The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-14
THE EVENING STORY
The Butterfly Girl.

The first rift in the lutte came when
Albert arrived home one stormy night
pink gown, with her shining hair
puffed into a halo of gold. with pink
candle shades on the corners or the
dining table, with pink roses in the
center and with nothing thereon to
eat but a third days cold roast and
leftover salad.
Albert having kissed his wife en-
Enthusiastically and having changed his
Office coat for more formal one.
peered at the platter obviously.
II am desperately hungry" he
said. land there isn't much meat
left"
IT am not a bit hungry" Bettina
stated; II was shopping downtown
and I had such a lunch
IT had q sandwich" was Albert's
brief comment. and after that he ate
sparingly OF the lamb and the taste
less salad and sought nnal solace in
his after-dinner cigar.
That evening Bettina found him
played and sang his favorite songs in
her little lifting voice. In vain she
prattled of her downtown bargains.
In vain she petted him and praised
him. Albert met all OF her advances
stolidly. and the next morning found
her at Aunt Betsey's in tears.
HE has ceased to love me-" she
declared.
What did you give hmm for dinner
last night?' Aunt Betsey demanded.
Bettina fa1tered out her menu.
Aunt Betsey smiled.
mo wonder he was disagreeable,"
she said. ANY mans affection would
be frozen out by cold meat and cold
salad and warmedover coffee"
"Albert's love ought to be superior
used always to quote things like "A
jug of Wine. a Loaf of Bread, and
Thou beside me, singing in the
Wilderness and last night all OF my
singing couldn't make him SMILE
But Aunt Betsey was severely on
the defensive.
"a jug of wine and a loaf Of bread
may be all right in hot climates" she
admitted, "but yesterday 1t was snow
ing, and Albert came in chilled. and
you ought to have had something fit
well, thank goodness my love isn't
dependent on food" said Bettina.
loftily.
What did you have for lunch yes
terday?" Aunt Betsey probed: "you
told me you went to Maillard's."
1--WE had grapefruit, and crab, and
quail. and a salad, and an ice-every-
thing was delicious-Mary Luttren
invited me, with friend OF hers from
out Of town."
"And poor Albert had a sandwich"
ooh! OH" Suddenly the real situa-
ton seemed to dawn on the little
wife. "He was really hungry. Aunt
Betsey-poor dear fellow"
"And he had worked rom $3.50 in
the morning Aunt Betsey went on,
land when he came home at night,
tired and worn and nervous, he was
not in a condition to appreciate lace
trimmed ruff1es, Bettina, half as much
as an appetizing dinner"
IL
wen, it does away with the ro-
nance"
Dear heart" Aunt Betsey told her.
there is a joy In service that Is
above the joy Of mere admiration.
Try making Albert comfortable, and
you will get more solid happiness out
Of it than by keeping him on the rack
with your coQuetry."
But Bettina shrugged her shoulders.
"The way to hold a man." she de-
clared, SIS to play with him."
1.-THE way to hold a man." said Aunt
| to love him. And that means to make
| yourself his equal in endeavor. Then
| you have his respect. You must be the
| homemaker, just as Albert is the mon
| eymaker."
But you have never married." said
! little Bettina- How can you know,
Aunt Betsey?"
1.-The people who look on from the
| outside are the wise Ones" said Aunt
Betsey. "and have seen so many mat
| rimonial shipwrecks."
| That night Albert's footsteps Jagged
a little on the stairway as he climbed
| to his little fiat. He knew Just what
| he would find at the top-Bettina,
charming in the rosy gown: the pink
| candle shades, the pink roses, and GRO
quotes made of the last Of the beef.
Bettina always ran to big roasts. and
| there yet remained to be eaten a fifth
days soup, made OF the bone.
| The sound Of his key in the latch
summoned no rosy vision, however. He
! passed through the dining room. The
| pink candles were not lighted. In front
| OF his place was copper chatting dish.
| one OF Bettina's hitherto unused we'd
ding presents. and the blue flame burn
! ing beneath set the contents bubbling,
and the air was laden with delicious
ness
"Bettina," he called, and at the sound
| she came to the kitchen door. She wore
| long apron of china blue, her hair
was ruffled about her face, her cheeks
were flaming.
IT haven't time to kiss you," she
cried, gayly. "I must watch the chops"
| Albert went into his room somewhat
disconnected. It was the first time that
Bettina had failed to kiss him It was
the first time that his rooms had not
been in a rosy g1ow-and he missed 1t.
But his discomfort vanished with the
serving OF the dinner.
There we're oysters in the chaflng
dish-panned to perfection; there were
F.; broiled chops crisp salad and a pud-
ding made by Bettfna's own fair hands
And Albert ate and praised and won
dered.
Il didn't know you could do it, Bet
tina" he said; you always seemed
such butterfly girl"
Bettina laughed.
Aunt Betsey showed me how" she
said, "and-and really like doing it,"
But her eyes were q little wistful
and presently she said: Don't you miss
ANYTHING 3s