Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-06-04
Henderson's Good Natured Day.

MS wife looked at him in a puzzled
way and one of the children asked in
| a whisper if papa was not feeling well
this morning. The customary grow
at the coffee was missing the toast
was just right and he complimented
| the eggs on their freshness. Noticing
the look of alarm on the faces of the
children he laughed heartily, ehucked
the little cherubs under the chin
gave them a dime all around and
said to his better half: My dear, it
is going to be a remarkably light day
at the office. l shall only have to
look in. Or perhaps. L can just call
them up by telephone and that will
be enough. Suppose you come up
town with me - | shall take a later
boat than usual and we will take
luncheon and after that go to the
matinee. What say you
What did she say? Well as 81
had been begging him to take her
uptown to luncheon for month with
out material results, what she said
can be imagined. They dawdled up
to Manhattan. having a honeymoon
over again, and at Whitehall street
Henderson said: Just wait for me
moment in the elevated station while
telephone the office"
The wife was in raptures. OF course
she would wait. Henderson was n
long time at the telephone. When he
finally returned the sunny sky of his
morning disposition was overcast with
heavy storm clouds. 1T will be impos-
sible for me to so shopping with you,
l.. ic n
waiting for me in the office. who has
just arrived from Chicago to put
thru big business deal" Then.
seeing the look that came into his
wife's face, he tried to assume his
mornings good-nature again, and said ::
Never mind dear, l will meet you at
1890 o'clock, and we will have lunch
con together" He named an uptown
elevated station as the trystng place
and a famous restaurant as the place
for luncheon. The wife frightened up
again, kissed her husband right before
the crowd, and went away in train.
happy Henderson hurried to his office
and plunged headlong into the
business struggle. 1t was l O'Clock
when, tired, cross and as yet in doubt
as to whether he had succeeded in put
ting thru the deal" he got off a
train at the trysting place. Had a
lady been waiting there for someone
Oh, yes, the ticket-seler said, she had.
He had noticed woman waiting. She
had waited for about half an hour. She
had only been gone ten minutes.
With his nerves strung to high ten
sion by the labors of the forenoo1.,
Henderson exploded few times. and
then thought bitterly, She might have
waited a little longer when l was
working so hard" A bright idea struck
him.
(which is the nearest of the big de-
partment stores?" he asked of the
ticket seller The information obtain
ed Henderson hurried away.
Being alone and hungry and tired OF
waiting, he reasoned. his wife would
naturally make for the restaurant OF
the nearest department store for her
luncheon. Henderson arrived at the
vast establishment, and after being
stepped on by fat women. and jabbed
in the ribs by the elbows of th:a wcrl-
en-. and hustled about by medium sized
women, he reached the wonens "es-
ed and in all that vast throng ot fem
ininity he saw not his Wife
Turning savagely he entered The
mems restaurant and ordered STEAK
and a bottle of beer. I'VE can serve
you the steak" replied the waiter,
but not beer or liquors of any sort
After long time he got his steak ii
was tough, half-cold and too much
cooked. He ate it 1nurderously
After paying his check, Henderson
thought he would just take another
look-in at the womens' restaurant.
Perhaps his wife had stopped some
where on the way and he would see
her there now. H stopped just in
side the door of the great room where
the many women were eating. NO,
she was not there, and he turned to
go out. Just then woman caromed
against him in the manner peculiar TO
women in department stores, where
the presence of mere man is ignored
to the extent of forbidding to him even
dimension.
"Oh, Mr. Henderson" she said, chow
jolly to meet you" 1t was a woman
he had formerly known, but had not
seen for a long time.
"Charmed!" said he in his most ur-
bane way. Il was looking for my
WIFE" They shook hands, said a few
comm onpace things and parted. Hen
derson looked up as the woman swept
away, and there was his wife coming
thru the door of the woman's restau-
rant. her eyes taking in the scene and
her lips set tightly together.
Margaret" he gasped.
"Who is your friend?" she said.
Have you had luncheon?"
Henderson explained that the woman
was a casual acquaintance of other
days.
Where did you lunch?" demanded
the wife, land why did you not meet
me?"
that ever swore to love, honor and
obey, but there was sort of dicta-
torial manner about her now which
somewhat confused Henderson.
"My DEAR" he began, Il was de-
business-important bust
ness. Yes, I have just had luncheon
with whom" she asked.
"Why, alone, of course. With whom
did you think?"
ooh, did not know. Men are not
allowed to eat in this room, you know,
unless they are acting as escorts"
But my dear, had luncheon in the
here to see if could find you looked
in here first, you know, before 1 ate.
Really sorry that you did not wait for