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

ing home early. In a panic, shs
picked up her mending and tore Gown
stairs to the yard. She managed 20
get the clothespins back to place. Al
though her fingers trembled dread
fully and she was shaking with irient.
What IL no would see her? But NO
didn't, for she got round the Dusa
and into the house just in timel
found the professors skirt lying on
her bed!
Her eyes widened with horror. What
had she done? Weakly she got TO the
back room window, and there, swing
ing In the lazy afternoon breeze, was
her waist on the professors ciotneE-
line. She almost tainted with dismays
for just as she decided to go poiuiy
out and get her belongings, trusting to
luck to hide her vandalism. her neigh
Dor appeared at the kitchen door and
sauntered out with a magazine to .
lawn swing under a cherry tree not
ten feet away from the line.
There was nothing to do but wall
And waiting only brought increased
dismay, for the maid returned and
gathered " the clothes with her
, waist among them.
Several courses OF action suggested
themselves to her. She might lay the
shirt under the bush when night
came; they would find it in the morn
ing and think that it had blown off
the line. But that would not account
for her shirtwaist in the basket next
| door.
! Everything she thought of seemed
disconcerting, for the girl would be
sure to talk and tell her friends all
around the -neighborhood. And when
Mrs. Gold returned she would recog-
nize the waist and wonder what it was
doing there! Martha's modification
was torturing her beyond endurance.
! Get the waist she must-some way.
so that evening, when the dishes were
done and the street" was sitting out
in 'front.' she saw the professor 60 out
later Hattie, in Haunting pink, de-
parted with beau for a movie. The
house next door was dark and de-
serted. So far. so good. But even IL
the back door had been left unlocked.
which she was sure it had not, her
courage refused to ascend to the point
of execution. s-s sl...-
But finally she reused herself with
an effort, and tiptoed across the back
lawns to the other house. She tried
the door softly. Locked She knew
it would be. But q window opened on
it to the porch, and nothing stood
between her and the coveted Interior
but rickety screen She pushed and
, it gave. The sill was low and she was
soon inside the black kitchen cropping
, for the laundry basket.
Then her hand touched It'll Thank
heaven, and right ON top was her
! waist She could tell it by the lace
t collar she had made herself. The
} shirt was quickly substituted for it and
: she was retreating toward the dim
} rectangle of the window when a light
was switched on suddenly and the
; professor stood in the dining room
Z doori
Martha looked at him an instant
/ with wide-open eyes and then prompt
} ly and quietly tainted.
1 She revived almost Immediately and
L saw the agitated professor bending
over her. Then, with fresh realiza-
: ton of what had happened, she shud-
9 dered and closed her eyes again. She
{ wanted to die! But he had one of her
4 hands in his and didn't let go. As she
/! comprehended that fact, her cheeks
, went from a deathly white to vivid
red, and then the tears started. IL
T only she could get away Things were
t happening too fast for her to under
, stand.
She tried to stand up, and he helped
. her to her feet. But, instead of let
{ ting the hard go. he took possession of
r the other one.
Martha. how you frightened me,
I deari' he said. 'I thought you were
dead. thought I had lost YOU
With happy, albeit perplexed, little
sigh. she attempted no defense
+ Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
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