The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-12
TIE EVENING STORY
Mans way.
(By Lucy Clair Atkinson.)

borne out of sight 1t was Edlth
first separation from Fred since their
wedding. Way down in Fred,s heart
there was a feeling of satisfaction
over the idea of returning for short
time to his bachelor habits. Their lit
tie apartment, so cosy and homenke
bespoke the artistic temperament and
ingenuity of Edith, and Fred antici-
pated- with delight having his old col
lege chum, Arthur Wilson, come around
in the evenings to chat of old times.
Before leaving, Edith discharged the
cook and decided that Fred could take
his meals at the restaurant around the
corner. This arrangement presented a
glowing picture to Fred in the premises.
For the first week everything work
ed smoothly. Fred wrote every day
and sent the local newspapers, thus
keeping Edith in touch with the hap
penings at home. Meanwhile the quI-
etude of the rooms began to pail on
Fred who missed Edith's warm greet
ing and other little attentions to which
he was accustomed every afternoon on
his return. Wilson came nearly every
evening. but he, too. was getting tc
be tiresome.
Fred with his cheerful disposition
was disappointed to see Wilson turn
ing cynic, which was the case during
the last few months. 1t did not i'm
prove his frame of mind to see his
married friends out with their wives
at the summer amusements the town
offered and it seemed of all their
married acquaintance that only he
and Edith were separated at that par.
ticular period.
Edith's letters were full of the ideal
time she was having, without the
slightest mention of returning. The
two weeks were up and it was near
the end of the third, when Fred wrote
Edith he had touch of malaria and
| had had to call in the doctor This
| brought a
ne would be entirely well by the time
the letter arrived. That plea failing
Fred then wrote that the hired girl
who cleaned the apartment had left
ana tnat Edlths most cherished arti-
cleS or furniture were covered with
dust and in fact everything was s,oinr
70 rack and ruin. This brought a renIy
from Edith telling him not to worry
tnat she would not be home for some
Time IInne ana would have a general clean
SPAR and plainly showed it when vii
usual chat. -oi '"e
Rather down in the mouth, old
e er1@h' WHAT'S the trouble. Mrs. For
this Housekeeping business win
Thats small matte. Leave
eneIytning alone until. it Is time Tor
your wife to return. ian her vn,,
she Will be able to handle the sif,,e
tion." said Wilson. ne sllua-
Fred sat musing as he puffed the
rings of smoke from his pipe. but
wheeling around suddenly faid in
! most determined tone:
Look here. Arthur. am sco.oh
! mig between two 1ames-my pride ans
my Inclination. Edith has been away
TOUR weeks, and just cannot stand +
| any longer. You can see for vo1,rssif
| the apartment is all upset and in moth
ing IKE the condition it WIS the fiTst
| week after Edith left. Then, am
tired of myself. When VOC are not
mere there's nobody to talk il nohodv
10 greet one, nobody to care what o1c1
hour one chooses to come home. IT is
SIMPLY this, I've. got enough When a
man Wife is away, home ceases to he
nome You may think this is ali tom
/ iIlyrot,s put you get married and try If >,
Wen, why don't you write Mrs.
Forsyth to come home, or you run
| down to Old Point ~Comfort?'' sltp-
| gested Arthur.
That's just the point. WHY. E6itb
Moulu guy me to death for not being
able, 20 get along without her. so I
and I can't leave until the si1ief clerk
gets back from his vacation"
We'll, why don't you frame an ex-
cuse such as illness or something of
that kind, that will bring Mrs. For
syth homer asked Wilson.
That doesn't work with a girl lilx
Edith; I've tried it"
w ell, nave exhausted myself so
must leave you now to think a way
out alone. You'll soon have Mrs
Forsyth back in town By-by. old
| fellow
Fred found himself medi. ating over
| and conjuring a thousand means TO
use to carry his point. But none
| seemed practicable. Finishing his
letter to Edith he was sealing the en-
velope when brilliant idea occurred
| to him. He would try it. There was
nothing to lose and maybe much to
gain. The daily newspaper had to be
sent. Going to the desk, Fred picked
up a pair of scissors and in the neat
est manner possible cut out space
of about two inches from the news
! column, wrapped the paper and adj
dressed it to Edith.
He was careful, however, to save the
| clipping. Two days later letter came
from Edith asking for a COPY of TUESDAYS
Globe. Fred smiled exuItingly as he took
cognizance of the fact that it was Tues
days paper that he had clipped Dis
patching the janitor for a Globe of that
date Fred proceeded to clip the same item.
| before mailing it to Edith. A second
demand came for a Tuesdays Globe with
particular emphasis made on an ''uRclip-
jubilant over the success of his scheme
to let 1t fall through He ignored that
part of the letter concerning the clipping
and mailed another copy clipped in pre-
cisely the same place as the first two
The climax came sooner than Fred ex-
pected. On his return from the office
| surprised to be met by his wife in all the
majesty of righteous indignation. Fully
| convinced that Fred was trying to con
ceal some escapade from her. Edith had
ceiving the third suspiciously clipped pa
per.
i She was determined to surprise and face
him with the evidence of his guilt. as she