The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-30
The Truth About Tobias.


cisely the reverse. From the cool dawn
hour in which he rose 10 go forth and
drive the team for Twist & Tansta Of
which firm he was trusted collector, IN
til his return at $50 TO the mosest fat
where his sister-and supper-awaited
him. his ife was a clan and commo =
place page, spread wide for every casual
or interested glance. His nights, If less
exposed TO the are lights u public
scrutiny, mighI as wei have been -.
For, after eating heartily of the food
Hanora had prepared and referring 10
the same in admiring terms, he was
wont to remove his shoes IS unnaceSsa y
imDedimenta, place his feet IN the we'll
darned hose upon the chair "beyaat,
iigt his pipe, drink the solitary bottl. Of
beer which Honora permitted him e1 d
read the migty accumulation Of both
morning and evening papers until Ia su-
tocratic soinster who ruled his 4b &c
suggested "a decade and turnel the
lamp low by way Of a gentle but quite
sufficient hint
Tobias was 40-plus five. ne had a
mrickdust skin, pale brow, a pugnacious
nose, and a smila of such sudden, suf-
fusing, Apologize radiance ii explained
his love for his fellow-men in n raj
and for Hanora in particG,a-. Ind el,
his was the only love that h1i ever
come Hanora's way. She had nevsr 5een
guilty of that form of highway robbery
known as eodULtry. Not that sne was
unsophisticated. She knew that a woman
quick Of perception and adroit of finger
may appropriate the purse of one who
walks her way and suffer incarceration.
And she knew also that one who pos
sesses herself of an inappropriate mas
culine 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
deed. Whether the bonds of inopportun-
ity had shackled Honora Ryan o.
whether she had preferred maiden TIL
umph TO the axultation of matronhood
deponent sayeth not. Anyhow, 10 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
ne meekly ate the French toast she set
before him, instead of his regulation 70
tatio and rasher. This was her saeond
test. For Tobias had frankly declared
only two weeks ago that he would cat
no more French, or Flemish, or-no he
gorrah-Boer toast. that was male Z
stale bread and dipped in egg and fried
oS there! She began TO feel suspicious.
He was a good brother, but alarming
dodle when presented with viaHds for
which he possessed an aversion.
She was like the parrot which its
owner declared said little. but done a
devil Of heap of thinlzia'.' She thought
a good deal in those days. When Tobias
suggested bringing friend home with
him to dinner she thought more than
ever, albeit she possibly said less.
''To be bringing man here for a
mailer quoth she. What kind of man
might he be now, Tobias?'
o4--t.- ~, L.
responded Tobias. He drives the rush
bus. He's a good wan. He'd relish one
of your raspberry rolls-that he would,
Hanorar
He did bring his friend And-to tell
the truth - Hanora looked exceedingly
well She had given her old black silk
skirt a dip" whatever that mysterious
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 smaller
sizes. This she had duly and delicately
Numbered. Not that
The household art was the only dover
She would bring for a gift to him she
wed"
But the household art shone up in re-
sp.endence on that particular night.
Never. thought treacherous Tobias, with
a glow at his heart, had any man such
a sister, and IL it were not for the-here
he broke off in an agony Of deception
which made him temporarily oblivious OF
the merits o. the raspberry roll
You amt eat a bite!' avowed Ha-
nora.
Tobias made a sweeping gesture across
his Adams apple. Clear to here!" he
declared with delicious mendacity.
After supper they went into the parlor
Hanora PLAYED on the organ-yet, and
sang. too. in a sweet thin little voice.
shes a Jewell" commented Dennis
Mcguire, addressing Tobias Ryan, when
they parted on the sidewalk. Amt
aln't'-timidly, there any wan a
coortin'r'
''Niyer a want returned Tobias.
He felt so guilty upon his return he
could hardly make the proper responses
tn the decade" which Hanora was "ciY-
ing out" He did not come home until 10
o'clock the following night-nor yet the
next.
1t was nc until Hanora found a rose lin
the buttonhole OF his one and a little
lace trimmed handkerchief in his pocket
that her direst doubts were aroused.
But evne those Tobias explained away.
T Sure the flower cost nothin', Hanora.
Twas for m a bush l was passin, And
the handkerchief was on the sidewalk
I thought belize you could make use Of
it
He was rapidly becoming beautiful
liar.
A week later he Refused 10 60 out with
Hanora and Dennis on account of the
night being damp. He had rheumatism.
he said. So his sister and his friend
went 10 the theater and Tobias settled
himself to the composition OF long and
It, tfrf7y ant -
which necessitated frequent reference TO
the pocket dictionary ne had bought for
this purpose. To make a long story
Shorthand II was not such a long story
when all was said-Hanora married Den
mis- Mcguire Tobias was desOlste--3is-
consulate He might 20 10 1--we with
them. Dennis had won treasure. Yes
ne flight 90 TO live with them az er
awhile Fer the present ne would take
his meals at restaurant until sure what
could be done with the furniture-and SO
on.
All through her wedding journey. which
lasted fun three weeks. Il troubled Mrs.
Mcguire TO determine what was the mat
ter with Tobias. She told her new made
lord al labout his evening absences. his
mil acceptance Of distatefGl viands. his
abrupt and eager hospitality toward Den
nis-even about the rose ard hsnfser-
chief II wastnot until she had returned
to Chicago and went out to the ia
whore where had been PASSED her years
of mature uaiden5ood that she really
discovered the truth Gbout Tobias
For the Eat into wh!ch she let herself
with her latch key was altered. dec1rat-
Cd usurnfzsE There were curtains a.
rosv swisso'ine ~ tae window. The~e
were n lot - flowers on ne table 4
canary sang IN a Eil5ed cage. and-w6at
was .h1t2 a 1aVasoi IN t7e ccrneF--a
hot or the sewing machine, SUN
frivolous hat-su chiHon ani 6sts'e,
Tanora turned quite faint Cou5 To-