Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-31
Mr. JOBSON.. GETS SICK

Mr.. Jobson Looked Very solemn and re-
signed when he got home from his Office
about three hours ahead of his usual time
the other day. Mrs. Jobson met him at the
door with an expression of alarm.
Why" she inquired, anxiously, what is
the"
Mr.. Jobscn smiled sadly as he interrupted
her. 10
Don't you bother. little woman" said he
in weak. PARKWAY, voice, and then Mrs
Jobson felt sure that something dreadful
allied him-he hadn't called her little wo-
man" for years: Don't you worry at ALL
And don't come too close to me, either. I've
got typhoid fever. that's all, and guess my
race is about run" ~
What In the world makes YOU"
Now. kindly refrain from giving way to
any expressions of alarm" cut in Mr.. job
son. with wan smile. I've felt it coming
on me for some time past, but I haven't
said anything about it. because didn't feel
axe worrying you. I've always been afraid
of typhoid, which is perhaps the reason
Why fate has been so ironical as to hand
me out my dose of 1t. I've got all the
symptoms-had 'em for some time but now
IT'S case of go to bed and stay, 1 guess
with me. I'm so weak that"
Mrs. Jobson had him bundled I'D in bed in
Jig time, with hot water bag applied to
MIN tN.B.-What adlment in life up to
b.ighted affections, does not the modern wo-
man use the hot water bag forD and a
toddy steaming over the spirit lamp, and
the servant girl post-haste out the alley
gate for the doctor
Mr.. JObson took it all with an angelic
smile of gentle reprobation.
~ s al no USE" he said, still in that
thin, far-away tone. 'Of course, it's good of
you. my dear, to set about in an endeavor to
pull me through, but I've feeling that 1
have about reached the end of my tether
Now, never mind weeping"-Mrs. Jobson
mad her handkerchief, done up in a little
Wad, at the corners of her eyes-"for it had
to come some time, you know-it had to
come some time repeated Mr.. Jobson in
voice that seemed to demand the accom-
panlmem of slow, tremolo music on the E
string near the bridge of the violin. when
the typhoid gets you, you know. the chances
are about five to one against your ever liv-
ing through it, and there isn't doubt in
life that I've got typhoid fever. I've
But your head doesn't feel warm" said
Mrs. Jobson, anxiousy pressing her palm
against his forehead.
Perhaps not yet" said Mr.. Jobson, ''but
l II be in raging fever before the night
is over. The fever comes later I've got
all the preliminary symptoms-dull pain in
the back of the head, shivery feeling along
the spine. no appetite. lassitude, all-gone
FEELING in general. and finally strong pre-
sentiment that this all marks the end of my
days. I've looked the subject up in book
I've got down at the office and it'll be SIM
ply waste of doctors time to fool around
attempting to make any other diagnosis of
my case. Now, before I lapse into uncon-
seriousness, my dear-you know people with
typhoid become delirious when the fever
gets a good hold on thenl-Tve got a few
little things to say and some little direc-
tionS to leave in case anything happens 10
me'-Mr Jobson said .in case anything
happens to me- in an exceedingly affecting,
sepulchral way-'and l might as well dis
pose of these matters now"
But don't you think it would be as wei
to wait to see what the doctor SayS2 He
might
MY dear, this presentiment I have is
stronger than any superficial words of any
mere doctor could possibly be- said Mr..
JobsOn dismally. Il know that I'm dished
this time. and that Fm not going to get
over this. Whatever the doctor says won't
change me in my belief little Bit
Here Mr.. JobsUn paused and took Mrs.
Jobson's hand and squeezed it.
Il hope you won't always think of me
simply as of cranky old pest" he said,
with shadowy spiritual smile. Il know
I've jawed around and kicked and COM
p,ained and raised Ned without any occa-
sion good many times. and l guess you've
had pretty hard time of it humoring me,
little girl
Here Mrs. Jobsen began to sob quite con-
vulsively, and she tried to deny his self
accusations s
"Oh. there's nc, denying it ALL know it,"
said Mr.. Jobson. Now that I'm about
ready to make my peace in this world, l
can clearly see that for a good many years
past I've been the crankiest and hardest
to-get-along-withs old nuisance in the Dis
trict of Columbia or anywhere else but
I'm square enough to own up to it all,
anyhow. now that my end approaches. and
that's something. But I hope you won't
hold 1t all against me after-after-well,
when / am no longer here. There are a lot
of little ways in which I know now 1
might have made your life happier, but all
of poor mortals are more or less blind.
and it is too late now
Mr yphSnn ctr ia1 limo Ily
for a space while Mrs. Jobson walked to
the window and wondered if the doctor
would never come.
I've said a lot of thing in anger that I
feel now as il | should have cut my tongue
out before saying" went on Mr.. Jobson,
folding his hands over the bed coverings
and looking preternaturally peaceful, land
I've let the million and one little kind
things you've done for me all these years
go unnotced and unspoken of. But never
mind I've always meant well, and 1 can
only hope that you'll remember, in the
after years, whatever few little good traits
l may have possessed, instead of dwelling
in your thoughts upon my meanness to
you"
"Mean?" began Mrs. Jobson, sobbingly.
''Who ever said you we're"
But Mr.. Jobson waved aside with a
movement of his right arm whatever she
intended to say.
said, land there are number of matters
| ought to speak Of. I think l will leave
you pretty fairly provided for. OF course,
everything I have goes to you. The life
insurance is all paid up, and my affairs are
in good shape. AS I say. I've felt this ty
phoid coming over me for some time past,
and I've been Strengthening out my af-
fairs during the past week or so. Now,
there's one thing l want to say. You're
still comparatively young and handsome
woman-no. no, no, don't interrupt me
and I'm not such a mean proposition as to
ask you to promise me that you'll never
marry again l think that a man who'd
make his wife promise that I'D steal sheep.
You won't want for admirers, little wo-
man, and nothing 'ud please me better than
to have you pick out some square, upright
man-not a pesky old crank like me-who'd
take care of you and give you a much
better home than I've ever been able to
provide for you, and marry him. OF course,
it would be well for you to. wait a proper
length of time after MY
Just then there was loud ring at the
front door bell, and Mrs. Jobson hurried
downstairs, with her handkerchief still at
her eyes.
Mercy on u.s." exclaimed the old family
physician, bustlng in, whats all this?
Jobson on the point of dissolution again,
Ell? Come come. come. this won't do!
Where is the man? I'll just look him over
and have him playing hop-scotch with the