The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-20
WHEN A WOMAN READS A
WOMAN

lather for his matutinal shave.
Edith, in kimono and silk petticoat
had paused with her hair half brushed
to rummage in the top drawer of hei
husbands chinonier.
They had just concluded their honey
moon trip to Lake Tahoe, and on. reach
home. where he had lived so long and
happily as a bachelor and must now
share with a wife
Tiles. handkerchiefs. cotTlion favors
odd gloves. cigars, matches. photo
graphs-yes, and letters. Letters from
a woman, tool What careless, thought
less creatures men areI"
Jack was busy lathering his pink
cheeks, and paid little heed to the chat
ter Of his yivacious bride. Let her rum
mage among my effects, he thought, II
1t pleases her.
Edith sat quietly with a pile of let
tiers in her lap. some in their enycl-
opes, some heaped up without having
been refolded after their pei usal by me
recipient. She sorted out several in the
same handwriting from the mass OF
bills, invitations and wedding an
nouncements that helped fill the draw
er. She did not feel that she was do
ing anything mean or underhand in
reading what had not been intended
for her eyes. Were not Jack and her
self one? Was he not standing but a
Few feet away, and could he not pre-
vent her from reading the letters if he
wished?
Jack, however, was carefully remov-
ing the lather from his upper lip. To
keep his razor on the proper road was
all he was capable of considering at
that moment.
He finished shaving just as Edith
finished the last letter. Then he look
ed around, and saw her occupation. He
took up one of the letters and, recog-
MIXING the handwriting, gave a little
start.
s'That's not exactly honorable of
you, Edith" he said, ito read Dixie s
letters
"Just as honorable for me to read
them as for you to leave them about so
carelessly," she retorted.
A sharp answer rose to his lips, but
''It doesn't matter much" he return
ed with a smile, for they aren't love
letters. 1 don't think Dixie would
mind you seeing them"
There was an odd expression in
Edith's eyes. as she answered:
Not love letters? Well, if not that
they come very near the definition"
s'Nonsense!' exlaimed Jack. Dixie
never thought of me in that way. We
were friends, that's all; good friends,
chums, everything like that, but-oh'
no, Dixie never cared for me in any
other sense"
"Perhaps you were in love with her,
though" observed Edith, with some
frigidity in her tones.
Jack Strengthened up his tall figure
and proceeded to brush his smooth
IT told you. Edith. that Dixie and I
were friends" he said after a long
pause. she is a good fellow, the kind
one chums with-We were that klnd
of friends"
Edith picked up one of the letters
seThis sounds like friendship, doesn't
1t she said, reading:
5 Jack, dear Jack, 1t seems ike an
eternity until next Saturday, when you
said you'd come and have tea with
me-
And this" she went on. taking up
the other letters, one after the other,
reading bits from each:
81 can't forget, dear old boy, how
you looked the other night. After you
left, 1 went to work and drew your
face as quickly as 1 could, so I'd not
lose the expression. 1t was SO life-like
when I finished that I kissed it-sKetch !
of you
whether 1 did not think he had bet |
ter physique than you. Imagine the
vanity of him! Why, Jack, dear old
fellow, I know it won't hurt you at all, |
for you aren't a bit vain, but the ar
lists at the class all say you ought to
let Earl model you as Hercules wish
1 were a sculptor instead of a pen-and- |
ink Wouldn't / spring to fame on
your shculders?'
You did not come yesterday as you
promised. 1 was angry at first, then
hurt-terribly hurt. But thought it
something that displeased you the last
night you were at the studio. There
should be no misunderstanding be-
tween friends. So 1 am just writing.
Jack to ask you if your Daily Food
disagreed with you, and what's the
remedy
Jack laughed.
81 suppose you wonder what she
means by that last sentence?" he ask
ed.
"of course. I'm Just devoured by
curiosity"
Jack did not notice sarcasm lurking |
in her words.
ut was joke of Tom Darling's.'' he
explained You see. Dixie is such |
one of her parties quoted that thing |
about
A creature not too bright and good. !
Z For human natures daily food.
tom started calling Dixie Daily Food |
after that, and when any of US had a |
falling out with her she used to say our |
Food didn't agree with u.s.
Edith tossed the last letter contemp- |
tuously into the drawer upon the heap |
of ties, collars, Invitations, favors, bills, |
cigars and matches.
You must be obtuse not to know love |
letters when you see them" she said.
''Oh, no. you're mistaken" answered |
Jack eagerly. wait and I'll read you |
the last one she wrote"
From the wardrobe he extracted an /
old blue coat, one not included in the |
honeymoon outfit From the breast |
pocket, after some fumbling, he drew a |
letter.
Listen to this he said
Dear Jack, I have Just returned |
from the south and learn of your ap- !
preaching marriage. I know you are
very happy. I am sure you will be in |
your new life, and I wish you and your
wife-to-be every blessing heaven can
give. Your loyal old chum, Dixie
Nov, Edith, that looks like love.
doesn't it!''
Edith shook her head wisely. She took
up her brush and began dressing her
long blond hair.
1T takes a woman to read a woman's
heart" she said. Poor Dixie
She smiled at her own beautiful faca