The Topeka state journal., 1913-06-25
EHE EVENING STORY
Her Ideal Husband.
(By Laura AdeIia Kirkma

| Her Ideal Husband.
(By Laura Adelia Kirkman)
When Harold Dane agreed with
his bride that they should never drop
| into the rut of carelessness that
swallows up so many married cou-
pies, he had not yet realized what a
deep affection he had for his smok-
| ing jacket and his seasoned pipe and
| his disreputable old slippers.
The realization came only after
month of married life-after a month
of dinner coats and patent-leathers
| and cigarettes smoked out of doors
| Then his thoughts turned longingly
to the attick trunk which held the
neglected old friends.
But his wife had no suspicion of
his regrets.
our resolutions, Harold.'' she said one
night as she put on "just for our
selves" a bespangled dinner gown.
Perfectly" he repeated with
guilty ring in his voice. Only that
moment he had been wishing that he
could sneak away to the attic and
take a long pull at the reel<ing pipe.
''I might as we'll burn my old pur-
pie and red kimono," went on Helene
with enthusiasm. 'I shall never use
it again.
Harold became nervous. He feared
that her next suggestion would be
the demolition of his old things.
Better not" he advised. You
might feel under the weather some
time and just want to get into it.
She laughed scornfully. I'm above
such things now. I could no longer
respect a person who INDUCED him
self in such low creature comforts.
Dearest, I'm so glad you are not like
other meni couldn't bear man who
sat around looking like a coal-heav-
er. Yes, you are the ideal husband!
How other women must envy me.
Harold sighed, wondering if the
glory were worth the price. For
week he tried to live on that alone
Then his aching feet just put them
selves down on such nonsense.
Get me out of these burning
vises," they commanded. Get me
back into my old mangled carpet
slippers!'
And meekly, weakly, Harold obey
ed. Telling Helene that he was called
out on business, he sneaked up to the
attic after dinner and stayed there un-
til he was certain that she had gone
to bed.
And what a reunion it was! How
the old coat fell on his shoulders and
hugged him. and the slippers spread
themselves beneath his feet and the
pipe reeked it's greeting into his nos
'trils,
"Goodby-till next time" he said
fondly as he laid them back in the
trunk at the end of the evening.
But it was month before next
time came Helene herself afforded
the opportunity:
'I've got to go to Maud's tonight"
she said regretfully. I'm sorry, dear;
you'll be lonely here, won't you? But
you see 1 promised"
Hastily he assured her that he
should find something to do that
would make the time pass quickly
He flew around for her, finding ev-
erything she needed-from her wrap
to her si1ver-mesh bag.
I'll take you to her DOOR" he SAID, |
inwardly mourning the time that
would be wasted by SO doing.
He wasn't disloyal to Helene, but |
Don't worry if you don't find me
at home when you get back" he told
her at her friends door. Il may run
out to see Thompson"
1t took him about three minutes !
to get home; and about three SECONDS
to get from the first floor to the
third And once again he descended |
to creature comforts, and sat around |
like a coalheaver.
''If she should ever catch me at it!'
he whistIed well, nice little girl, |
I wouldn't have her otherwise. Wo-
men aren't made to understand-they |
don't work all day and get nome al
six. dog tired. The faults mine:
should have begun differently |
of educated her down to it"
With his arms stretching themselves
in baggy coat sleeves and his lungs |
full of his old friends breath, he felt |
in a mood to forgive all the world ev-
Almost tearfully. he laid them away /
at 10 O'Clock and went down to the |
library to await his wffe's return.
Two months passed before he had
another chance to retrogress.
'I shall have to stay all night with
Maud said his wife this time. You
see. Toms going away, and she's afraid
to stav in the house all alone. really
couldn't refuse to, dear"
"Of course not" he approved heart
lily.
After she had gone-she went in a
cab this tirne-Harold made an ascent
TO the third floor that was not wholely
dignified He took the precaution of
locking the door at the foot of the at
tic stairs as the maid happened to |
he at home and might take it into her
illogical head to come up for some rea-
son or other.
He felt so good when he got into a
hobo coat that he did a little turn in
the middle of the foor-just a little
shutting and leap or two to let off
some of his high spirits. Then he
sat down and smoked and yawned
aloud.
R11t after a while he began to won
der if he had forgotten how to do the
buck and wing he learned when at col
lere He was rather captivated by his
own agility-by the litheness which the
turn had shown him that he still pos
Sessed.
Il say, it's not bad!" he exclaimedi