The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14
The Evening Story
Tom and Dick Drink Tea.
(By Isabel Leo

There, 1 have actually pulled ten
more white hairs out this morning. 1
shall be quite grayhaired soon, I'm
sure"
Toms wife sat before her dressing
table putting the finishing touches to
her afternoon toilet. She looked, with
Dicks fiancee, who had called to in
duce her to go shopping.
Little do you know how worried L
am" TOMS wife sighed pathetically,
adjusted her toque at a saucy angle.
and then arranging the cobweb veil.
But 1 won't bother you with my trou-
bles. You have SO much to be happy
about and so many plans to make for
the wedding
Dicks fiancee bit her pretty lips
and looked out of the closely cur
tanned window of the bedroom. I'm
not at all sure there is going to be any
wedding" she said.
For the moment Toms wife forgot
the white hairs that still lay on her
dressing table, a monument to her
troubles. OF course, she wanted Dicks
fiancee to tell her all about it, but the
confidence did not seem to be forth
coming.
Il don't even know whether to go
down to shop or not added the
younger woman. whats the use OF
getting the things when I don't know
whether 1 shall want them-the we'd
ding veil and white satin and the
rest? But don't talk about poor little
me. I'd so much rather know why you
are worrying 1 thought your Tom
was an angel, just as 1 did think Dick
xxra fsNxrv Jrx-e
you be worried when he is so domes-
tic he doesn't even go to club
Toms wife laughed softly, and then
she began at the beginning of her
story. First, it was the teacup," she
said. 'It is almost too absurd to re-
member, but it made me begin to WON
der. That was a few weeks ago. No
it was even before that. 1t was the
morning he asked me for lemon. It
was at breakfast and l gave it to him
and l did not think it was funny then
that he should want to carry lemon
down to the office in his oVercoat
pocket. Still, l was so sure of him.
And the next evening he had the mys-
ferrous little package when he came
home. He said nothing about it, 50
when he wasn't looking 1 found out
Wives have to DO those things, my
dear. 1t was a horrid, sticky teacup,
with one of those dreadful spoons YOU
get at the ten cent store. Some time
when 1 wasn't looking ne washed it
and the next morning he started out
with the same little package agar.
We'll, the next night it happened
again-such horrid old cup! That
time he gave it to Bridget to wash
for she told me so, faithful creature
that she is. That kept on for several
days. And then one day. really
wasn't exactly suspicious even then
L asked him outright what it was all
about.
You know how it has been with
Tom and me. He never tells me his
business troubles and [ never bother
him with household matters but still
we have never, never before kept
things from each other.
Well, you have caught me, snook-
ems, haven't you?' Those were the
very words he used and then he
laughed a little, rather sheepishly.
and tried to kiss me. L didn't want to
tell you at first he said. 1 thought
you'd make fuss about it. But that
new English secretary
At this point Dicks fiancee reached
for the smelling bottle that stood on
the dressing table and pressed the
stopper to her dainty little nose but
Toms wife went on.
THAT new English secretary-and
that was the first time that had even
heard of the creature-he said had
to have tea. They all do in London
he said.
You've never had tea with me-
I said I've often wanted you to drop
in my "at homes and you wouldn't
and now for this brazen English sec
rotary of yours, of whom l have never
even heard, you start in with this ridi-
culous practice. But why make fool
of yourself by bringing the cups home ?
Why aren't they washed at the Of
fice?'
That's where the joke comes in. ;
he said laughing-men can laugh even
at the most tragic moments. L thought
of getting Miss Stebbins to wash them
Miss StebbinS is his Stenographer and
a palmer, old creature 1 never saw.
wouldn't be jealous of her if she were
the last woman in the world. we
thought of getting Miss Stebbins to do
it and we said something to her about
it, but she rebelled.
Just because 1 am a woman, l
suppose you think 1 must do the
drudgery. 1 never washed dish in
my life. If you want a servant you
should have hired one and not a stem
ographer' And said my husband.
Miss Stebbins is a very valuable wo-
man and l didn't want to make her
mad. So the only thing to do is to
bring the tea things home to wash.
81 am sure / don't at all blame Miss
Stebbins' said. I don't see why she
should have to wash up after that tea
-
and L am sure I won't. and Bridget
won't. either. Hereafter you may
wash wour own teacup.
"Youdid perfectly right" said Dicks
fiancee, and then. after another
pause II know all about it. 1 found
Dick carrying not only one, but two,
cups home at night-his and the sec
retary's. He even brought them around
to wash, and then he told me. just as
Tom did you, about the creature. Only
he wouldn't say much and I said less.
1 didn't want him to tell you that |
was jealous and it is not really that
Only, of course. if that is the kind of
man Dick l.. if he is the sort who
stoops to office flirtations like that
and can afford to spend a half hour or
so slipping tea with some brazen Eng
lish woman-I am quite glad I found
out in time
Have you seen herr" inquired
Toms wife. patting away an imagin-