The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-27
The Euening Story
Cupid Gets . spanking.
(By Olive Roberts Barton. }

Cupid Gets . Spanking.
(By Olive Roberts Barton.)
The widow. who was visiting the
Carl Won Vorts was accomplishing
wonders in reorganizing Wellsfield So
ciety.
Whereas. before her arrival. women
had found sufficient recreation in
every other week reading clubs. with
. sprinkling Of fancy work. or tea par
ties In between-but always distinctly
''hen''-now the air was full Of tango
tunes and every one was practicing the
Scissors from stately old Judge
Cristfield to Mrs. Smythe who tipped
the scales at two-ten.
The widow was up to date. She
weighed up to date, stood up to date,
with her toes pointing very much in
opposite directions, and dressed up to
date.
Therefore, being able to do all three,
sne always looked adorable" to quote
the male portion of the town. and
ridiculous" according to the women.
BY some miracle she had induced
the Van Wort coterie to organize a.
dancing class, and had imported a
master, who exchanged his knowledge
Of the grapevine" for hard-earned
Friday night
Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar Collins belong
ed to the coterie and were doing their
pest at the tango classes. But Mrs.
same grace that a chubby young bear
might tackle the moon dance
Mrs. Collins could bake an angel
| food cake like feather, fry chicken
you'd never forget, and make peach
| ice cream for the kings birthday-but
she couldn't tango.
She could make all the dearest,
daintiest, lacfest COATES for the three
little golden-haired Collins kiddies,
and keep them healthy of body and
| sunny of mind-but she could not get
the hesitation waltz.
And although you felt the magic
touch Of the home-maker the instant
you entered the Collins door, and won
plump. white-skinned pretty Mrs. Col
1ins herself welcomed you-that lady
was having the most wretched time Of
her life. all on account OF the one
step.
| And then! The widow had also in
stituted tiffin at the Van Vorts. It
| was surprising how law offices and
directors rooms were locked these
days promptly at 5, and figures from
All parts OF the town hurried to this
Mecca OF social aspirations, to have q
cup OF tea with the charmer.
Edgar Collins at first urged his wife
to go to these little affairs. They
would meet there and walk home to-
| gether.
| But one day kiddie had q cold,
and another day she had an engage
ment at the dressmaker's, and a third
day it was the cooks day out. and she
glad Of excuses, and to be equally
frank, Mr.. Collins was glad Of excuses
Ito go alone.
On these days it seemed to him the
widow always favored him with some
| OF those for-you-alone smiles.
He ceased asking his wife to meet
him at the Van Vorts, and secretly
she was glad. She never knew when
some one would put a one-step in the
music box.
! Mr.. Collins ordered two new suits
I that could be heard around the corner,
adopted Jack Binger hats and man
| aged man-of-the-world look. He
/ also annexed a cane.
4 But 1t was his sins of omission that
hurt Mrs. Collins. He used to praise
the meals, admire q new dress and
toss up the kiddies. Lately he neither
praised. admired. nor tossed. He
seemed preoccupied, and went out a
great deal in the evenings.
One day an invitation came. The
Van Vorts were giving q dansante for
their guest at the most exclusive club
in town.
Wellsfield Immediately got busy,
ordered a new dress and tested the
) rubber tips on its dancing heels
Mrs. Collins fell into line, with an
unhappy sigh, and to make it worse
her husband had insisted that the
aret gown, with its frin amidships and
baggy knees. came home. Mrs. Collins
cried.
Then she dried her eyes and sat
thinking; Slowly a faint smile grew
around the corners Of her mouth. She
decided that as nature had intended
her for mother and not for q mon-
key. nature would likely help her out
But it must have little aid.
The night of the dance one of the
children was not well, according to
Mrs. Collins, and she decided shed
: better not go. Mr.. Collins didn't fusa
much. He just winked the farthest eye
and went alone.
under the bed, and after her hus-
band had shut the front door. Mrs
Collins winked both eyes and went uI
to the attic to hunt something.
At a. m. Mr. Collins arrived home
and by the street light saw sign or
the house. Closer inspection revealed
the word '.measles''. In black letters
A suit case stood in the vestibule. His!
!. Packed!
He understood, To- enter meant
quarantine. OF course there was nc
rush at the office. bat. He didn't
ring to rouse the family. He went te
!, a hotel. ::
The widow passed the next morn
ing. saw the sign and shivered. Mrs
: Collins behind the curtain saw the
shiver and smiled.
Mr.. Collins called up and asked
: how long the quarantine would last
: remarking incidentally that the meals
at the hotel were rotten and the bed
Z worse Mrs. Collins said she thought
three or four weeks, smiling to herself
| At fifteen minutes after thu
phone rang again. Mr.. Collins. once
more. This time in a rage. No one
:, would let him ini Even the Van vorti
! were afraid of him. He might stand
: 1t a week but he'd be blamed ii he'd
!, ! put up with 1t q day longer
He stood It for two weeks Their
. Mrs Collins said the kiddie was better