The herald., 1917-02-15
TIE BLUE STOCKING
BY OSBORN JONES.


dean of Jones' College for Women,
when Alan Kilhy went to her office 10
consult her regarding his acceptance
Of a position just offered him as the
new professor of economics.
Alan had gone 10 see her, partly be-
cause he had known her several years
before when they were both students
at 4 co-educational college in the West,
and partly because the offer al Jones
college was distinctly better than the
assistant pgotessorship he held in
mans college.
1T doesn't seem like n mans job"
he told her frankly, and she had looked
/ at him not with the amusement he
expected.
Hang it all, Justine, it's just that
( can't stand this blue-stocking atmos-
( phere think its that as much as
anything else"
There are very few blue-stOckings
/ here" said Justine. AIN fact, some
/ times wish there were more. Blue
stockings have their good points, you
know"
From wOman's point of view. per-
/ haps. But I'm primitive enough to
| like feminine woman, and II goes
/ against the grain to see these girls
some of them pretty, almost all Of
them healthy and happy, being fed into
J this mill. TO have the woman and the
femiuinity ground out. They ought 10
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.
NO. and when | do | shall not look
to 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, think 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 il 10 be. AS time went on the
lectures were easier and Alan had time
10 look about him. Sometimes there
were suppressed giggles, and some
times three whispering heads bent to-
gether in the back rows of seats, IN
mindful of q word of the lecture-un-
mindful. too. that from the vantage
point of his desk the professor could
not only see them but could catch
Snatches of their whispered converse
ton.
IF | DO say II. look awfully well
In yellow" said one whisper.
Not that lemon shade-more Of a
salmon, don't you think?"
How long is the skirt? They are
getting longer"
II know. but my Tom likes them
short. Have you learned the new
steps. No, that new wiggly waltz step
] mean. He doesn't see US, and we
can get the notes from Ida" Isn't
he perfect dear?" "Ida's quite crazy
about him. That's why she sits in
front 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
day he CHANGED the meet the dean.
Good morning, Mr.. Kilby," she said
always with the same serenity. How
are the blue stockings?"
Blue stockings" muttered Kilby. III
there are any they haven't elected eco
nomics."
Kilby fed from the building to his
own study ia his boarding house
There as he pulled at his comforting
pipe he took q leather picture case
from his pocket and opened it. II
contained picture Of the dean that he
had clipped from the magazine article
on THE Youngest College Dean" The
picture showed her In cap and gown
with none of the graciOusness and al
most motherly large heartedness tina,
Kilby had come to appreciate within
. the few weeks he had been at Jones
Still, he found satisfaction In looking
at the picture-just as reminder. hi
said. of the allegiance he owed to hi:
chief. This day he looked at the pic
ture longer than usual.
1--WE got to get better picture" ht
told himself as he rose from his chail
and hurried through the campus tC
the deans Office. But when he reached
there he forgot the picture and thought
only of the original"
"How are the blue stockings" asked
the dean. as she closed the papers she
was working over at her desk and pre-
pared TO take an easier chair by the
open fireplace. where she might chat IL
comfort with Alan.
blue stockings-there aren't any,
groaned Alan. You're a blue stock
ing. and they're-they're just girls
; Listen. Justine, I've decided that The
only type of woman | truly admire il
blue stocking. / used 10 think tina
that was the trait in you that kept Z:
apart, back in the college days wher
was half In love with you all tn,
time. But now l know that's what Il
drawing me to you"
So II was all because Of Alan Kilb!
that the youngest dean terminated he
deanship so soon, and gave up tina
career to be professors wife.