The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-05-06
Married Mon
BY MADELINE JONES
g Associated Newspapers.
WNU Service.

keep chickens and study the psy-
chology of the domestic fowl, some
thing he'd wished to study for ages).
1t also meant satisfactory increase
in salary and increased personal
prestige.
But the president demanded a
married man, and the last thing on
earth Professor Wakes wanted was
a wife. Women, in his mind, were
composed of those who ministered
to his comfort, such as cooks, and
those dreadful fappers, whom he
didn't know but occasionally
glimpsed through what he described
as the written word.
He rang the bell Mrs. Lawrence
had acted as housekeeper for him
and his crony, Assistant Professor
Dawson Tin the ethnology depart
ment) for seven years. He had some
respect for the judgment of Mrs.
Lawrence.
"Ah, good morning, good morn
ing" he said fussiIy when Mrs. Law
renee appeared.
mo bad news, hope, professor?"
she asked, taking an indicated chair
by the window.
mo, er, that is to say, 1 fear
it is bad for you, and, er, for me,
too. 1 have been very comfortable
in your house, Mrs. Lawrence, very
comfortable, indeed"
Mrs. Lawrence smiled and wait
ed. A sensible woman, thought the
professor; most of them would have
demanded to know why it was bad
news.
''The University of Crewe," he
said, tasks me to come and fill the
chair of zoology A very desirable
position"
81 am thankful you will get the
recognition you Deserve" cried Mrs.
Lawrence. "Of course, shall miss
you, but I must not think of my
self when such a fine offer comes
your way"
A noble-hearted woman, said the
professor to himself, and cookbook
ing, too. Never noticed it before.
But, err" he continued aloud,
there is one consideration that will,
fear, prevent my accepting the
position"
What is that, if l may ask?" Mrs.
Lawrence smiled charmingly. pro
fessor Wakes didn't know her neph-
ew was freshman at Crewe uni
versity)
"Er, the position is usually held
by married man. A house goes
with it, and, er, in short, fear, it is
not for me. I am too old a man to
consider, er, marriage ="
Isn't that rather hard on some
nice young girl, professor" very
Sweetly. 'Now, I know some real
lovely girls should be glad to have
you meet. There's Marty Sales,
and"
"Flappers," snapped Wakes.
"Scandalous, young people are these
days, scandalous." The little man
fidgeted with paper knife and Mrs.
Lawrence hoped he might not intend
a personal injury to any marauding
fapper.
"Well," said Mrs. Lawrence, eff
you dislike young girls there are
older women ="
Professor Wakes looked at her.
But he was nervous. Would she al
low him liberty to measure the abil-
tiles of chickens she probably mere
ly considered in terms of frying?
81 fear an old bachelor is diff
cult to live WITH" he faltered.
Mrs. Lawrence smiled some more.
Wonderful teeth she had. She stood
up. "Well, l must not waste your
morning." she said.
mo, watt" he called as she half
closed the door. Just the way he
preferred it in summertime. A
clever and thoughtful woman.
Il, er-the truth is that I don't
know how to say to you what l want
to say" he declared lamely.
well, professor, there's no need
to say anything in hurry. I quite
understand this thing has taken you
all by surprise. You Just have lit
tie talk to me later"
Professor Wakes sat still for half
an hour, his thoughts roaming over
that garden and the chickens, which
went with the Crewe appointment,
and at noon jumped up, seized his
notebooks and stuffed them into his
brief-case.
He knocked gently on Mrs. Law
rence's partially opened door.
Come right in, professor. l hope
you've made up your mind not to
let little thing like wife prevent
your taking that lovely position"
Her eyes were laughing now.
mot if you'll come along with me
and be the wife," he said, red to
his neat little ears.
"Why, bless your heart, I've cared
for you ever since that first Christ
mas day you came here. D'you re-
member how you said that you be-
lieved turkeys were less intelligent
than hens? And l said I'd never
thought either of them very bright,
but maybe you were right"
So she actually remembered his
fret words This was tha v,op,ap