The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-06

remember your birthday Why. dear,
| had I forgotten it I should be ashamed
to look you in the face
But you only bought me a pair of
| gloves or some handkerchief? %
I'VE shall see about that fl was
| a stevedore and you washerwoman.
perhaps a pair of gloves or some
handkerchiefs would do. Mrs. Bowser,
I have kicked"
But all husbands kick
Il have talked about divorce"
But you didn't mean it,"
= have been such a crank that am
ba1dheaded.''
But there are thousands of others"
with tears in his eyes. Every morn
ing when I get up, and every night
V hen I lie down 1 thank Heaven for
such "a
What's the matter?''
What in thunder ails that WALLER
eyed old cat?"
The cat had been sitting up on the
hearth-rug in a demure way and taking
in the conversation and the situation.
OF sudden her emotions overcams her
her legs up and chuckled and said to
herself:
I've lived ir this family going on five
years. ard if there isn't circus coming
1AeAA III way OH IN my calculations
L must get Sjrne catnfp of the first
peddler that comes along" explained
Mrs. Bowser- Being that it's my birth
day don't you want to run into Green's
with me for few minutes? %
She hoped to put Mr. Bowser off, but
resolve to hit the cat with the crowba r
at the first favorable opportunity and
rose up and said:
Not going to Green's tonight. my
dear You are dying to know what sort
of a surprise party have for YOU. and
1 won't keep you waiting
On reaching home that evening he
had left a bundle in the vestibuIe He
now passed down the hall and got it
and between curiosity and fear Mrs
Bowser found her heart beating as if
there were burglars in the house
7 don't expect you to jump over the
house for joy" he observed. as he IN
tied the string, but do hope you'll ap-
preciate what I have here I was look
ing around to buy something when
picked up these bargains They are not
only bargains, but there are memories
connected with them Beho1dt''
And he held up blue velvet skirt and
waist trimmed with silver buttons and
braid of the same material and watch
ed for a cry of delight Mrs Bowser
instantly recognized 1T as a dress worn
by one Of the fairies in comic opera
a fairy about sixteen years old and
weighing about ninety pounds.
,[eI?" queried Mr.. Bowser i'm
patiently
IT'S very NICE
Nice, It's a dream It's the dress
worn by Marie Antoniette on her we'd
ding day. just after I had bid it in a
Dime Museum man came rushing in
and offered me SIS for my bargain And
look at these"
The fairy had worn gay stockings to
match the dress. There were six pairs
and they alone had guaranteed the sue
cess of the opera
These stockings were worn by
Eugene when she was driven into
exile explained Mr.. Bowser, as he
dangled them on his hands And once
more"
"Once more" meant pair of red
around them. They were hardly large
enough for Mrs. Bowser to get her
thumbs into them In the goodness
of his heart Mr.. Bowser has bought
AS usual. he had also
been taken in and done for.
II meant EN- for you when you
go out to high-tea," he haItingly ex-
planned.
Mrs Bowser tried TO smile, but the
effort was in vain
"Or you can wear them when you !
are giving a euchre party
Mrs Bowser tried to say something, |
but the words would not come.
The cat gTinned and chuckIed and I
purred and the clock went tick-a-tack /
as the spring gusts 'moaned around /
the gables and played tag among the I
chimneyc-
VERY we'll. madam" said Mr.. Bow |
ser, after a long and painful pause ''I \
am now going out may not be back i
for an hour-for three hours-for /
three years. know when a house has |
fallen on me Goodnight. madam"
She tried her best to say something /
to smiIe-to laugh-to thank him /
for his kindness. but she seemed to /
be frozen And Mr. Bowser went /
forth into the spring night and the !
-ain and the sobbing winds and walk
I'd and walked and walked. and when
asst seen by any respectable. respon- !
sble person he was headed for some
where and walking in the middle of I
he copyrighted 1907. by Nc
-lure Newspa per Syndicate