Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-09-15
The Truth About Tobias
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

7 TOOK Hanora quite time to End
out the truth about Tobias. Not
that Tobias could ordinarily be con-
sidered a mysterious individual. In
deed, he was precisely the reverse.
From the cool dawn hour in which
Re arose to go forth and drive the
team for Twist 81 Taffeta, of which
firm he was trusted collector, until his
return at 80 to the modest fiat where
Bis sister-and supper-awaited him,
mis- life was clean and commonplace
page, spread wide for every casual OF
interested glance. His nights. if less
exposed to the arc lights of public
scrutiny, might as well have been so.
For, after eating heartily of the food
Hanora had prepared, and referring to
the same in admiring terms, he was
won't to remove his shoes as unneces-
sary impedimenta, place his feet in
their well-darned hose upon the chair
"beyant," light his pipe, drink the sol
stary bottle of beer which Hanora per-
mitted him, and read the mighty accu-
mutation of both morning and evening
papers until the autocratic spinster
who ruled his abode suggested "a
decade" and turned the lamp low by
way of a gentle but quite sufficient
hint.
Tobias was 40-plus five. He had
brickdust skin, pale brows, pugna-
cious nose, and a smile of such sudden,
suffusing, apologize radiance il eN-
planned his love for his fellow-men. in
general and for Hanora in particular.
Indeed, his was the only love that had
ever come Hanora's way. She had never
been guilty of that form of highway
robbery known as coquetry. Not that
she was unsophisticated. She knew
that woman quick of perception and
adroit of finger may appropriate the
purse of one who walks her way and
suffers Incarceration. And she knew
also that one who possesses herself of
an unappropriated masculine heart not
only goes free in the sight of the law,
but glories If she will in her guile and in
the magnitude of her deeds. Whether
the bonds of inopportunity had shack
led Hanora Ryan or whether she had
preferred maiden triumph to the ex-
ultation OF matronhood deponent say
eth not. Anyhow, to get back TO the
truth about Tobias. On one memorable
midsummer eve he devoured lemon
pie without protest. Hanora knew he
loathed lemon pie. On the following
morning he meekly ate the French
toast she set before him, instead of
his regulation potato and rasher. This
was her second test. For Tobias had
frankly declared only two weeks ago
that he would eat no more French, or
Flemish. or-no, begorrah-Boer toast.
that was made of stale bread dipped in
egg and friedi SO therei She began
brother, but alarmingly docile when
presented with viands for which he pos
sessed an aversion.
She was like the parrot which it's
owner declared "said little but done
devil of a heap of thinkinu" She
thought good deal in those days When
Tobias suggested bringing a friend
home with him to dinner she thought
more than ever, albeit she possibly said
less.
ITO be bringin' a man here for a
malei" quoth she. what kind of
man might he be, now, Tobias %
"Sthraight as they make 'em!"
promptly responded Tobias. HE drives
the rush bus. He's a good wan He'd
relish one of your raspberry rolls
that he would, Hanora!" Whereat
Hanora blushed in a wintry sunset
sort of way and said he might bring his
friend.
He did bring his friend. And-to
tell the truth-Hanora looked exceed
ingly well. She had given her black
silk skirt a dip" whatever that mystic
rious phraseology may mean. And
she wore with this a shirt waist of
softest lawn, which she had bought at
quite an absurd figure because it was
one of the smallest sizes. This she
had duly and delicately Numbered. Not
that
THE household art was the only dover
She would bring for gift to him she wed"
But the household art shone up in
resplendence on that particular night.
Never, thought treacherous Tobias.
with glow at his heart, had any man
such sister, and if it were not for
the-here he broke off in an agony of
deception which made him temporarily
obliVious of the merits of the rasp-
berry roll.
''You amt eat a bitei" avowed
Hanora.
Tobias made sweeping gesture
across his Adams apple. "Ciear to
herei" he declared, with delicious
nendacity.
After supper they went into the par
COR. -Hanors played on the organ,