The Topeka state journal., 1900-12-22
''The Man In the Moon. -

sIt simply won't do observed Mr..
Portland Rhodes, with emphasis.
May 1 ask what you are talking
about?"
4 am talking about your extrava-
gance," said her husband, in his best
tinues you will simply bust up the
show he added, relapsing into slang.
Pm afraid your theatrical friends are
demoralizing your English.
The English language has nothing to
do with the conversation" he snapped.
Not with your conversation, dear,
said his wife. sweetly.
And Pm tired of these dark illusions
to my theatrical friends. It's absurd to
ina gine that because [ take a girl to
supper that-that there's anything in it
She was an old friend
Il should hardly call her old" said
Mrs. Portland Rhodes. critically. Sup
pose we say middle, ,aged?"
Anyway, we are drifting from the
point"
what is the point of this diaIogue2''
inquired his wife with extreme affabil-
ity.
Your extravaganza. cannot stand
the pace. What's to be done with these
things?" indicating a little pile of bills
I'm afraid I have no head for busi-
ness" said his wife, looking tired
But how are We going to meet
Mrs. Rhodes shifted her smelling bot
tie with an air of extreme patience.
why not write out cheek?' she
Write out a cheek?" he gasped.
IF you wish the servants to know all
our private affairs I'll ring the bell,
said his wife. But don't shout, dear,
because it makes my head ache
There was only one reply for an in
dependent British husband Mr.. Port
land-R Rhodes, NJ P, gathered up the pile
of bills housekeeping and otherwise,
placed them by his wife's plate, and
stalked to the door.
You've made a very poor breakfast,
Charles said his wife, sympathetically.
And yOu'n make me a very poor
man." he muttered.
I'm sorry, dear. ] forgot how many
calls you have upon your private purse
This was the last straw. The mem
ber'' banged out of the room, muttering
expressions which would not be per
mitted even at a religious demonstra-
ton.
It was a pretty piece of acting on her
part-the airiness, the nonchalance, the
magnificent contempt for debit was
all put on. She was in complicated
frame of mind. She was jealous of her
husband on account of an innocent
spree of his, which green glasses had
made hideous. She was uncomfortably
conscious that she was on the nigh road
to making a fool of herself. She was
up to her pretty little ears in debt, and, |
above all, she was in a funk about it.
In short Mrs Portland Rhodes, wife |
of the member for Tattenham Corner, |
At the bottom of her heart she was a |
romantic little creature ridiculously IN |
love with her husband, with philan-
thrODic tendencies and a reasonable |
weakness for dressing decently."
There is no more pitiable sight than /
that of a scrupulous person trying 10 |
be INSCRIPTIONS. She hated TO owe /
money but to keep level with the times |
she ran headlong into debt, and suffered |
agonies She adored her husband, and |
quarreled with him. She despised mar
ried hirts, and was carrying on tnree
open firtations to say nothing OF
mysterious one, at the mere thought OF
which she trembled. In short, she was
a poor, worried little woman, who was
walking in slippery places, and expect
ed to come a cropper every minute
A week before she had attended a
fancy dress masked ball given at the
AmbideXtrOus Mrs Rhodes was ropeu
as the Morning Star, and paired off with
fhe Man in the Moon. She b6lleVed ner |
partner to be a certain Percy Lad
broke whom she counted among her ad-
nirers They became quietly cOnHden-
tiaI and Mrs Rhodes rather let the cat
out of the bag with regard to her imam
ciaI scrapes. The Man in the Moon was
He had had straignt
tim from Threadneedle Street-Snoulo
he mt a bit on for herr Mrs Rhodes
hesitated for a variety OF reasons one
being that she had no spare cash TO lose
and was already out OF ner ,1 GePon; ba !; ,ia
fhe Man in the Moon; 4 shall have
antter Tovself. and I'll buy a few shares
for YOU too. If it turns out baulyI
I'll get it back for you some otler l1lite, Is
But it's too good to miss; you must pc
in it" ,
Portable and Mrs Rhodes assented.
Her first shock was received next daS,
when she learned that the Man in the
Moon was not by any means Percy Lad
broke as that young gentleman was
away in the country. The next shocK
CONCENTRATION
from the Man in the Moon, lncloSlnS
note for 9250. The dabble in Angeleos
had succeeded beyond her expectations
It was q curious position Tor a mar
ried woman What was she to do2 A
man she did not know, for he had not
even signed his name, probably think
ing she already knew 1t, nau sent heT
4 round sum of money. He might be
mad but who would believe the story |
Would any sane person, especially q
mere husband, believe that stranger
would hand her share of a speculation
in which she had not asked a farthing?
On the other hand. she gave a sigh
Of relief when she recollected that, not
knowing who he was she could not re-
furn it That fact combined with the
pile of bills and her husbands irrita-
ton on financial subjects, decided her,
md she cashed the note, and utilized It
to stoD the mouths of her hungrleSt
creditors But it seemed as if she was
doomed to face the unexpected. 1t han
oened that night that, for wonder, sne
and her husband d1n6u teIe-a-Iete- he
was gloomy and silent; she as airy and
7ippant usual
I have had a lucky speculation in
he said, quietly, when the
servants had left the room.
You don't look as if you had" she
said, cracking a nut.
And I hoped to give you a pleasant
SURPRISE ne added; 80 I drove around
% some of your people this afternoon to
pay your bills.
She went white, and nearly pinched a
inger instead of a nut.
Il was rather surprised to learn that
You yourself had been around this morn
ne and paid them money on account" /"
There was an uncomfortable silence
While his wife restrained q desire to use
7xzlil~a laro11a cra on na S11liart Of |