The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-26
THE EVENING STORY
What Aline Found Out.


(By Belle Maniates.)
| Aline looked up from her book as
her husband rose from his chair.
81 am going to work again tonight"
he remarked, casually.
A faint flush stole to her cheeks.
For the first time in her three months
of married life her thoughts were cen
tered on her husband, Stephen Alden.
| When her father committed suicide
because he had lost his fortune in spec
ulatfon. Stephen had asked her to
marry him. Her wealth had hitherto
prevented his paying her any special
| attention. One other refuge was avail
able. A distant cousin. whom Aiine's
father had once befriended. and who
lived on farm. offered her a home.
She accepted Stephen, and three
months after her fathers death they
were married. The home Stephen was
| able to provide was a very simple one,
and it had not been very happy one.
AIine was in the listless state that
succeeds violent grief, and apath-
etically allowed the house to be run
| at the will of a succession of slattern-
| ly servants.
Three nights before a break in their
monotonous life had resulted from
Stephens leaving the house at o'clock
and not returning until late. His ex-
cuse of having to work would nave
passed unnoticed tonight except LOT
| the fact that she had been unable to
get him by telephone at the office the
| night before, even after repeated calls
| At 10 O'Clock she had gone to bed.
An hour later she heard him come IN
and go down the hall to his room. His
behavior engrossed her thoughts en-
tirely throughout the following day.
The fact of his spending his evenings
| out did not disturb her, but she was at
| a loss to fathorn his motive in dece1v-
/ ing her. 1t assailed her conscience and
opened her eyes to the truth that she,
| his wife, did not know him Well
enough to resent the deception nor 10
u \
| A newly awakened sense of duty ana
| a feeling that she ought at least TO
assume the duty of taking some inter
est in his movements impelled her TO
| attempt to discover where ne was
spending his evenings. Therefore as
| he was again leaving after dlnner. sne
slipped out a side entrance and Ioi-
| lowed him at a discreet distance. After
walk of nearly two miles. sne sa"
poor Stephen!" she thought, ms
evenings must have been DUH! NO
wonder he seeks recreation
But he turned and went down tne
side street, entering the theater by the
wav Of the stage door. AS a solution
of his conduct occurred to her, she
felt a great heartwrench-the ohiy
thing she had felt sure of was taken
from her. without knowing that she
va1,1ed 1T. she had had perfect conf
dence in his love for her
instantly she felt a wild-almost an
insane-desire to know what manner
of woman had attracted him. 1t was a
vaudevilIe theater, and she bought a
ticket, choosing seat IN an OBSCURE
part of the house.
At the end of an hour she learned
what she had come to find OUT: anu
returned home She spent an hour at
Stephens desk, and then went to PED.
She did not pass the night in sleep,
but laid out course OF action WHICH
F4l1 Of
"Stephen," she said quietly, I am
not-very we'll You know am not
used to staying in the city in the sum-
mer."
IT know you are not" he replied:
cousin Lois has been anxious for
me to pay her a visit ever since Iatner
died; think VIII Ill go w TO ser do oos You
good" he said slowly.
aThe cooks going to leave TO-DAY.
You can stay here, and get your meals
in the city, cant you nsge al, right"
month later, at the end of long
summer day, Stephen approached
home, weary and discouraged., he
dreaded to unlock the door snu 81
the dust-coated empty rooms. But
when he had entered the living room
he stood still in Amusement Inc WIN,
dows were open and freshiy cuitalueo
in soft muslin. The room was IN PEI
fact order A bunch of fragrant old
fsshioned flowers filled a big bow! on
the table. Wondering, ne Went on my
the dining room. The tapie was iaLo
with clean linen, shining glass, specK-
,ess dishes and decorated by another
bunch Of country mowers.
He heard a light step in the Kitchen.
,rhe door opened and Al1ne, dresseo,
not in mourning, but IN oecoiiiils wi
OF "oh stephen!" she cried. running
III IL be1d her close and quiet for
moment. When she lifted ner lace aor |
his kiss she put ner heAiio o
his tired eyes
s.ynn haven't dined? I was sure you
came home from the office first: 1t is
too hot for regular dinner, put l
have prepared a COOL ii''ie "ie "
..But, Aline. when did you come
why didn't you let me know ..e,.
tits a surprise" she iaugheo. Sis
down at the table Wills l O'AAe
He followed her into the kitchen.
aT am the cook! Kiss the cook,
Ste phen." n-,a,, he
III her at arms length. She was no |
1oneer male and listless. Her face was
Aoi AZ soon as he had begun to eat the |
palatab1e little meal, he looked at neF
Al How did you learn to do all this.
Aline?'' 49, +.,aa
are a great many more surprises await
inc you, stephen"
st am afraid" he said, that the big
gest surprise of all viii De that TINS
is all a dreami"
stephen! But eat your dinner; Then
vo,, shall hear them all. You Will not
90 out tonight. Stephen"
mo: but will have to telephone
at did that for YOU"
you? You=knew, Aline %
Gu 1ouohed hut would say no