the swing sat Miss Martha
Tilbridge, crocheting.
"A little. warm for so early in the
year." he remarked, pleasantly. 1t
seemed that although these two had
been neighbors for years they never
got past the conversational subject Of
the weather or how much better the
lilacs were doing this year than last
Martha dropped the filmy bundle
into her lap. not losing her hold on the
thread. 1T certainly is" she agreed,
Just awful I guess you'll be glad
when schools over
Indeed I SHALL" he assented, as he
turned into the walk next door He
was quite up on his own porch and
had his hand on the screen door be-
fore Martha had the courage 70 ask:
How are you getting along, since
Mrs. Gold went away"
Pretty well. Her niece is here to
look after me until she returns
Does she cook?"
"'Yes-she cooks
We'll, If can do anything for you
1 wish you'd let me know. I'd be
very glad to help"
professor, and in an instant the door
was shut behind him.
my, but I wish I had his teeth
when he smiles." sighed Martha and
not realizing that her words weren''
exactly what she meant at all, she
sat q minute idle, but her Thoughts
were buster than her hands. That's
q shiftless creature that's keeping
house for him now. / suppose ft's
the best he could do, though Mer
are such helpless things completely a.
the mercy of women. I tell you. Pt
a he the mGrCy or that ont
that's in there now. You Just ougn
| to see the color of that washing she
hung out this morning' And IL thu
poor dear man isn't dead of dyspepsia
in week it won't be her fault, for tn
airs full of fried grease all the time
Well, 1 guess I'd better get cup o
| tea I do believe he'd like a piece o
| that nut bread of mine. I'll take owe
a plate of it"
So, rolling up the work, she wen
back into the kitchen. Then, befor'
| thinking of her own lunch, she fixe'
up the professors treat, covered
with a napkin and took it over tn
back way. The clothesline was direct
| ly across her path and she had t.
| dodge various articles of wearing ap
parel as she went.
| Suddenly her sharp eyes made
discovery hole right in the breas
of one of the professors fine whit
shirts. The housekeeper had com
planned to her at Vne time about hi
propensity for spilling acids upon him
self in the laboratory and what a tim
| she had with his mending. Handin
the plate to the girl at the door, sh
| thought to herself, And 1t will be
long day before you'll mend anyon
else's clothes, milady, with your ow
fairly dropping off you for want of
few stitches!"
Returning, her eye again sought tn
| ~ 4x-<v l.,v-e
as a butter plate. at would be Ju,
like him to put that one on for churc
next Sunday, too. Men are so queer
1 wish 1 had his mending to do ali tn
| timer That shirt he had on today ha
a patch on the front and the lavende
stripes weren't even matched and tina
housekeeper had put 1t in with
machine, tool"
Martha ate her lunch and the pro
lessor went back to school. The stree
quoted down and Martha prepared fo
a nap. Then, remembering wais
that was minus a button, she got OF
her sewing basket.
Then it just happened that she look
ed out of the window in time to Sc
the girl in the next house lock the doc
and go out.
Instantly her thoughts reverted I
the shirt. The clothes, though DIR,
were still on the line, and here was sfI
with thread and needle all ready. N
second thought was necessary. Sh
ran down stairs, through the kftche
door, around the lilac bush and ha
the shirt in her arms in no tim,
Then indoors again with her preciou
burden! He'll not disgrace himse
in church if I can help it," she pante'
81 believe I have some fine linen tha
will just match
So she patched the shirt wit
stitches so fine and SO neat that
would take sharp eyes indeed to de
tect the situation.
But who was that just turning tn
corner? The professor himself com