The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-17
PRIMITIVE MAN
BY ELLIS MORE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Professor Hudiberg had heavy,
bushy eyebrows, knuckly hands and
features that were rugged. There was
no experiment that he would not at
tempt. He was brave in that way.
But when it came to making Helen
Burnes acquaintance there his heart
failed.
And Helen Burne was of all the
girls who studied under him the very
one he wanted to know.
Il never could understand" he said
to her one day when he had at last
got up courage enough to talk with
her aside from the necessary instruc-
tions in the laboratory, why you
chose to specialize in chemistry"
Helen looked up at him with bewil-
derment, test tube in hand. Am l
really so stupid" she asked, and her
eyes of blue were very wide open.
Indeed, 1t is not that. Perhaps
have said more than ought"
Not at ALL" Helen replied, putting
down the test tube and wiping her
acid stained hands on her enveloping
apron. Il see what you mean. You
mean that in your native land blondes
like me would be picked for the career
Of a hausfrau. suppose you will
have no use for me when you know
that I am suffragist. I've just been
elected president OF the club here at
college,"
One day-it was Saturday. with no
laboratory hours-Helen came uncere-
moniously into the laboratory.
"Oh, Professor Hudiberg," she be-
gan, Il have just thought that you
would do for part in the suffrage
pageant we are getting up. Tell me
you will, please. I've gone over the
list of all the men in college, and
there isn't another one that looks the
part Will you?"
Yes" said the professor happily.
"Oh, lovely she said clasping her
hands. You see, we are going to de-
pict the evolution of woman from
primitive times to the present day. We
are going to have the primitive man
tramping down the primitive woman.
You'll do beautifully for that. You are
so-what shall | call it? Well, you
have such wonderful dark, bushy eye
brows and you are so, so-rugged."
Il am afraid-but | gave my prom
ise." There was twinkle in the pro-
| fessors dark eye Clearly he was
very much amused by any chance
are you going to be the primitive
woman"
oh, no, indeed am going to be
| the emancipated woman. That's be-
| cause | am president of the society.
l shall wear long, flowing Greek
tunic, with my hair down my back
and all the arts and sciences will come
before me-those will be some of the
college boys dressed to symbolic the
different subJects-and pay me trib-
ute.
The professor closed his eyes slight.
ly and looked at her with a puzzled
air.
Yes, that is u very good idea." he
said after a pause. But you are not
the one for the part. One OF those
tall young persons-there are so many
Amazons iii your class-would do
much better for that final tableau.
That is only my suggestion. You
would not really like always to remain
on that pedestal-alone, independent
self-reliant, would your
Helen blushed In spite Of herself and
said precisely what she did not wish
to say: That depends great deal
on circumstances. No, should prob
ably become very lonely. Still, 1t IL
all arranged. | must not change the
plans
Work for the suffrage pageant pro
crossed Helen put many hours inte
the work. The affair promised to be
a really splendid production. Heller
had worked herself pale and worr
over II and, truth to tell. had sadly
neglected her studies because Of 1t.
Then one day-it was the weel
after the midterm quizzes-a very
pale little Helen appeared rather tim
idly in the laboratory of Professor
Hudiberg.
Il wanted to tell you," she began
and then swallowed a choke In hel
voice and went on, that am no long
er to have anything to do with the SUI
frage pageant. II will be carried GU
as ! planned. But on the results o
the quizzes | have had my warning
note from the office. That means, yol
know, that / can take no more activ'
part in college activities till l hav,
raised my standard. 1t is fair, | sup
pose. am glad, at least, that yol
didn't have to give me a bad mark.
Il should have been very sorry,
am sure" said the professor, IF yol
had done anything but good work il
my department. What, then, of tn,
primitive man."
That was what was going to say
The pageant will go on without me
of course, They will want you for re
hearsal tomorrow afternoon. l hav
! rehearscd everyone else"
Then you can please tell them tina
they will have to find new primitiv
man. made my promise to you, no
to your successor. | had hoped for
means of escape, although / am sorr
that it should be one that is unpleas
ant to you"
So far during this interview tn
young professor had been formal, en-
barrassed, and as was usual in sucl
circumstances, he spoke with rattle
more of an accent than he ordinaril
did. Helen had turned to leave tn
laboratory when he saw just the sue
gestion of tear standing out in he
| hiup pypa