The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-23
THE EVENING STORY.


A Mysterious Visitor.
Mr.. Kelsey Opdyke went home from
the opera late. Opening the front door
with his night key, he entered the hall,
dimly lighted by a gas jet, and was
passing the drawing room door when
he caught sight of a man in evening
dress also passing to the rear. There
was not sufficient light to see what the
man looked like, and what there was
was turned off the moment Mr.. OPP
dyke caught sight of the intruder.
Then came q sound as OF some one
scampering through the back room
and a crash denoting the falling of
table mingled with the breaking of
glass. Mr.. Opdyke knew that the fu-
gitive had upset a small stand COW
cred with br1c-a-brac.
Mr.. Opdyke hurried after the man
to the rear rooms and finally the
kitchen. No one was to be found.
The doors and windows were all
locked except one window, and Mr..
Opdyke concluded that the fugitive
had escaped through this window.
After a thorough search Mr.. Opdyke
made up his mind that the intruder
had gone, and then for the first time
or burglars do not go about in evening
dress. He dropped into chair, with
terrible sinking at the heart His wife
must be unfaithful to him.
for the first time he noticed that the
light from above had not been COM
pIetely shut off. There was plenty of
light in his wife's bedroom, the door
of which was open. She came out to
meet him and asked what accident
had occurred downstairs.
And who" he asked sternly, was
your viSitor?''
What visitor 2"
THE gentleman I found when came
ol~s.,
man you turned out the hall gas to
SCREEN
MY dear. what do you mean?
turned out the hall gas since you so
often forget it. I opened my door to
light you"
Mr.. Opdyke had too much self con-
troll to give vent to the fire burning IN
his breast. He simply stated the facts
as they had occurred. Mrs. Opdyke sug-
gested that perhaps burglar had put
on evening dress the better to escape
detection. This sounded reasonable,
and they agreed to look over their val
uables to discover what might be miss
ing. After an examination everything
was found in it's place.
Mr.. Opdyke would not accuse his
wife without more definite proof. New
ertheIess it was plain that he had
strong suspicious. Both passed an I'M
comfortable night, and when day
dawned neither had slept.
lit next AllDI tALiS MI ODQgNC 0lSCDA-
cred his wife bandaging the foot of
her poodle that had evidently been cut
by the broken glass on the floor. He
was mentally occupied with the man
who had upset the table, she with the
wound and they did not discuss either.
For a long period they lived together
as strangers-worse than strangers,
who do not necessarily wear on each
other, while Mr.. and Mrs. Opdyke illus
trated the words of the poet:
To be wroth with one we love
Doth work like madness on the brain.
Mr.. Opdyke spent his evenings at
the club and carried a revolver in case
he should again meet the man he had
found in his drawing room. One night
he dragged himself up the steps Of his
house, entered and, passing the par
Tor door, saw the dim figure of the in
truder. For Mr.. Opdyke to draw his
weapon and fire was the work Of
moment. He was no quicker than the
other, who fired simultaneously with
him. Mr.. Opdyke felt something
warm trickling down his cheek and,
putting UP his hand, felt warm blood.
He was surprised to see his enemy do
the same. There was a quick step in
the hall above. the gas was turned up,
and Mrs. Opdyke came hurrying
downstairs. Seeing her husband wip-
ing blood from his face. she cried:
"Oh, heavensl Are you killed."
mo, my dear; I am not. The fool
killer has not yet taken me in"
And what's the matter with the
mirror? Who broke it?"
al did. I was trying to kill your
lover. I saw his reflection there and
fred at him. A bit of glass few at
me and caused a slight wound"
Mrs. Opdyke saw it all. Her hus-
band had twice mistaken his own re-
Election for a visitor during his alb
sence and had literally tried to kill his
own image.
For months she had been suffering
from this ridiculous blunder, and now
in addition to the suspicion and cold
treatment she had endured the long and
valuable pier glass, her pride, had been
shattered by her husbands absurd at
tempt It was too much for her equan-
unity. She turned on her heel and walk
ed upstairs. Not even her husbands
wound sufficed to detain her. He, poor
man. went to the bathroom and after
stanching the blood bound up the cut
and went to bed.
1t was not till the next day after din
ner that the couple while sitting at
table over their coffee were reconciled.
Then for the first time the absurdity of
the whole affair broke through Mrs
Opdvke's resentment, and she began to
laugh The husband caught the spirit
of her mirth and smiled a sickly smile.
The spell was broken. Mrs. Opdyke
went and put her arms around his neck
and asked his forgiveness for not hav-
ing dressed his wound the night before,
and from that moment peace reigned
in the Opdyke family. Mr.. Opdyke's
image and the poodle that had upset
the bric-a-brac never again conspired
to make trouble. The husband was
satisfied to draw q check for the cost
OF a new mirror and another for a
handsome present for his wife.
EDMOND COMPTON.
QUAKER REFLECTIONS.