The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-15
THEIR FIRST CLOUD.

Young JoIors kissed his girlish wife
i-once-twice-and then, with q ice
Whitaker! There's the trainl" leaped
down the steps and sprang for the
suburban station. He barely made the
rear platform of the last car. Turning,
he waved his hand, as usual, at the
little figure standing in the cottage
doorway behind
Before the figure had waved back,
the train had whisked a building be-
tween, and he could see her no more.
He wondered why she had not re-
sponded; and vaguely bordering he
sought distraction in the pages of the
morning paper
At six-thlrty that evening. according
to rule, with a young husband heart
full of yOung-husband pride and an
ticipation he ran up the steps of
/ shome''-their home Helen always
had been on the watch, to open the
door, but this time he crossed the
threshold unattended.
"IelIoi" he called, a little surprised
Hello" said Helen, rather family,
from her halfway position pelWesh
the pOrtieres of the entrance TO the
sitting room parlor.
She gave only a cheek to his eager
why, what's the matter?" he asked,
aggrieved
sfOh-nothing," replied Helen. You d
better wash; dinner is ready.
Through all the two weeks of their
welded life, up to date, each evening"
after his homecoming, sne nau accom-
panied him (snugly within ms ARM 70
the bathroom, and had fondly over
seen him while he used soap ana water
and towel But tonight she did not
thus delightfully."- baby him No- Ia3-le-ss,,
MOI Alone he wendell his melancholy
wav to the bowl. and with no Helen
to advise him of unsupported sool-
spots he achieved the tremehuous
task of washing his own face ana
lis 1nnrassad bv q sense of disaster. he
sought the dining room-tne coy;
tinv dining room which heretofore mao
been a center irradiating love ana
Now it somehow seemed about as
inspiring as fireless furnace.
Helen was waiting at the tapie'
Her attitude was one OF dull WreIcn-
viii YOU have your coffee now, or
later?" She inquired, listlessly-
"Both," he proposed
Usually such a daring attempt 10
override the restriction Of the single
c11p which was allowed him by MS
soIicitous guardian would nave eEoheG
jubilant rebuke: but tonight ne I0und
himself abandoned to his rate Aeleh
merely poured the co1ee-
"a little fat?" he asked, apportion-
ing the steak.
I,anguidly she cut a wee mouthful
about the area of a large tack-head)
and ostentatiously chewed it.
ttHelen. what IS the LlalLEA AG-
nanded JoIors, dropping knife and
fork, and devoting himself to the
question Of the hour
Nothing" faltered Helen.
sRut there is, tool Are you sick,
darling Have 1 done anything to
hurt Your feelings? Tell me, pre-
mono. It's all right-you eat
your dinner, and don't bother about
She uttered the concluding phrase in
a tone that expressed; What am l,
s.3ut can't eat while you are act
ing so queer. Darling. do tell me
what the trouble is. Your husband
Cthe word swelled his very souD
ought to know It is his privilege
his blessed privilege-to be told
everything. I don't keep things from
YOU Have you had bad news?
Sweetheart, tell hubby-hubby."
He would have leaned around the
corner Of the table-their seats being
convenient for just such endeavors-
and have drawn her toward him, to
caress her (once they had upset the
soup tureen), but she hitched back
from him
''If you don't know. there's nothing
at all to tell.'' she assured brfskly-
s'Co on with your dinner. please. 1t
will get cold
Jolors mechanically attacked his
steak and potatoes. A sob from
around the corner caused him to
cease abruptly. and jump up
why, darlingi Don't cry-please
DON'T You must tell me what has
happened. am your husband, and