The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-25
EVENING STORY
A Question of Weight.
BY LINCOLN ROTHBLUM.

That Jupiter Perkins was fab every
one admitted. One could not desig-
nate him as pleasingly plump or fair
ly fleshy or by any other alliteratiVe
expression sympathetically employed
to describe his ayoirdupoiS, for Jupiter
was plain fat. 1t would almost seem
as if nature, insulted, had revenged
herself because a star-gaZing father
had insisted on naming his only child
after that planet And were the god
of ancient Rome able to view ms
namesake in Mr.. Perkins, owner and
manager of Cartons general store, he
must Leeds blushingly hide his mus
cled frame behind the proverbial pet
ticoat of his likewise cody spouse, tho
it is not on record Juno wore those
neither garments. For Jupiter Perkins,
with his overburdened stomach sag
ging like a captive balloon straining
at it's mooringS as if the least addi-
tional strain would release it, bore as
little resemblance to his celestial fore
bear as does that worthy to the dino
saur.
But be it not supposed that this pre-
ponderance of flesh did not cause Mr.
Perkins the greatest concern, because
it was no secret Jupiter yearned to
take unto himself a wife. And no
one in all Carlton, nay, not even one
certain lady whose years and lack of
pulchritude had long since driven away
wedlock to the fat Mr.. Perkins. Gig
Cling, sentimental girls, fresh from
the state seminaries, would refer to
some Tilted sutton in terms most OPP
probious to Mr.. Perkins. 81 would
never marry Chester if Jupiter were
the only other man on earth"
And Jupiter continued to sigh for a
wife and perspire for thinness. AS wit
ness him this torrid July high noon
laboriously and painfully putting his
way up the steep steps to the second
story offices of the much-heralded
Doctor Foster, specialist, according
to the gilded letters upon the door he
opened, following the attendants even
toned Come in"
1.-THE doctor is occupied" the white
aproned figure continued. ''Will you
please be seated few moments?"
Jupiter Perkins lowered his bulk to
the edge of the luxurious armchair.
Experience had taught him to beware
of deep-seated, soft-cushioned, heavi-
" upholstered seats of comfort if he
wished to arise without assistance. He
mopped his brow, corrugated with
tiny riVulets of sweat at every wrin-
k1e, as he recalled with a shudder
| that memorable occasion he remained
| in the theater overnight. alone in the
dark, held fast by the sides of the
chair from which the following morn
ing it took the hefty janitor to extri-
| cate him.
| The memory was too poignant, and
raising his heavylidded eyes that his
mind might be distracted from its
present disquieting "reminiscences. he
| watched the physicians attendant.
| 'Homely,' mentally summarized
Jupiter, as he gazed at her face, but
looking upon her figure. "delicately
thin"
| And Mr.. Perkins's brief description,
while not complimentary, was unfor-
| I'm re- fr-I1a 10 =
ture had all the factors not custom
arily associated with that lady to
whom Paris threw the fateful apple
| Her hair was sparse tied tightly in an
INDECENT Psyche knot. Her eyes were
| small, slightly crossed, with lashes and
| brows not strongly in evidence.
| High cheek bones, with little color
| ing, lent a sepulchral atmosphere
ABOUT her person, and to top, orr rath-
er end, everything, she boasted flat
not help repeating. shes deliciously
thin" That is why Doctor Foster
pecialist-employed her.
| She created in the minds of his
clientele confidence in his ability. He
was himself of spare form, and ii
would seem. judging from his grow
ing bank account for a physician new
to the community, that his psychol-
ogy was not amiss. For Doctor Fos-
ter was specialist in reducing.
|
ercise, Mr.. Perkins, is the only thing
"Diet, ''re-echoed Mr.. Perkins. "how
can 1 diet at the Carlton hotel, and
how can I exercise when I'm at the
store all day."
1.-The exercise" responded DR.. Fos-
ter. you will have to arrange your
self. The diet, perhaps Miss Thorne.' -
he paused indicating his assistant
who had just re-entered the room,
''can attend to-
The patient arose with effort to
| acknowledge the n r d u C o n
| Thank you, doctor. If it is agree
able to Miss Thorne, 1 would be glad
| to have some one watch out for me-
Jupiter Perkins raised his thick
brows, DR.. Foster smiled, and Miss
Thorne giggled.
And so Mr.. Perkins commenced tc
diet at the home of the slender at
tendant. Gone from his table were
thick cream, luscious steaks, rich but
ter and sweet sugar. But, strangely
despite a most exacting menu, the
subject continued to gain roll upon
roll of flesh DR.. Foster was puzzled
you're not eating forbidden food
on the sly, Mr.. Perkins," asked the
physician.
mo, no, DOCTOR" answered Mr.. Per
kins, but it seems no matter what
I eat at Miss Thorns table, 1 enjoy
with the greatest relish. Miss
Thorne Makes everything so cheer
full
DR.. Foster tried to look wise. "Or
the same principle it is strange Miss
Thorne does not take on flesh. She
is thinner than before. See me mex
| week.
But several weeks later the con-
tinued association seemed to have
caused a reversal of appetites. Miss
Thorne's capacity to eat increased as
Mr.. Perkins Zest for food dwindled.
'Mr. Perkins" remarked Miss
Thorne one evening. try this lettuce
with the vinegar dressing. 1t is good
for you
He took the dish and, laid it down
Miss Thorne helped herself to a sec
,ond portion as he left the table foot
untouched. And so Mr.. Perkins con.
tinued to sigh and grow thin while
stouter
DR.. Foster was delighted with tn.
result of his treatment. Ten pound.