The Topeka state journal., 1907-12-28
MR. BowsER "A CoRNEr1sr.

Copyrighted. 1907, by T. C. McClure.)
Mrs. Bowser happened to be up
stairs the other evening when Mr..
Bowser reached home, and he had
five minutes in which to hide a bun
die that he had brought under his
arm. Throughout the dinner hour
she noticed that he had a triumphant
look on his face, and now and then
he gave vent to a soft chuckle, but
she did not seek to fathom the mys-
terry. If he had bought and brought
home an X-Ray plant in order to dis
cover If the cat had swallowed the
ten-cent piece he had lost in the
morning he would have something to
say about it in due time. He hung
off longer than usual, but after finish
ing dinner and smoking half a cigar
he turned on her and blandly said:
Mrs Bowser, you don't begrudge
me any little happiness 1 can take
around the house, do your"
why, of course not" she prompt
" replied.
you know I'm not much of a hand
to go out evenings"
mo. you are not"
81 think it is a husbands place to
pass his evenings at home as much
as possible, but of course he wants
a little something to divert his mind.
/ don't care a read. and YOU don't
care to play cards. and as it is q bore
to run into the neighbors' 1 am some
times a bit lonesome. 1t has seemed
to me that if had a musical instru-
ment of some sort to play on it would
take uD my time and add what you
might call zest to the occasion"
But YOU haven't the slightest idea
OF music. you know" she rejoined
without weighing her words.
What What's that!"
tThat is, you haven't what they
term a musical ear. That is don't
Fing. and the time you got a harp and
tried to learn to play on it pedes-
TRANS stopped at the gate to see what
was going on
by the seven spotted bulls of
Basham. Mrs. Bowser. but do you
know what you are saying, and who
you are saying it to!" he demanded
with a face as red as fire.
81 mean that you kicked the harp
out doors after the third evening"
Never! Never in all this worldI
I gave it up simply because of the
cramp in my fingers. You tell me that
j have no ear for nusfci Why woman,
I was leading a church choir while
you were wearing short dresses. Is
this insult intended to drive me out
into the world tonight to get drunk
and smash up some saloon?'
You know it Is not" replied Mrs
Bowser. 1T is nothing to your dis
credit that you can't whistle a tune. |
There are lots of people that way
More insults, ehH'
II mean that you couldn't-that is 1 |
hoped you hadn't brought home anoth- I
er harp. The cook is very nervous you |
know. and some of our neighbors don't |
Neven like TO hear my soft playing on |
the piano. If you were to take les
sons and would hire some hail."
Poor Mrs. Bowser was all mixed up
and could not finish.
Mr.. Bowser. who was as pale as the |
dead, and as weak in the knees as if he
had seen a bear, looked at her for |
moment and then pointed to the hall
and stairs. and said:
woman, you may go to your room,
|Tflf for the of the n |
ing. Tomorrow morning will nedeavor
to find out whether you have brain
storm or wish to drive me from my
home in ignominy and humiliation"
Mrs. Bowser went. She was glad to
go. Mr.. Bowser looked after her for a
moment with set jaw, and then brought