The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-30

gan to have company, he had spent most
Of his leisure away from home. Some
times, when he reached the house very
late and his wife's circle" was yet dis
cussing the economic value of manual art
for women" Mr.. Tomlinson had been
known to get back into his hack and stay
away all night. His wife was well aware
of his night-prowling propensities, but she
didn't know how or where he spent these
forbidden hours. She had her suspicious,
of course. But she never mentioned them
TO anyone. least of all to him. She had
none of the failings common to ordinary
women. She was too well bred to scold;
nagging was beneath her. Jealous2 Not
at all. Intellectual women are seldom
Jealous. Neither she nor he ever lost
control of an incessant poise, perfect
discipline of tongue and eye He ex-
planned his frequent absence from home
to himself thus, I'm in the way. l don't
fit in" and let it go at that Mrs. Tomlin-
son might have esteemed him higher if he
had "cut loose occasionally with oath.
or had broken some china against the
wall. But no. He was always the gentle
man. "'Too stupid to be otherwise" she
thought.
Meanwhile Mrs Fotheringham pursued
him. For a divorce2 Yes, and perhaps
butt is mean, caddish to suspect every
foolish woman" he reflected. But she
happened" to meet him in such out of
the way places, He saw her a dozen times
at the races and, though she didn't seem
10 be aware of his presence, he couldn't
lose sight of her. When he was in the
train she came in, quite accidentally, and
he gave her his place and went into the
smoker. Sometimes she came into his Of
flee when he was preparing to leave. Once
he said, quite rudely: You ought to be
home madam. It's nearly O'Clock. You
should be at home getting dinner for your
husband"
But she bit her lip and the tears came
into her eyes as she said quite desper-
ately:
'Homei I'm not going home any more.
There I'm through with it, Tha-ats
wha-ah''-and she was weeping bitterly
He spoke kindly to her, reminded her of
her child, said that she would regain her
peace of mind and some contentment if
she would occupy her time. She was srnil-
ing tenderly through her tears. when she
looked up. murmuring: oh, you're so
kind. sir!''
Then she went sadly away and he stood
alone in his davk office whistling-
THAT woman's either a fool or-or
shut her off tomorrow. It's no case any
how. Bet her husband is a pretty good
fellow at that
And the next day when she called she
found a note advising her that Tomlinson
would not discuss her case. Forget it,
he wrote, land get busy. Go into some
phianthropic, economic or other useful
work. You're too sentimental Join a re-
form movement. Nothing like it Cor des-
troying romantic notions" And after that
when she called he was out. It was a
month later he missed" two nights at
home. They had been 'foggy'' nights at
the club. On the third day. contrary to
his custom, he went home-to the dry
dock''-for repairs He felt foolish. and he
wanted to avoid his daughter, SO he tack
ed across the lawn and let himself in by
the porte ochere. AS he tiptoed a.roSs
the hail he heard his wife's voice in tie
parlor. and then-another's He listened,
knowing how mean that was. put-the
voice
mo. no. Mrs. Tomlinson. said the
voice. Hes all right. I tried my best.
He may be the stupidest Ounce in Chicago,
but he's as straight as a die
Drink" whispered the wife, whose
voice was raucous.
+ Like a fish, replied the voice. Then
there was a series of low-pitched SEN
fences which he could not hear
"How will I make the check2" asked
! Mrs. Tomlinson. And the wondering law
yer heard Mrs Fotheringham say: Make
4 it to Sarah ]. Franker; that's my real
name"
He slipped upstairs and watched the wo-
man 60 She was clad in plain walking
suit of gray, yelled, and not at all like his
client.
''wel. I'll be bowed" he said. and let
it go at that.