The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-07
VIEWING THE ECLIPSE.
WiggIesworth and His Wife visit the
High Toned Wetherbees.


well, . growled her husband, who had
s'what did she want to borrow?'
''She said, rejeined Mrs. Wigglesworth
unheeding the sarcasm, ''that there was
going to be an eclipse Of the moon to-
night
''Yahl" broke in Mr.. Wigglesworth.
"Don't she spose 1 know that? Think
I've got to have every fat woman in town
with mole on her chin running round to
tell me things like them? 1 saw more than
a hundred eclipses fore old Wetherbee and
his wife were born.
'tShe came to ask u.s. Mrs Wiggles-
worth resumed when her husbands mouth
was filed with toast, elf we didn't want
to come over TO their house and watch it?''
"Watch Hhat-the house?''
/. ''No, the--the eclipse. You know they
have large telescope, and she thought
'Oh, yes" cried Mr. Wigglesworth,
glaring across the table, ''that's it. Ever
since them Wetherbees had little money
left 'em they put on airs till they make
me sick Think they're the only ones
who're going to have an eclipse, don't
they? Wetherbee;s special line of eclipse.
Don't take any eclipse until you've seen
Wetherbee's. Patronize Wethefbee. His
eclipses are out of sight. I hate such stuck
stand " he snarled in conclusion, and with
sudden change of front, sis how that hired
girl of yours always manages to give us
such a stone cold cup of tea with the same
fire that she burns the toast up within
Mrs. Wigglesworth understood by this
time that it had been a poor day for bust
ness, so she said nothing further, while
her husband went out to nail a picket on
the fence and in the gathering twilight
III
of the hammer.
CAIN ye ready yet?' he shouted as he
charged into the house by and by, nursing
his thumb.
Ready for what?'' asked his wife in
mild voice as she got him the arnica,
Ready for WHAT" snapped Mr.. Wig
ellsworth, taking his thumb out of his
mouth so as to give his voice free sway.
E'Why, for the eclipse of course. Didn't
ye say TIE Wetherbees wanted US to come
over there? What ye trying to act out,
anyway Don't We know what common
politeness is when folks give ye an invita-
tion?''
Somewhat dizzy with the powerful veer-
ings of her husbands mental compass,
Mrs. Wigglesworth hurried on her wrap.
$50 glad to see you'll" cooed Mrs. Weth-
erbee, shaking hands.
Eyes; step right up on the veranda,"
Mr.. Wetherbee said, pulling forward some
uncomfortable summer chairs.
''Nice night, - said Mr.. Wigglesworth,
wiping his forehead.
Eyes. I was saying to Ellery on the
way over" chirped Mrs. Wiggleswcrth,
''that I thought it one of the incest nights
for an eclipse that 1 ever saw, especially of
the moon. Do you know if it is to be a
a total eclipse, Mr.. Wetherbee?"
1.-The whole box and dice, " asserted Mr..
Wetherbee
Chow perfectly lovely exclaimed Mrs.
Wordsworth. ''TheSe - er - partial
eclipses are so sort of unsatisfying and
all that, don't you think, Mrs. Wether-
bee?''
''Step up on the roof and have a look at
the telescope - suggested their host
''Cost $3.50, he explained as they stood
about the long brass cylinder and felt of
the glass with their moist hands Its
dandy, so the man said that 1 got it Of -
f'Does it make things seem awfully near
tor Mrs. Wigglesworth asked.
What the use to ask such numb ques-
lions as that?'' muttered her husband,
who hadn't found opportunity to put in
word all the evening. FThink they got
it to conceal things withf''
1t wanting an hour of the advertised
time of the eclipse, Mr.. Wetherbee sug
gested that they go below and have cigar,
and while he entertained Mr.. Wiggles
worth with long and circumstantial &C
count of an operation in stocks wherein
the Wetherbee shrewdness was admirably
set forth by the lips of Wetherbee, Mrs.
Wigglesworth gave, for the benefit of Mrs.
Wetherbee, a full and unabridged descrip-
ton of the difficulty which Willie, when
baby. had experienced in cutting his own
teeth himself for the first time. Then.
when time had sufficiently flown, they re-
turned to the roof
''You may look first, - said Mr. Wether-
bee, training the telescope toward the
moon.
81 can't sec anything" said Mrs. Wig
ellsworth anxiously.
ooh, 1 forgot to open the slide, apollo
gizsd the exhibitor e Now try it.
But it's just as dark as before, " pro-
tested Mrs. Wigglesworth.
You're shutting up both eyes, - derided
her husband. Better open one of EN-"
"O-o-h-h-h," gurgled Mrs. Wiggles-
worth, acting on this hint how perfect
ly lovely I never saw such bright moon
in my life Look at it, Ellery!''
They all looked at it by turns and ad-
mired the dark places, which Mrs. Wether-
bee said she believed were burned out vol
canoes and quite deep when you came to
measure them
'But I don't seem to see where the
eclipse comes in, - observed Mr.. Wetherbee
after another long look. ''She seems to
be sailing along in full regalia. And it's
half au hour after time.
"Perhaps something is out of fix and has
DELAYED it little while, y suggested Mrs
Wigglesworth. ''You know how it was
with the fireworks at Central park that
time Ellery?''
''Harki'' said Mrs. Wetherbee, raising a
warning hand. Il thought heard some
body calling"
'sHe;lo, up therer' came voice from
the front yard.
Its the minister's voice" said Mrs.
Wigglesworth.
Were watching the eclipse, - responded
Mr. Wetherbee, cor at least waiting for
it, he fastened to add.
"But the eclipse doesn' come off till to-
morrow said the minister earnestly.
'EWhat's the reason it don t?' retorted
IN 1aA