Evening star., 1901-02-02
JOBSON TAKES A TRIP

When Mr.. JobSon mad hniSned looking AT
the pictures in the papers couple of Sun
days ago he walked up and down for
a while. occasionally surveying Mrs. Jobson
out of the tail of his eye. and then he said:
I'm going away"
Mrs. Jobson looked up from her study Of
the cooking recipes in one Of the supple
ments.
Going away?" she said when? ?
Where?"
Tomorrow morning-any old place." re-
piled Mr.. Jobson. Just want to get away
for whle-thats all.'
Has anything gone wrong?" inquired
Mrs. Jobson.
Nope" replied Mr.. Jobson Every
things all right. Everything's bully in
fact. But just want to get away on a lit
tie trip. and I'm going. Did you ever read
or hear, Mrs Jobson. that married folks
ought to be separated from each other at
least one month in every year?"
Yes replied Mrs. Jobson: but 1t al
ways seemed to me to be foolish sort Of
theory. and"
There's nothing foolish abou: it," cut in
Mr.. Jobson. oracularly. 'On the contrary,
it's about the wisest theory in connection
with marital life that's ever been pro-
pounded It's great theory. When mar
ried folks are constantly in each others So
ciety, outside of business hours, they're
bound. in the course Of nature, to pail more
or less upon each other-sort O. get tired,
and long for the sight Of other counte-
nances in such close contiguity.
We'll. I'm really sorry that l pail" said
Mrs. Jobson; but If l do. why
There you go with your unreasonable
ness" broke in Mr.. Jobson. stopping in his
who said anything about your palling?
I'm talking in purely impersonal sense.
But while were on that palling subject I'll
bet that you're so tired Of seeing me around
h0 oft xryicI <~Rpt
or the Fiji Islands. l don't blame you for
feeling that way. It's some thing that's
bound to happen. We all want change.
Now, I've been pretty steady old horse
around these diggings for a lot Of years.
haven't I?''
Pm sure,' Mrs. Jobson started to say, 81
haven't any complaint to make about your
stead"
And. If you'll figure 1t out put In Mr..
Jobson, you'll discover that we've never
been apart since we were married. have we?
When / go on my summer vacat ons you go
along. I've never had little whirl all by
myself for more than day or so at time.
have I?''
NO" said Mrs. Jobson, but you could
have gone away at any time. and I've often
suggested that you pack up and go
away
That's all right what could have done
Mr.. Jobson. THE point is that ! haven't
done it. l have now arrived at a state
where I've just got to get away by myself
and have little change. Fact is, I'm just
dog-sick of my surroundings I've got the
wanderlust on me. anyhow, for the first
time in my life. and want to get the pic
lures of other scenes in my head. Wash
ington's all right. and SOS my home all
right but l want to forget 'em for a space.
and I'm going to do it,.
Where do you mediate going. and how
long do you intend to be away?' inquired
Mrs Jobson.
Don't know" replied Mr.. Jobson. I'm
just going to take the trail and let It lead
me whittier it will. I've got an idea though.
that III get on a boat and go somewhere
or other Might take a steamer over in
New York and run down to Florida or to
the Bermudas to Cuba, to Porto
Rico-don't much care which. l don't think
I'll be gone much more than a month or six
weeks, but my stay may be protracted to
two three months. AS you know. that
last little deal of mine panned out pretty
well. and I've made arrangements down al
the office to be gone as long as like, and
I'll have no worry about my affairs. You
can either close up the house during my
absence and go and visit your folks or you
can stay al home"
Mrs. Jobson cogitated.
DO you know" she finally said. IT think
that Is a real good plan Of yours to go
away and seak a change. l.
Didn't l say while back that you were
just aching to get rid of me?' broke in Mr..
Jobson. a bit testify. Il knew it all the
time. You're So anxious to see my back
tnat you can barely wait till get on The
train
Nov. you know differently said Mrs
Johson. But think, as you sai1. that q
man needs a change after havirg Leen a
homeh body for long time. and I am GER
tain that when you come back you will ap-
pTeciatc you! home all the more"
So 1t was arranged. Mr.. Jobson spent
the remainder of the day pointing out the
things to Mrs. Jobson that ne wanted to
and ha hn
out included enough clothes to fill two big
trunks and two valises and to last him for
several years in many different c!imes.
Mrs. Jobson decided to remain at home
during Mr.. Jobson's tour. She went down
to the station to see him off on the New
York train on the following afternoon.
Don't worry" said Mr.. JobsOn. Off
.a hanaedly. as, as he waited for the train gate
wherever 1 may be. I don't want you to
think" he added. a bit woozilv. as tho
time for separating drew pretty elcse.
that I'm going away because I've any
fault In the world to find with you. Rut
you understand-it's just because the home
surroundings began to wear OF, me good
deal, and feel that a little trip OF week
Why" said Mrs Jobson, II Thought vo,
said that you'd be gone a month at the
least. and perhaps two or three months
Who. me?" inquired Mr. Jobson. Never
ohAo ooSh q tAiifS III uiy lie. STAY
from home month? Not If / know II,
Well. there's the gate open. Goodbye
There was a suspicion of hoarseness in
Mr. Jobson's voice and more than a sus-
picion of moisture in Mr.. Jobson's ewes
when he went through the gate. but Mrs
Jobson smiled as she waved her hand to
him.
''Ill give him two days. she said to her
self, as she returned to the Jobson domt-
cle on the car.
About 10 o'clock. two nights later, Mrs.
Jobson, who hadn't as yet heard from Mr.
Jobson at all. was gossiping with woman
friend in the dining room of her home
when there was a well-known tread on the
front steps. She fastened to the front
door, and Mr.. Jobson gave her a hug, look
ing somewhat sheepish.
Got a telegram from the office calling
me back" was all he said, and fifteen
minutes later. after the departure of Mrs
Jobsons woman friend. he was sitting in
front of the dining-room latrobe, In his
smoking jacket and slippers. elaborately
explaining to Mrs. Jobson the nature OF
the important business that had neces-
STATED the abandonment Of his tour
And MrA Jobson smiled inwardly while
she listened with every evidence Of deep
interest.
Broken at the Wheel.
From Notes and Queries
In the diary of that remarkable man. Gen.