The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-22

The Only Fun Afforded Mrs. Weeks
by Her Vacation Is in Telling What
Poor Time She Had.
When Eleanor and Mrs. Weeks
rushed from the room to see what
was the matter with Elizabeth. they
found the child had fallen down and
skinned her knee and it was some
time before she could be quieted.
Margaret, you take Elizabeth up
to the play room and build a big
block house; that will not hurt her
lame knee" suggested Eleanor, and
as the suggestion met with the ap-
proval of the children the ladies were
able to resume mending.
Tell me about your move into the
cottage near your sister-in-law," said
Eleanor when everything was again
calm.
"Oh, the move took place while I
was away. A little rocky path con-
nected the two cottages and Ralph
and Foster, Carolyn's husband, de-
cided to move while I was away. No
horse could get up there, SO they
| trunk on and started. When they
came to a little rustic bridge that
spanned dry stream bed the path
tipped and the trunk fell into the
rocky gully and burst open" Mrs.
| Weeks paused impressively.
ruined?" asked Eleanor sympatheti-
| cally.
IF you could have seen them when
I came back. Ralph had put every
| thing back as he contritely told me
did not know whether to laugh OF
cry when 1 opened the trunk But
| fortunately laughed, for Ralph stood
miserably by and said he would re-
place anything that was spoiled. A
bottle of perfumery in the tray had
| run down onto a silk DRESS and taker
the color out completely
| Cant you do anything with it?'
asked Eleanor, her thrifty soul dis.
tressed at the thought of waste.
L may be able to match it. L have
not had time to try yet. To think
that I had never had a chance te
wear it, mourned the little woman
Then there were my fine waists al
wadded together in a mess, and as
mad no chance to press anything they
| were unwearable.".
| to wear your good clothes" Eleanor
| looked puzzled
No more there was, but / had &
certain satisfaction in knowing that
was ready if a miracle should happier
and l should need a good dress.''
Eleanor laughed. You certainly are
| funny" she remarked, reaching over
| to prick her friend with her needle
That is what Carolyn says" replied
| Mrs Weeks. But 1 cannot come vi
to her in furnishing amusement
wish you could have seen her comins
over to the c~ttage we occupied in the
evening with lamp in one hand AND
holding an umbrella over it with the
| other
Umbrella! Was it raining?" asked
| Eleanor.
Raining? That is what It did mos
of the time; just poured down in tor
rents The woods were so Sodden tina
they fairly steamed every time the SUI
came out and"
Didn't the wind blow out the LAM
in ner evening perigrinations? ?" inter
rupted Eleanor.
| IF it did, she lighted a match on
milestone she carried in her midd,
I blouse pocket. oh, she was prepared
to enjoy herself all right. I laughed
that night till my sides ached 1t wa
the only time I had a good laugh thu
| entire month" Mrs Weeks smiled
reminiscently.
Weren't there mosquitoes ?" aske,
Eleanor.
Were there?" was the tragic an
swer. And the irony of the who'll,
thing was that they never seemed t.
bite anyone but Elizabeth and me
got up two or three times every nigh
to hunt for them and to rub penny
royal oil on my ands and face. Ralpl
said l was a regular FREELY, b1inkin,
around all night"
you certainly did not have a yer,
pleasant time" sympathized Eleanor
Anyway, it is doing me good t.
complain about it and get it out o
my system" Mrs. Weeks made a wr,
face.
CTo be continued.)