The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-09
The EVENING STORY
GeraIdine,s Husband.

for Saturday.
Geraldine Markham turned AROUND
! from her secretary to view the effect
of her words on her husband.
But all that Wilfrid Markham said
and that without looking up from
his paper-was:
"I am afraid. Geraldine, you may
find that third luncheon something OF
an effort!"
You don't take the slightest inter
est in anything / d. Geraldine con-
tinued pettistly, ignoring the sarcasm
Because you do such stupid things,
retorted her husband.
TITS stupid of you to say such things
when, from utter lack of experience
you don't know whether what do is
interesting or not. IF you'd go about
with me, even If only for g week, then
your judgment might be worth some
thing. But no; all that counts with
you is a comfortable chair, a cigar and
an old book. 1 do SO wish at times
you were a little more like other men,
Wilfrid Markham looked up. His
wife was very young and very pretty
and, well, perhaps the shoe fitted
him rather well.
81 don't want to be disagreeabIe,
Geraldine" he said, $50 if you wish
you may accept the next batch of in
vitations for me for whole week"
The Markhams had been married,
as Geraldine had put 1t with that
down-droop Of her pretty mouth "a
ginning to pull in different directions.
But now, at these last words of
her husband, the year seemed to Ger
aldine a much shorter time. THAT is
bully of Wilfrid." she thought, and
then she bent over his chair and
kissed him.
"I'll promise some time this winter
to read three of the latest books you
can pick OUT Geraldine said, by way
of exchange.
Just then the maid announced Mrs.
Henry PaySan.
Wilfrid Markham prepared to make
his escape but his wife detained him.
do stay to see her." she urged; "she
is entertaining a good deal this year,
and one of the invitations you are go
ing to accept I want to come from
her."
So Markham adjusted his cravat,
and patiently remained.
Mrs. Paysan entered the room like
a fresh breeze.
my dear!,s she exclaimed, chow
fortunate to find you at home! And
Mr.. Markham, too, whom I had the
pleasure of meeting just once for
about three minutes. But I assure
the pleasantest in my life. Geraldine,
you simply must bring Mt. Markham
to the little dinner 1 am giving on
the 29th. I've invited some awfully
clever people. and your husband will
be just in his element. Promise me,
Mr.. Markham, you will let Geraldine
bring you"
at shall be charmed" wilfrid Mark
ham said.
After the visitor had gone Wilfrid
quite surprised his wife by the inter
est he showed. What a remarkably
oh lie ~
several times. ''I don't think 1 have
ever seen a much sweeter face or
What a fool Harry Paysan
must have been to let ner go out of
his life!"
Geraldine smiled to herself at the
thought of her husbands lack of
worldly wisdom, but she said nothing.
To have him consent to go out with
her for a whole week was quite enough.
Wilfrid had unmistakable charm,
she knew, and people would be apt to
make rather a fuss over him once they
got the chance.
On the morning of the twenty
Mr.. Markham.
my other one looked SO old-fash-
Ioned." he explained to Geraldine,
that I felt it would really be disre-
spectful to Mrs. Paysan.''
The dinner proved a great success.
He had been placed at the right of the
hostess, who had been most graciously
interested in everything he said, and SO
appreciative of the sense of humor on
which he had always prided himself
and which somehow Geraldine usually
failed to see.
Several times on the way home he
mad again remarked to Geraldine
what a fool Harry Paysan must have
been. AS for Geraldine, the dinner
aad seemed to her rather a stupid
affair; she hoped the others for which
hey were engaged would prove more
interesting.
Two days after Mrs. Paysan's din
her Geraldine was called I'D on the
phone by that lady herself.
Geraldine, you won't think me very
,utra geous. will you, dear, when say
want to borrow your husband for the |
opera tonight. I've just been sent two |
Ldored music. He's sucn a dear! Now,
Geraldine, don't say he has an en- /
"I'Il ask him." said Geraldine. II
Mr. Markham looked up brisk1y so
Don as his wife mentioned Mrs Pay
reclaimed. ''Wait, I'll talk to her my
elf
And Geraldine heard a most en-
husiastic acceptance over the wire
That night Mrs. Markham sat up
eading until her husband came home,
which was not until very late. as Mrs.
'aysan had persuaded him to return
o her apartments for a little supper. I
Markham reproached his wife for
up for him, and then went into
a ptures over the music, and never in
lis life had he met any one to whom
music spoke so sympathetically as to
1ortense Paysan.
Geraldine disguised the chagrin she
ertainly felt, and replied rather Imply
he was glad he had enjoyed his even
ng so much.
At the other entertainments Of this
IotabIe week Geraldine saw with ever
Increasing alarm that her husband was
taking" immensely. She felt that
lever before had she fully realized,
much less appreciated, his real charm.
When he had reserved all Of it just