The Winslow mail., 1918-03-15
STUDENT
HELP
o.
By Jane Osborn

Ursula had watched the principal
guest of the evening with interest. It
was the new instructor of psychology,
JOrrold Greig, who was being consid-
cred for the vacancy in Professor Jud-
sons department at Brompton college.
He had come from one of the larger
eastern colleges and brought with him,
and very obviously showed In his man.
ler and bearing, more of urbanity than
was possessed by most members of
he Brompton college faculty. At the
head of the table sat Professor Jud-
son, and at the other end Mrs. Judson
presiding over the teacups, for Bromp-
tom families still drank tea with their
evening meal, and had the tea service
spread before the mistress of the house
IN as stately array as the meat plat
Ter and carving things were spread at
the other end of the table before the
host. The rule of etiquette that di-
rects the hostess to seat her man guest
of honor at her right and the woman
guest of honor at the hosts right ap-
parently did not trouble the Judsons,
FOR Mr.. Jerrold Greig sat where 1t was
most convenient for the professor to
talk with him at his own right, and Mr..
Greig's elder sister-for this sister,
who, In the event that Mr.. Greig re-
ceived the appointment, would be the
head of his household, had come with
him-sat at Mrs. Judson's left. Grand
father and grandmother Judson had
their usual places ON the other side of
the table, and Rodney Judson, Profess
sor Judson's eldest son, who had but
recently graduated from Brompton, sat
between the young aspirant and his
sister.
So there were a good many dishes
for one small pair of hands to wash
unaided and a good many pots and
pans had had to be used in prepara-
ton for the meal, and in Mrs. Judson's
household no pots and pans, however
stubbornly they had resisted the first
ablutions, were ever left "to soak" till
the next day.
So Ursula was still at her work
when the clock on the kitchen shelf
pointed to nine o'clock. She heard
creaking sound toward the back stairs
and wished that the light of the soli-
tary oil lamp shed a more far-reach-
ing glow. Then a door distinctly open
ed. Yes, it was the back stairs
door, and a mans figure that was
neither that Of Professor Judson nor
his son came out of the shadow. 1t
was the young Eastern professor, and
he stepped toward Ursula with de-
gree of embarrassment that was not in
very good keeping with the appearance
of perfect self-possessiOn and poise
that he had shown at dinner.
"I just thought maybe you would
give me a glass Of water" he began,
as Ursula leveled her eyes at him In
unfeigned surprise. "Mrs. Judson, ]
guess, forgot to put any in my room,
and I didn't want to bother any OF
the people upstairs" he fabricated,
and then more truthfully: "These
country college folks certainly 60 to
bed with the chickens"
"They usually drink the spigot wa
ter" Ursula commented with q voice
that marked no infection. Even from
the shadow in which Mr.. Greig was
standing she could see that he was
watching her with an interest that was
not entirely necessary.
She moved toward the tray, where
stood a neat array of perfectly shin
ing glasses, and took one.
"Too bad to have to use clean
one" objected the professor. II re-
member when we were youngsters the
cook at home used to make us drink
out of tin cup-hated to have to
polish extra tumblers, you know"
Ursula made no comment, filed
glass and handed 1t to the intruder.
"But, then, that cook was very
cross" said the man, trying to make
his voice sound perfectly self-pos'
sessed, but not succeeding, "and this
cook isn't cross, is she?'
Still Ursula made no comment.
Jerrold Greig drank the water, for
WHICH, lS lldu nO anu Ll1Ch
watched Ursula intently as she con-
tinued her task at the sink.
81 used to help the cook of ours dry
dishes," he prevaricated, "and 1 don't
see why 1 shouldn't help you. Every
one has gone to bed and am supposed
to be in my room-no one will know"
He had taken towel from the rack
and had begun to dry one of the pans
that Ursula had just washed. 'Do you
know" he ventured, encouraged be-
cause Ursula had not repulsed his
effort at helpfulness, "do you know,
you are the most extraordinarily pretty
girl I've seen in long time. l noticed
you the first thing we went into the
dining room-couldn't keep my eyes
off from you, and l fancy l made
tumble of what 1 said to the professor
just because was so intent On watch
ing you"
you seemed perfectly self-pos-