The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-20
The Euening Story
When Hilton Jones Moved.
(By Jane OSBORNE


was what Hilton Jones was about to
ask his stenographer, but just then
Mrs. Hilton Jones appeared. She had
been at her club for the afternoon,
where she had been reading a paper
on the economic independence of
women, and she had just dropped
around to take Hilton Jones home IN
her electric
immaculate, Jones merely growled be-
tween his teeth to the stenographer
and, nervously tum-tumming on his
desk, welcomed his visitor with a
kindly smile.
II can't possibly go home now,
dear" he said suavely. 1--WE are right
in the midst of moving. You, OF
course. can't imagine what that means,
but YOU must understand that 1T takes
much of my time. Now run along and
don't be worried if 1 don't come home
for several hours"
Mrs. Jones looked specifically over
the offices that stretched out beyond
and around that of Mr.. Jones. Il
don't see why it should be any more
trouble than moving at home is" she
said. And Mr.. Jones merely smiled
indulgently.
thing. If she were not able to take him
home with her at least she would take
him out to tea, and that would give
him strength for the hours of work
that stretched out before him.
At tea, amid the soft music. splash
ing fountain and subdued lights of
their favorite hotel tea room. she told
him of her success that afternoon, of
her speech on the economic independ-
ence of woman, on the handshaking
that followed, the congratulations and
the thrill of achievement that went
with it.
"And now she said, 'T am going
to ask you something. You know I
have very little to do. The boys are
both in school where they are better
off, no doubt than they would be at
home. I have servants enough to do
the homework with a very few min
utes a day of supervision. There is no
longer any excuse for my remaining
at home-and besides 1 want to be
Independent"
Alice" gasped Hilton Jones in ac-
tual establishment, don't you love
me?"
"Of course, you old dear" she said
with the air of reproving one of her
own children for asking foolish ques-
ton. 81 love you to distra ction, but 1
believe in it, and I want it to come
true-this economic independence for
which I have been making stand at
the club. You know, 1 have never
had an allowance"
But haven't you always had all you
wanted?"
Eyes, yet it has always been mine to
receive from you and never mine to
give. I have never felt as if I could
do anything of my own accord that
money could accomplish You gave
me my electric limousine for Christ
mas. and all that I could do for you
was to work some initials in handker-
chiefs that I bought and had charged
Of h. he 10 Oh T
money that is all my own. Now there
is Mrs. Dawson"
Mrs Dawson writes novels" put in
Hilton, land I suppose some publisher
is bluffed into paying her for them.
and Tom Changers wife has taken to
singing in cabarets. and old Tim Ma
loney's wife takes in washing. Which
one of them do you envy most ?"
''Then you don't like the idea of
having me 90 anything for a living?"
could do, is there?" Hilton said this
very indulgentiy.
'And you don't like the idea of put
ting me on an allowance?"
you are my wife. not my employee.
owe you everything you want be-
cause of our love. I don't like the
idea of being under actual obligations
TO YOU"
But if I actually proved to you that
I was of some business value?"
THAT might make a different thing
of it" And there the tea table con-
versation on economic independence
ended.
Things were surely at skies and sew
ems, for there right in the middle of
the mass of moving Hilton Jones had
to go out of town for two days on
pressing business. In fact, he had
time only to rush home for a hasty
dinner and get his bag-Alice always
knew just what he wanted for his hur-
ried trips-and went away. And no
one was really at the helm to take up
the confused task of moving after he
had gone.
When Hilton Jones reached town
again, two days later. he first called
up his wife on the phone from the sta
ton. That was one of the little lover
habits of his that made most women
who knew her envy Mrs. Jones.
She was even more delighted at the
sound of his voice than usual.
81 can't wait to see you" she told
him. 80 you won't mind if I come
right to your office will your"
He was pleased at this sign of impa-
thence. But heaven only knows where
my office is" he returned. Better go
right to the old place No, on second
thought, 1 want to get a look at the
new place We were to have moved
out the first of the month-that was
yesterday-but those blockheads at
the office couldn't move without me-
There is no one who can attend to
such an undertaking but myself.
suppose by not getting out on the first
we may have to pay another months
rent
Mrs. Hilton Jones met her husband
in the entrance hall of the new office
building and together they went to the
new rooms. Hilton Jones never got
over his pride of being seen with his
wife. She was so crisp and immacu-
late and spotless. even at that early
hour of the morning.
He almost fell backward when he
opened the door. For. although he
knew himself to be in the new build