The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-06-08
The Brazilian go. u
from six hundrod =, -
THE BLUE STOCKING
BY OSBORN JONES.

his career as an instructor in wom-
ans college," said Justine Craddock.
dean Of Jones' College for Women,
when Alan Kilby went to her office to
consult her regarding his acceptance
of a position just offered him as the
new professor of economics.
Alan had gone to see her, partly be-
cause he had known her several years
before when they were both students
at co-educational college in the West,
and partly because the offer at Jones
college was distinctly better than the
assistant professorship he held in
mans college.
ut doesn't seem like mans job"
he told her frankly, and she had looked
at him not with the amusement he
expected.
"Hang 1t all, Justine, it's just that
can't stand this blue-stocking atmos-
phere. ! think it's that as much as
anything else"
There are very few blue-stockings
here" said Justine. "In fact. some
times | wish there were more. Blue
stockings have their good points. you
know"
From woman's point ofeview, per-
haps. But I'm primitive enough to
like a feminine woman. and it goes
against the grain to see these girls.
some of them pretty, almost all of
them healthy and happy, being fed into
this mill, to have the woman and the
femininity ground out. They ought to
be marrying. most of them-marrying
and making men what they ought to
be. and having children and keeping
house."
"Of course you have never married
yourself" suggested Justine.
mo. and when l do shall not look
to a woman's college for wife. I'm
not educated up to that yet"
From all of which, suppose, am
to infer that you do not accept the po-
sition?"
"No. The fact is, l think l do. It's
too good to turn down."
So Alan Kilby became professor of
economics at Jones. The first lecture
was more uncomfortable than he had
expected it to be. AS time went on the
lectures were easier and Alan had time
to look about him. Sometimes there
we're suppressed giggles, and some
times three whispering heads bent to-
gether In the back rows of seats, un-
mindful of word of the lecture-un-
too. that from the vantage
int nf ,a could 1
not only see them but could catch
;natches of their whispered converse
ion.
"If | do say 1t, look awfully well
q yellow" said one whisper.
'Not that lemon shade-more of a
don't you think?"
How long is the skirt? They are
getting longer"
81 know. but my Tom likes them
short. Have you learned the new
teps. No. that new wiggly waltz step.
mean. He doesn't see us, and we
an get the notes from Ida." isn't
lie perfect dearf" "Ida's quite crazy
bout him. That's why she sits in
ront and takes such long notes."
And later: well. anyway. Kilby's
dear. Did you ever see such eyesT
Going down the corridor later In the
ay he CHANGED the meet the dean.
Good morning, Mr.. Kilby." she said,
ways with the same serenity. How
re the blue stockings?"
blue stockings" muttered Kilby. IF
here are any they haven't elected eco
omics."
Kiby fed from the building to his
wn study i'll his boarding house.
here as he puffed at his comforting
ipe he took a leather picture case
rom his pocket and opened it. 1t
obtained a picture of the dean that he
ad clipped from the magazine article
q 1.-THE Youngest College Dean" The
icture showed her In cap and gown,
18th none of the graciousness and al
lost motherly large heartedness that
ilby had come to appreciate within
lie few weeks he had been at Jones.
till, he found satisfaction in looking
the picture-just as a reminder, he
lid, of the allegiance he owed to his
lief. This day he looked at the pic
ire longer than usual.
1--WE got to get better picture" he
Id himself as he rose from his chair
Id hurried through the campus to
e deans office. But when he reached
ere he forgot the picture and thought
lily of the original"
"How are the blue stockings?" asked
e dean, as she closed the papers she
as working over at her desk and pre-
red to take an easier chair by the
zen fireplace, where she might chat in
mfort with Alan.
"Blue stockings-there aren't any,"
oaned Alan. You're a blue stock
G, and they're-they're just girls.
stem, Justine, I've decided that the
rs type Of woman | truly admire Is
blue stocking. ! used to think that
al was the trait In you that kept us
art, back in the college days when
was half In love with you all the
ne. But now ] know that's what is
awing me to you
SO 1t was all because of Alan Kilby
at the youngest dean terminated her