The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-11
The Eoenins Story
The Box Of Candy.
(Ry Olive Roberts Barton-e

The books would not balance Win
the cash on hand at closing time ana
everybody in the bank had. to MAY
| ana help hunt for the trouble. There
was Z dollar too much on hand, mncn-
to the disgust Of all, including Ned
Pershing.
It was Saturday afternoon and .
half holiday. but it was after nve
the error in the total OF = deposit Flip.
| In two minutes the bank was empty.
Ned stopped at Morgan's, the con-
fectioner's, and bought the customary
pound of Boston chips. q custom OF
his fathers he had adopted when he
married Emily.
He forgot that Emily had reminded
him Of something before he left the
house that morning. He paid for tho
candy, tucked the box under his arm.
ana ran for his car.
| At home, Emily had sewed all day.
trying to finish q shadow lace waist
to wear to the club that night Her
crepe and charmeuse had seen enough
service to be pensioned. and as 1t was
between seasons. a lace waist seemed
At s o'clock she discovered that she
had made two sleeves for the same
arml
| Her head and shoulders ached from
sewing, she had allowed her Saturday
duties to slide, shutting her eyes 70
the couO1tlOn Oh inc AAOAouA "a eAAo
kitchen, and there waA no dessert
made for Sunday.
Her days work was wasted! She
had nothing to show for all her trou-
BILE. She loathed housework, ana de-
spised sewing. II Ned was worth his
salt ne would see that she had SER
wants to take care of the house. and
pc ,ple to do her sewing properly! She
always looked like fright beside the
other girls!
she looked at herself In the mirror.
She had not dressed since morning
The reflection was not comforting.
In the half light she lopked sallow.
Yes, she was losing her geod looks!
i She was getting old, taking care OF
this shorTid house. ana cooking ana
i sewing and doing thousand things
she had never been intended to do!
She thought over the different men
| she might have married who could
have provided luxuries and comforts
which she now lacked. Why had she
not looked with an eye to the future
before she had accepted Ned and
married him?
BY the time she lad decided that
Ned was q r-onster who had schemed
to betray her. and spoil her life; that
he was a selfish, hard-hearted tyrant,
and that it was time she was stand
ing up for her rights and insisting
upon consideration. she heard his step
on the porch.
It was raining. q cold. penetrating
drizxle, and Ned had no umbrella
Everything in general. including the
thought that his taxes were due and
him cross. His feet began to feel
damp. He knew he needed new shoes,
but hated to charge another pair un-
til the bill was paid.
The time was propitious for little dew
lis to get in their work. One whis-
t. t. no. hAH not
six dollars for pair Of dancing slippers
land four extra for the rhinestone
buckles.
The porch rug was crooked and mud
10y Man Hike. he did not notice It.
but he had feeling that somehow the
place didn't look AZ honey a. usual.
Ordinarily the light in the hall burned
Hospitality at this hour.
The house inside was cold and dark
and there was NO sign Of dinner. No
usual. and he didn't whistle, either. as
was his custom upon arriving.
Then an audible smile came down
stairs. Emily never cried when she
was sick. She cried when she was
mad.
Ned took off his coat and walked up
stairs. Emily was on the bed, crying.
whats wrong?' His tone grated.
No answer-just q double sob.
u He laid the box on the dressing
l table. here's your C8n0y.
There was just enough light left for
Emily to see the size Of the box past
, the corner of her handkerchief. She
. knew what It was
|, II knew you wouldn't do IT. said
, chocolates. 1 hate. those things!'
, Then Ned : remembered the mes
sage.
well, 1 can't remember everything.
You're getting too darned hard to suit
. trm tired Of everlastingly apologtxtng. .
II Emily sprang from the bed in a fury,
si"I think you need to apologize. fol
} making such a mess OF my nfe. ana
{ I'm tired of being poor ana never hav-
ing anything to wear and being COM
i PEELED to cook every bite I eat"
81 In q very few minutes they had said
4 | enough to convince each other thai
t never before were such despicable NOR
I tails created, for the discomfort of man
81 Emily finished up by diving into hel
: side of the closet and producing an
!. armful of clothes which she stuffed
/ pell nell into her travelling bag.
81 Ned followed suit by jerking open the
a drawers OF his chiffonier and throwing
. some things into q suit case
81 Emily flung on long coat and hat
= without making any further toilet. and
. ran down stairs. She locked the FROM
. door behind her. taking the key.
RI Ned turned ont all the lights and
3 went out by the kitchen.
81 He knew where Emily would tak<
= the car to go to her mothers. 80 hi
. waited q block below. for the one which
r would take him to his fathers.
al Then he remembered something and
Il turned back to the house.
I Emily, shfvering In the drizslina
2 rain, thought suddenly OF the candy
tShe wished she had put the box ID
2 her has. for she was hungry.
4 ana ran hack to the house. upleclDeA tn
e1oot oDors an4 doW - 4tattDs es2n66sel