The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-08
ELIZA and HER HUSBAND.

Eliza" said, Il am going to put to
you rather a curious question What
would you do if fell overpoweringly III
love with another woman?"
That's nice sort of thing to ask"
said Eliza. Sunday afternoon. too
What next? 1 wish you'd get on with
your tea, for the girls waiting to clear
and can't go out TIL she's done it."
And I am to choke myself 70 oplige
my own servant. Very well. I requirs
nothing more, and if l did I should GER
tainly refuse to take it, Perhaps you
would wish me to black her boots also"
Don't be so silly. 1 promised her she
should go to her married sisters this
afternoon. When you're asked to do
anything why can't you give civil an
swer?" At this moment the girl came
in. When she had retired with the tea
things l turned TO Eliza.
You say that 1 cannot give a civil
answer. I will not go into that. but /
should like to remind you that a few
minutes ago I put a question to you
and could get no answer whatever"
"Ohl what was that?"
Il asked you what you would do in
the event Of my falling overpoweringly
IN love with"
THAT nonsense? There was nothing
1T is true that my principles are
strict. Perhaps I might also lay claim
to a strong will. But / should hesitate
to say that such a thing couldn't hap
all-everything, in fact"
i daresay But you're not the stormy
sort, you know"
what right have YOU to say that?"
1--WE been married to you long enough
to have found out II you had been.
You're the quiet and respectable kind"
Under a quiet and respectable ex-
terror there may be a good deal hidden.
At the Office, for instance, am sup
posed to have rather a remarkable con-
troll over my temper
"Ah." interrupted Eliza They
should have heard you at dinner to-
III you mean what 1 said about the
way in which the sprouts were cooked
or, to be more accurate, ruined-there
are times when a man must speak out
If ne calls himself a man at all"
Yes, but he needn't go stopping the
gravy all over the"
stick to the point. Eliza Try to
stick to the point Just as 1 can and
do break out in the matter OF temper
when l think it right and necessary, so
it is quite possible might break out in
other ways. 1 am only human. I have
never pretended to be more than that.
1t is quite possible that 1 might form
some mad and overpowering passion for
anotherd woman"
Eliza seemed to think it over. And
then, greatly to my surprise and an
noyance, she smiled.
"All right" she said. You tell me
when that happens. If ever l did die of
laughing it would be then; I'd have to
have a few friends in to see it,
Il fail to see" replied rather stern
~, that the wreck of three lives is any
matter for amusement"
Wreck of your grandmother ducks"
exclaimed Eliza. 1 think this rather a
vulgar kind of expression and have re-
peatedly asked her not to use it; at
times 1t seems as if my wishes went for
nothing. Where's the wreck coming
in?'' she went on. You seem to think
that If you made fool of yourself about
some woman she'd be certain to make
a fool of herself about you. That's
where my fun would come in, because
she wouldn't. Why think what you
are. Think what your age is Why.
look at yourself in the glass and don't
ak such Stiffness"
THAT VIII do Eliza. You have said,
quite enough. Possibly when you are
quieter, even you viii think that you
have said little too much. And this
/ continued in bitter way. but quite
patient. this is Sunday The day of
rest. Ha! And peace. Oh. ha. ha! I
come home after hard's weeks work.
My favorite dish of vegetables is ruined
by what I call criminal carlessess. but
l am not even allowed to make a
few remarks about it. My tea is cut to
suit the mere convenience of a domestic
servant. That's all right. The master
of the house Is of no Importance, of
course. Keeping my temper, I try to
nAaAA al Interesting huOJGCl VI
ton. What is my reward2 I get a
string of insults, ending with a rude
and offensive insinuation as to my per-
sonal appearance. And I am supposed
to stand it," (Here l will admit grew
rather warmer) Il am expected to put
up with it. There you're mistaken.
am hanged If L"
Hold on" said Eliza, picking up the
book she had been reading. you can
finish that to yourself. I'm not going to
neo to f,n, 20. l,f,e ct
Mistaken again." said getting a lit
tie quieter. Il never said that you were.
1 said that I was. To speak more cor
rectly, said that I should be if
But Eliza had already gone upstairs
40 the bedroom. 1 followed, saying on
the stairs Il wish to haks my position
perfectly clear. You have chosen to ac-
cuse me Of"
She went into the bedroom, shut the
door and locked it.
Eliza" I said through the keyhole.
II must ask you to control your temper
and"
At this moment the front door bell
rang and Eliza Immediately opened the
bedroom door again.
That's Miss Sakers' she said, land
the girls gone to her married sisters.
What are we going to do? Are you GO
ing to open the door to her or am I?''
Neither" 1 said. 4 am going out for
a short walk. Naturally. if I find Miss
Sakers on the doorstep I shall ask her
in and escort her to the drawing room"
Having said that I was going out for
a walk 1 had naturally to be as good as
my word. Although I was back ten
minutes before church time they had
already left This annoyed me so much
that I went straight to bed
It was one of those gloomy trying
days that you get sometimes.-Barry
Pain, in the Taller.
Typhoid Fever.