The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-03
The EVENING STORY
A Home Missionary.
lBy Martha Observation-Disclosures

10Y AddIluA haCCuAlCcl- w 11lidI1a6.J
When Sanford came back from a
trip South with bundle of curls and
frills, set off with a rosebud mouth
and an engaging and artless helpless
ness, it is putting it very mildly to
say the gang was amazed.
Sanford, the soul of capacity, the
stern Judge, the fellow who had
weighed In the balance every friend
and emotion he had ever cherished
before allowing himself to cherish
theml It was beyond reason or cal
culation-they shook foreboding heads
behind his back, and to his face gave
him Fluctuations that were CHASTITY in
their exaggeration. But Mrs. Sand
call her Mabel, albeit first naming was
a rigid gang rule-smiled small soft
smiles over the Fluctuations, and muir
INJURED that she hoped Archer's friends
would find a tiny space for her.
She was a nice little thing-an
agreed to that. But what of Sand
ford's future? Arch was none so
easy to live with. Moreover, his work
always suffered If he had q rasping
environment And with this ridicu-
lous child at the head of his establish
ment, he could not help but be rasp-
ed. 1t showed how little she knew
that she insisted on keeping house
the gang affected studio life and bo-
hemian dinners.
The married members tried to warn
her-to point out the servant prob
lem, the janitor pitfall, but all in
vain. Willard said pityingly:
Nothing is inyincible but ignor-
ance. Sandford's wife knows nothing
of anything-and you can't make her
know"
Eyes. provincial is the CODE" Mrs.
full to think of Arch-with such a ca
reer ahead of him, swallowed up in a
slough of domesticity."
Hell escape-the slough won't last
six months" Bent said airily.
Eyes, he'll find even he can't dram
atize butchers mistakes. nor the ever
recurring woes of wash day." Linson
added.
Ada Ware, Linson's sweetheart,
only sighed. But after minute she
said smiling:
who'll bet that we're never asked
to Sanford dinner? Arch is SO
hospitable, he'll want US
"And zhe'lk have us just the same
but not at home to bother WHEY"
Bent chanted, pushing the bottle to
the middle Of the table.
They were dining at Marella's, and
had prolonged the session by an extra
bottle, fiavoring the wine with Cos
sip of their friends. There were reg
of them only handful of the gang
appeared-the fringe as 1t were. All
the inner circle had been asked to
dine at the Sandford's, and had ac-
cepted as one person
mol 1 didn't cook a thing. Isn't
there a law against cruelty to guests
even If they are your friends? Ma
bel asked, from the head of the table.
It was simply but flawiessly ap-
pointed-even Mrs. Willard. fashion
authority and social critic, had to adj
nit as much And the viands matched
they were simple but delicious
moreover, they appeared almost to
Mabel now and then said plaintively
to her husband:
s4Mon't you get the things from the
sideboard? Neither Mary nor know
just how you dear people like to have
fore or after, and about the cordials
and so on"
There was no ban upon smoke, not
withstanding the freshness of every
Bent sang, willard told his best
stories, Mrs. Willard concocted at
least two stickfuls of matter for her
next article from suggestions in what
she was seeing. Ada Ware sighed
served to accompany the songs, but
Linson had to play it.
Mabel shook her head at the bare
thought of such thing: It cant
play hardly even love music-ex-
cept ballads and hunting songs she
said.
Ada reached to press her hand,
saying half under breath, THANK you'll
May I come now and then to your
oasis? I live in a bowling jungle,
with seven pianos, q monograph and
a. young woman studying for opera"
you may come ii you LIKE like
you." Mabel answered in the same
key.
Altogether she made a good if faint
impression-chief1y by the things she
did not say and do. There was no
effacing herself, just lack of forth
putting And when the party broke
up she fairly dragooned Archer into
taking home Mrs. March, merry
widow, who had made a condescen-
sion OF coming. He got back in
vile temper, but said only to his wife:
IF this Is part of the program, when
next you feed lions. shall have bus
iness-in Buffalo or somewhere"
derstood She waited six weeks. then
called in the balance of the gang. BY
this time speculation regarding her was
on edge. Arch had not once
come back to dine at the old haunts,
though he had several times looked
very far down town. So he was not
tied to an apron string. Moreover he
looked happy. Moreover further. he
had landed new play without
fever heat. Every one thought ne
would do well to send his wife home
to her people when rehearsals began.
Oddly enough nobody ventured to say
so-there was something in his man
ner which forbade.
The Willards felt that they should
show the gangs appreciation of Mabel
they did It by a special Marella din
ner.
Next day but one Ada Ware ran in