The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-01
BATTLE OF THE SEXES.

season.
Il saw you" she said
Il am fatally conspicuous, I know"
She looked at me with so much mean
ing twinkling brightly in her eyes that
l added: What was 1 doing?"
Nothing at aH,'' she replied.
1 confessed that it was my favorite
occupation.
You seemed very happy"
Il dare say 1 was careful to seem
happy. 1 always am
You were not alone"
Il can believe that. Full many a
careworn heart finds refuge behind a
careless smile.''
4 thought most people wore their
hearts lower down, Mr.. Wroughtnight,"
she said, and as the jest seemed to
amuse her 1 conceded a smile
But L didn't mean that. [ meant
that you had some one with you.''
Il suffer from many friends
n you always employ that tone in
severely, Il don't think you deserve any
at ALL
Il don't said I. "And wish they
would realize that"
She pondered. Are you a cynic?"
she asked.
My little brother isl I replied.
She sighed, then frightened. 1T was
lady you were with" she said
My sister, L expect
She hadn't that air exactly
No"
She wore a gray toque"
They Will wear Them" said I, Gin
spite of Mr. Alexander
THAT reminds me- She looked rather
like an actress
They are all actresses" 1 cried, with
a touch of bitterness
I mean an actress on the stage"
course"
Il hope.'' said Mrs Cheedle. you are
not t1frt, Mr.. Wroughtnight."
without hope" said 1, society
would be just provident association
She shook her head over me- do you
often walk with ladies in Bond street,"
she asked.
'One must do something" rnrr-
INJURED meekIy.
You might stroll in the park and
feed the ducks
Or in Bond street." said I. land feed
She laughed. Have you many lady
friends, Mr.. Wroughtnight? ?"
sometimes l think L must have thou
sands, Mrs. Cheedle''
She clapped her hands. 'oThen Won
believe that friendship is possible be-
tween the sexes ?''
The undesirable is always possible
very rude
I am sincere" said I.
What is sincerity?"
droit'
Her eyes famed with sudden i'm
patience Of my Ievity. and I looked
You are very clever. aren't Won Mr.
Wroughtnight?" she said, with tiny
1T is not for me to say
clever" -1N ~"
Too many, perhaps"
one too many, certainly"
= l certainly think am clever. if that
clever is half the battle, You Know
She smiled gayly. After all, 1 don't
t t! you are clever, really said she,
only sensible and nice And that is
why I want US to be friends Won ba1e
sald that it is possible. 1 want to prove
to you that it is also desirabIe.''
you have already done so,'' said I.
How NICE" she cried we are
friends, then? And I NAV tell Vo1
about-every thing?"
! was rather startled, but Isaid: Ger
interested in --io7'
And you won't be clever? You'll be
just restfu1, eh?''
4 will be a human pillow" said I.
Ihen, she said, with tragic empha-
sis, Il will make a confession to Won
1os1e and 1 have quarreled"
"Quarreled? MOI"
Yes" said she. Ever so many
oh" I cried, much relieved 81
thought you meant seriously. There is
no harm in a man and wife quarreIing
SO long as they make a habit of it,
oh, we don't do that she excIain-
ed, Mortified What a dreadful ideal"
Based on a dreadful knowledge
You know what Josie fs?" said she
4 know what he was" 1 replied
sadly. N
Hes $3.50 unreasonable"
81 suppose he is"
And he will argue
Yes"
And argument is so exhausting, isn't
Certainly"
"Of course, Mr.. Wroughtnight. I am |
not saying word against Josie"
of course not" said I, graveIv.
He is the best husband in the |
world" '-e
THAT is the commonest variety of
husband"
And, really, he has lot of sound |
sense
He is quite intelligent T cried with |
''Only-only he will argue"
1T is his great weakness"
He argues rather well, though, some |
That is always so hard to forgive |
She fingered her dress. 81 suppose" |
said she, men often have very serious |
talks together-don't they?"
L think you shouldn't expect too |
much from them, Mrs. Cheedle."
"Oh, but l am sure they do. Don't
be absurd, Mr.. Wroughtnight. 1 never |
forgive anyone who tries to make fun |
of me-
We were silent awhile
JOSIE" said she, thinks a lot of |
your opinion
IF he thought less he might act on it. |
pehaps."
"Oh, he does"
only when it comedies with his own. |
But of course we are all like that"
He said to me once: old PhiP-that |
is you, isn't it, Mr.. WrOughtnight?- |
old Phil says things that sink in "
you alarm me-"
Il should think it must be so nice to |
influence ones friends in that way. I |