The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-17
THE EVENING STORY
an Inconyenieut WAY of Living.


1t was five minutes after noon on Sat
urday. The alimony clerk had left his
cage, locked it, and was about to leave
his office when a man in the garb of q
workman entered.
Mornin'. Mr.. Hobbs he said to the
clerk.
You mean afternoon. John. Don't
you know better than to come here to
make a payment after ~ o'clock on
Saturdays? The safe is locked and the
books closed for the week. You'll have
to bring it Monday
"Ofll be workin' all the tonne y're
open on Monda'.''
Cant help it,
"Mebbe if you'd tell me where she's
Twin now Oh might TAX it roun' me-
seP''
Couldn't do that. When 1 tell men
where their wives live, they go there
and raise rumpus.''
''Oi don't want to raise any rumpus,
Mr.. Hobbs; Ord jist loike to git
sight o. the kid. It's a month now
since me an me wife parted an OF
haven't seen the boy since. Tomorra
bein' Sunda', Oil be havin' tonne, an
it's mighty lonesome up in me room"
Johns voice Strembled, and the clerk
wavered. Then he told John where his
wife lived.
The next morning was bright and
beautiful. John shaved and got him
self into a clean white shirt with no
buttons) and started to walk half
dozen miles into the country. He stop
ped before a cabin in the center of an
acre planted with garden truck. Through
the open door he could see his wife in
a clean calico dress buttoning the collar
on their boy, five years old, thus COM
pleting his Sunday morning costume
The man leaned on the gate and called.
The woman went to the door and, see
ing her husband, was about to turn
away. when she noticed pitiful ex-
preston on his face.
What brings We here, john" she
asked, not unkindly.
1.-The alIymony. The offs was shet
up yesterday when Oh KEN. The clerk
told me OF might bring it meseP-"
The woman went to the gate and the
man handed her a ten dollar bill.
well, come in and have a glass o.
milk; We must be tired comm all the
way from the city. Johnny'll be glad
to see his dad
Johnny, who had been admonished
in no placid terms to give his father
wide berth, looking upon this as a
removal of the embargo, ran down the
walk, climbed up on the gate and
threw his arms around his father
neck. The mother opened the gate. and
the boy rode into the house on his
fathers shoulder
Have v come back to stay, dad ?''
he asked eagerly.
An embarrassing silence that follow
/ ed this i'll timed remark was broken by
the mother, who told the boy to keep
quiet and not muss his Sunday clothes.
Then she got out a glass of milk and
some bread and butter and set it before
her husband.
Eyer shirt is wide open, John,' she
said. I'm thinkin' Ord better put or
some buttons while yer here
While John was drinking the milk and
eating the bread, or,rather, feeding il
to Johnny. Mrs. Hobbs was getting out
needle and thread. Then she produced
the button bag, and by that time John
had finished his refreshment and was
ready to have his shirt repaired, but
Johnny had settled himself in his faith
er's arms and refused to be dislodged
Coon now, Johnny" his mother
pleaded. stdaddy's wantin' to git mend
ed while he's here. Jump down leike a
good boy"
"Oi won't" said Johnny.
Lave him. alone.'' said the father.
"Oi'd rather have him than the but
TONS
The woman laid aside the button bag
and the thread and needle, and Johnny
and his father had romp, at the END
of which the father produced ginger
bread horse and several sticks OF can
DIV with which he bribed his son to lei
the mother sew on the buttons. The
process of sewing on buttons without
Johns taking off his shirt brought hus-
band and wife to close proximity. New
necessary, and, the buttons having beer
sewed on John said that since it was
long walk to the city perhaps he'o
better be. going. But Johnny got hole
of the skirt of his coat and chung sc
tight that neither father nor mother
| had the heart to shake him off
"Oim thinkin', john" said Mrs
Hobbs, that, it bein' so onconvanient
for We to lave the allymony at the
clerks office, ye moight bring it every
Sunda' yourself"
"And we could put on the buttons
| An effort was made with this assur-
ance to Johnny to remove him, but II
what dye say Mary" said John
'sto me stayin' or for awhile jist tc
place the chile? OF might be helpin
We at times with the garden:
| 'Oi was thinkin' mesel' that it would
be more convenient for We to be here
Its far from me work, but 1 can
get up early
Let go, Johnny; daddy's goin' te
stay with US"
| She took Johnny up in her arms os-
tensibly to relieve his father, but really
to conceal a tear that came into hei
eyes, and the father. not wishing to be
| left out of the embrace, put his arms
around them both.
! So John Hobbs hung up his hat and
STAYED with his wife and child. Nc
reference was made by either to the
cause of their divorce, which was
much more easily removed that pro-
cured, Both knew that the cause OF
contention must be given wide berth
and they took care that 1t should gel
no renewed foothold. They lived or
| together much to their own and
lJohnny's happiness.-Hope Hopkins.
|
GLOBE SIGHTS
| rr,ax,, tho AtohiSor7 Globe