The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-26

RS. BOWSER and the car
were looking out Of the
front window the other
evening when Mr.. Bowser
came home from the office.
They saw him drop of the
street car at the corner and they
knew that something had occurred 70
put him out. He came along uO~l
the walk with a scuff, scum, scum ms
head down and his back hulaP 3,7 up,
and Mrs BOWser sighed ana the Cat
uttered a meow. He scuHed up the
steps, unlocked the door IN an uhcef-
tain way, and there was no longer any
doubt of what would happen.
Mrs. Bowser greeted him pleasantly,
but he had nothing to say she reg
the way down to the dining room, ana
he followed without a word she had
q few little extras for dinner, but ne
hardly tasted of the meal he Wouio
sip at his coffee and sigh; then ne
would take a mOuthful OF potato ana
sigh some more; then he would look
nxedly at the beefsteak and the tears
almost start in his eyes.
Mrs. Bowser was not alarmed She
had seen Just such fits before she
knew what would happen as soon as
they reached the sitting room, but she
did not let # interfere with her appe-
tite. Although he gazed at her Win
reproaches in his looks she ehatteu
hneshed and didn't seem to notice that
he wasn't enjoying himself It was
only when they had got seated Tor the
evening that she asked:
HAS anything gone wrong with you
today. Mr. BOwser?
You are the one who ought TO
know he sternly replied, as ne TURN
ed on her.
why, how should I know dear?"
Perhaps you viii tell me what you
"a a Hc id q he produced a
hair-brush and slammed it down on
the table at her elbow.
TITS a hair-b brush. and it looks like
the one you've had for the last six
months
so it is. but where did I find it this
morning when I took the car and went
to get out my handkerchief l ask
YOU where 1 found it2 I ask you to
imagine the smiles and gtggles OF the
passengers as / drew it from my
pocket"
"That is just like you. After brush
ing your hair this morning YOU put the
brush in your pocket Mr.. BoWser,
you must break yourself Of being SO
Rbsent-minded.
And vet you. my wife-the woman
who should look after me-let me go
away with that brush in my pocket!
Y on didn't care a tnker's funk, Mrs
Bowser. whether I went away with
hair brush or a handkerchief IN my
pocket That's your wifely love and
care for me- If you had been on the
streetcar when I pulled it out and
wiped my mouth on the back of It
you d have probably giggled. the same
as the other tomfOOl women did"
'Wel. what else?" she asked, smil-
ing ia spite of herself
Look at this blamed old collar."
he Numbered. Is he rose up do you
see how it's travelled out on the edges
Do you see three paint spots on IT. Do
you see that even a longshoreman
would be ashamed to wear itl'
IT see 1t, Mr.. Bowser. Yesterday I
hunted UP lot of your old collars and
put them in bag to give away to
framps. With two dozen new collars
in your dresser you went to the bag
and got this one out Why DO you do
such things2"
ct don't do 'em!" he shouted, but if
7 did it's your business as a loving
wife to notice them before go away.
All day long the bottoms of my trous-
ers have been under my feet. Maybe
you viii tell me that I slipped out Of
the house last night and stole a pair
belonging to a giant2"