The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-27
EVENING STORY
The Deceitfulness of Appearances.

(By Anna Phillips See.)
| John and Jeffrey Poindexter were
| the twinniest twins that ever hap
/ pened. When they were curly-haired
youngsters even their mother couldn't
always tell them apart and their faith
er often spanked the wrong child for
| the 1sht offense. AS they grew up
and became of manageable age, they
found the girls OF the town noticeably
coy. No one wished to marry Poin-
dexter twin and never be sure of her
husbands identity. 1t almost savored
| of bigamy turned the other way round.
When the twins grasped this fact
! they separated. John went into busi-
ness IN New York, while Jeffrey re-
| manned in the home town. After a
| few months. the same town was en-
| livened by invitations to the wedding
of John Poindexter and Miss Marjorie
Brooks of New York City. At the
| wedding. Jeffrey Poindexter acted as
| best man. The minister, in an excess
pretty bride and, later, she herself.
| under n1isapprehension, tried to
| carry him off on a bridal trip.
After John and Marjorie had settled
down in their brand new flat, with
/ brand new furniture and brand new
| maid, John suddenly felt longing to
have Jeffrey live with them. The
| twin feeling" came over him SO firm
ly that it rivaled his affection for his
wife. He had been fond of Jeff for
a long, long time-longer than he had
| of his bride. Marjorie was good-na-
tured and said yes; she did not give
the matter much thought. In fact,
she never wasted time thinking, for
feeling was so much easier.
Jeffrey accepted the invitation with
joy. He was glad to be with John, he
appreciated Marjorie's housekeeping
for she was a born homemaker-and
he had reasons of his own for wish
ing to be in New York.
For a time all was we'll. The first
unpleasantness was the abrupt de-
parture of Katie, the mlddle-aged
domestic treasure. She considered the
augmented family uncanny. 1t jolted
her nerves to come home late at night
against the rules and find one of the
men just opening the door with his
latchkey- She never knew whether
to say she had been to her grand
mothers wake, supposing the young
man was her master, or just to pass
the time of night, If it happened to be
Mr. Jeffrey, who would understand.
when she did give warning it was to
the twins collectively. She had lust
i served them their breakfast, for the
mistress slept late that morning, and
to wait on two individuals identically
alike even to their voices and neckties
made her feel queer.
You see, Mr.. Poindexter," she ex-
planned. I've TUX the pledge and I
niver touch drop no more, praise be-
But If 1 should be afther stayin' here
and seem double all the time, I might
as well have the run of il, I'm afraid
to stay. Mr.. Poindexter so I'm Ieavin'
come Saturday."
= And on Saturday she went Marjorie
was much cast down at this detection
. but she revived when she secured at
the agency a wonder who was willing
to step Immediately into Katie's shoes.
The bride gloried in her luck to the
, twins.
Why. boys, I never saw such a
pretty, intelligent girl in a servant
? bureau in my life. She knows ali
about hygiene and domestic science
, everything
5 Whew! 1 can see you being taught
I your place, Miss Brooks said her
I husband, who was given to addressing
his wife thus unexpectedly.
AS long as my place isn't in the
I kitchen, l don't care" declared Mar
f jorie gayly.
The new maids first appearance
before the assembled family was a
g dinner time. When she entered the
dining-room, at sight of the two mer
she turned pale, then crimsoned to hei
pretty blonde hair, and the tray fel
from her hands with a loud clatter
: People were often astonished wher
4 they first beheld the almost uncanny
= likeness of the Poindexter twins, bu
t no one had ever seemed quite so over
/ come as did Jane Gaylord. Marjorie
/ regarded her with reproach and Johr
e with amusem ent, but Jeffrey gazed a
the girl with a look of amazemen
which never left his face during the
I meal. Jane, however, soon recovered
Z her composure and acquitted herself
I SO admirably that the lady of the
( house was greatly pleased with hel
I maids abilities.
So great did these abilities prove tt
be during the succeeding day tina
Marjorie was overawed. She confidet
I in her husband that she didn't know
what to make of Jane.
"Of course she's very respectful ant
Q perfect wonder at getting thing
y done, but, John, she's queer and yol
:, should see the books and papers sh,