The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-02

salad bowl. Mrs. Benslinger had ex-
quisite taste in such matters.
They were late for the train and had
to hasten. Mr.. Benslinger CALAMITY
bore the salad bowl which made a
heavy, bulky parcel. The weather
looked threatening when they started,
but they walked the four blocks to the
train without mishap. though Mr.. Ben
singer was blowing like a whale when
they reached the station and had been
grumbling all the way about the weight
and clumsineSS of that ulster. He felt
like a mummy wrapped in cerements.
The first trouble came when Mr.. Ben
Singer attempted to ascend the lofty
car steps and in so doing walked up his
ulster. He tripped forward and fell.
The salad bowl flew out of his hand and
rolled off the platform on the other
side. The porter kindly jumped over
and rescued it, but the parcel was very
dirty, and the beautiful tissue paper
with pictures stamped on it was torn
and ruined. Worst of all, dent was in
the bowl itself. Mr.. Benslinger threw
out his hand to save his face as he went
down and hurt his wrist, that it
panied him all day. He said some
words that it is not advisable to print
His fine, large foot bore SO heavily upon
the ulster when he stepped upon it
that the lower button was dragged
loose and flew away off.
However, it is Mr.. Benslinger's way
to make the best of things. He rubbed
his lame wrist, gripped the salad bowl
and sat quietly beside Mrs. B. till they
reached the Oldchums' town. Then,
nothing if not polite, Mr.. Benslinger
descended the lofty car steps first so
as to assist Mrs. B. But he forgot to
hold up his long ulster. Mrs. Benslin-
ger, Immediately behind him, walked
down his skirt and gave it such a
'yank" that Mr.. B. forgot his man
ners and turned savageIy upon her and
asked where her eyes were.
why didn't you hold your skirt up?
I always do mine going downstairs"
retorted his wife.
But now it was raining and sleeting.
There was no way to get to Oldchum's
except just to walk under an umbrella.
Accordingly Mr.. Blensinger put the
salad bowl under one arm, grasped an
umbrella firmly in the hand of the 9TH
er arm and marched dauntlessly
through the storm Mrs. Benslinger
walked under her own ladylike UNI
brella and did not impede her hus-
band. They hurried as fast as they
could.
Long before they reached the Old
chums, however, Mr.. Benslinger felt a
heavy, horrible, wet something striking
his legs behind and dragging after him
-slosh. slosh, sloshi He kicked out vi
ciously backward, but the incumbrance
showed no sign of letting loose. He
looked behind him and saw he was pur-
sued by the tail of his new ulster and
could not get away. Again he said
words and puffed onward to escape the
unpleasant impeachment When they
reached Oldchums that brand new Ill
ster was wet, muddy and horribly be-
draggled for a foot up from the bottom.
1t had struck against his trousers at
every step. and they were as awful
looking as the ulster itself. They were
new, too, for this OCCASION He was wet
to the skin of his plump calves.
Blame that blamed, hangty hanged,
dastty dashed old ulster! I'll never put
it on again I amt a-wearin' petit
coats just yeti" exclaimed Benslinger
as he threw off the offending garment.
why didn't you hold up your skirt %
| asked his wife. Il always do mine"
| TABITHA SOURGRAPES.