The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-08

instead of asking her to play the piano
and receive my callers If. you ran the
house, a servant would stay for years
and look upon the place as a paradise.
Go ahead with your usual remarks
Mr.. Bowser felt a sudden weakness
in his knees and sat down. He wanted
to thunder back and gesticulate and
pace uD and down the floor, but some
hoy he hesitated to make start
"And here's butchers bill for Sc
cents said Mrs. Bowser as she took it
off the mantel- Il don't remember run
ming in debt for meat. but I suppose it is
all right. It's another argument for you
about my reckless extravaganza. and I'm
waiting for you to begin. The wonder is
that you haven't been driven to bank
ruptcy years ago. 1 don't remember
whether this was porterhouse steak for
an old tramp mutton for our own din
ner. but you can take your own view of
it.
Mr.. Bowser got up and sat down again.
and he choked and gasped and turned red
and white. but he couldn't get out word.
And while on this subject of extrava-
gance let me say that your bill for cigars
last month was $12. During that same
month you gave me money to buy two
pairs of stockings at So cents per pair.
Your club expenses alone would dress
me nicely. but of course I can't find fault
with your extrayaganceS. l am the ole
who is galloping this family over the
road to the poorhouse.'
Woman Mr.. Bowser managed to get
out with a great effort. But while he was
waiting for something more to come she
said:
when I went upstairs after breakfast
this morning. I found your clothes scat
tered all over the room and everything
topsy- turvy. The next time you do that
I shall throw everything out of the win
dow don't propose that you shall put
an hours extra work on me-
Such talk to me-to Bowser?" he
whispered as he looked at her.
ITO you and to no one else she re-
piled. Il want you to distinctly under
stand that there's a new deal on in this
house. If there is any more kicking, I'm
going to do it myself. AS a beginning I
shall ask you not to interfere with the
kitchen I know how to manage my help,
while you know nothing about it. If you
try to mix in, you'll hear something drop"
And you-you are talking to me?" he
stammered, with a puzzled look.
Yes sir, and l want you to remember
every word say. If you expect to board
here this winter, there will be no hogs or
chickens for the back yard. There will
be no experimenting with the gas meter
Or water pipes. You will let the electric
bells alone and keep your hands off the
piano. If you bring home fire escapes,
burglar alarms patent lamps life RATS
or fog horns. they will go over the fence
into the alley. If you bring home hair
dyes, liver invigorators, winter tonics or
lung pads. they will go into the stove"
And she is talking to me-to Bowser"'
/ he murmured he rubbed his eyes and
looked around the room.
Yes, to you" she replied, land I am
not half through. I will leave the rest
until tomorrow night, however, as 1 am
rather tired tonight. I am now going up
stairs, and you can sit here, go to your
club or stand on your head on the front
steps. AS for divorce, set about it as
soon as you please. Good night, Mr.. Bow
ser-good night"
And she is Mrs Bowser, and I am
Mr.. BoWser, and she talks that wayi" he
gasped after she had gone, and an hour
later when she came softly down the
stairs she found him asleep in his chair
| with a where am I at" expression ~ex-
tending from his chin clear over his bald
pate to the back of his neck.-(Copyright
1902 by C. b Iewfs)