The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-10
EVENING STORY
Williams Wins.
(By Shirley Moses.)

The victre1a next door called the
sentiment out of the window just as
Lillian Farrell tied a checbered apron
over her afternoon dress and started
down stairs for the kitchen. She had
come home from party ana there
was no time to change. William
would be home soon wanting ms din
ner.
| 4.Thatss as true as the Bible" she
agreed, for things had gore wrong all
day and instead of the bridge game
soothing her ruffled spirits it had
made things worse. She had always
envied Madeleine Dempster her we'll
ordered house, clothes and servants,
but she had gone prepared TO ignore
| the difference in their circumstances
and to have a good time.
/ THE girls are always nice to me
anyway even If ] do wear last sea-
sons clothes, so I'll be amiable and
forget my troubles" she resolved.
/ But almost every one there had
new dress, rich new satin or si1k, city
made. Instantly she had felt frumpy.
/ Her dark blue crepe, made at home
to begin with, had never done any
/ thing more than answer purpose.
She knew it lacked dash and made
/ her look old-because it was made
/ too young for her And, looking
| around the room at the carefully
massa ged faces, professionally sham
! pooed heads and manicufed hands
/ that bore burdens OF gems, she 1ett
! that every line in her face was an
| inch deep, her hair thin and badly
| done, and her hands red and raw
! boned from dishwashing- They SEEM
/ ed to protrude ignominiously from
| sleeves that had always been an inch
too short
So her resolve had been sl1ortlived.
! 1t had been Impossible to keep a
| brave front when every fibre in her
was protesting at her lot. She COM
: - L. l. u
/ and left IS early she could.
| She went down to the kitchen with
the victrola screaming after her.
! Husbands and cooks, she loses her
. looks.
Not a woman there had to go
/ home and get her own dinner, 1t
+ doesn't seem fair. William doesn't
seem to realize that he is So and
should have made some money by this
time. He's as happy and placid as a
J summer day. in spite of the fact that
! his one and only venture in stocks
4 cent he had-aH we've worked for
! and saved since we've been married.
! Men make me tired
She banged the kettle of potatoes
on to the stove. lighted the broi1er for
| the steak and fixed some cheese balls
( for salad.
Il hate this old kitchen. I hate this
! old house. and my old clothes and L
/ hate-William. Yes, I do! He's get
ting fat and bald and he never keeps
! his trousers creased any more, they're
always bagging at the knee, and he
doesn't do anything but read the pa
| per or go to sleep in his chair, and
he never seems to think 1 need a
/ thing. Yes, 1 hate, hate, hate him.
+ There he is now,''
The front door shut and William
called back, Hello, momsy." They
| had never had any children, but he
/ had adopted the pet name long ago.
/ Hello" she answered duly, clear
ing the coffee with cold water
/ He came to the door Amy news?'
! No" She didn't look up.
He crossed the kitchen and kissed
her on the cheek.
Were you out. hon?"
Yes
Go to the bridge party?"
| Have a good time"
NO"
No? What's the matter, girlie.-I
one of Your headaches again.
"a little Bit
when you get your dinner. Let the
dishes GO.
| That's no help They have to be
done in the morning"
That's so. Well. dear. I'm sorry.
! If things are ready I'll wash up and
be down III a fifty
! AS he took his good-natured bulk
out of the kitchen Lillian wiped an
| indignant tear from the corner of her
eye, and began lifting" the dinner
1T doesn't do any good to tell him
! Tn tired of being poor. He never
seems to understand anyway. AS long
as he has a good meal and COM
Portable place to sleep, nothing else
matters
She lighted table candles, poured
out the water and sat down. William
came in.
Looks dandy, mom,''
No answer.
Peach of a steak. You know what
I like. And mashed potatoes, Goodr'
/ He looked around at the buffet on
which stood the salad and dessert.
Cheese salad and Spanish cream, |
too What have 1 done to deserve /
such a layout 2''
'.Nothinsi" she snapped.
William carved in silence The
snap had divulged something he had |
not noticed. His wife was out of |
humor.
81 saw something funny in the
paper tenighEthe United States I
marines in Nicaragua are fond of /
broiled lizard served with a sauce /
made of alligator pears
Lillian. her eyes on the candles, |
tasted some coffee. She made no an /
swer- Then: The girls all had on /
stunning new dresses today 1 looked /
IF1S1t DeSlue them.
You look finei Never saw YOU
look better. You imagine tl1ings,''
No. I don't
Silence fer while
Il saw in the paper tonight that
Luther Moddocks, the government
+ fish expert, has rechristened dogfish /
/ into grayfish. He says it's the most i
delicious fish on the market. Wen /
have to get some -
| Always something for me to cook /
/ She pushed back her chair. I'm tired /
of every thing-cooking housework |
and doing without things
Tired of me. hon?''
Yes.
I s.sIsI,., DAHL r-t,,. 81.