The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-11-18
EVENING STORY
Like Cures Like.
BY DORA NOLAN.

next table caught his attention. The
youths Jumped up and crowded around
the window. Being humanity curious,
Nevins turned about and looked out
on the street. A youngish woman,
modishly dressed, was about, to turn
the corner. The wind blew smartly.
"Oh, boy!" exclaimed one of the young
men-he had Celtic red hair-.'the
Lord is good to the Irishi" John
Nevins clenched his hands at what he
saw till there were dents in his palms.
He favored the backs of the absorb, d
youths with one baleful glare. then
turned abruptly away from his unfin-
ished luncheon and left the club But
on the way back to the office an in
born sense of humor came to his res
cue and he chuckled aloud. He had
had an inspiration.
At five minutes to 9 on the follow
ing morning, when Viola Nevins APP
peared at the Office of the Nevins fam
lily physician, it was plain that some
thing had seriously upset the usual
calm poise of the lady's manner. Also
it was evident to Doctor Balfour that
she hardly expected him to believe
what she Proceeded to relate concern
ing her husband.
Now Doctor Balfour had known
John Nevins much longer than had
Mrs. Nevins, and, tho Viola would
have resented any such assertion, felt
that he understood him much better.
Therefore it was with very little mis-
giving that he stated his opinion.
mo, L hardly think your husband
is losing his mind, tho the actions do
seem peculiar, 1 must admit. My ad-
vice is: Keep calm; act as tho moth
ing unusual were happening, but
watch him closely. If he develops
other eSeentricities let me know
Some hours later Mrs. Nevins await
ed Johns return from the office Seat
ed before the library fire. she was
comfortable in body but uncomfort-
able in mind. The latest fashion mag
azfne failed to distract her thoughts
from incidents of the previous eve
ming, even tho i0 exploited a brand
new Partisan fashion detail at which
Viola ordinarily would have gasped
with joy. Being the first to introduce
new style in her own home town had
grown to be more than fad with Mrs.
Nevins; it had become fixed prin-
ciple. The click of a latchkey herald
ed the approach of the man of the
house. A word of greeting, a con-
nubial kiss, and John Nevins departed
upward to freshen for dinner as was
his wont. Nothing unusual about his
manner so far" Viola treasured her
self as she awaited his returning foot
steps,
They came, tap-tap. on the polished
hardwood of the stairs. Viola felt her
fears justified. Hastily she reminded
herself that the vain expostulations
and half historical pleadings of the
evening before must not be repeated.
Doctor Balfour's' advice had been to
keep calm, and calm she kept as John
Nevins hobbled into the room, his feet,
unusually small for man of his size.
encased in eXaggeratedly high-heeled
pumps. resplendently buckled. He ad-
dressed his wife with matter of fact
ISeriousn ess.
"If 1 don't make faster progress
than this, learning to manage these
things, it will be days yet before I'll
have the confidence to wear them to
the office"
. At this development of ultimate pur-
pose Mrs. .Nevins gave one Mortified
gasp. Then her attention was diverted
to the imperative need of standing be-
tween John and the maid as the latter
appeared ln~the doorway to announce
dinner. When the girl had departed
kitchenward in search of soup, Viola
offered her arm as an aid in nego-
tiating the perilous combination of
rugs and polished floors. John
scorned it.
Turnout the dinner, much to Vio-
las relief, John kept his feet well I'm
der the table-she had such a horror
of the servants telling! Also his con-
versation was absolutely sane. Mrs
Nevins almost began to doubt the evil
dence of her own senses about the
shoes. But no; it was all true; for
when the meal was over there was
John, mincing his way slowly to the
library door, upon those horrible
heels. Viola waited for him to dis
appear thru it before she rang for the
maid. Then. even as her hand found
the bell, there came a crash from the
library-and silence.
Instantly she realized what had hap
pened. Also that she must get there
first and get rid of the ridiculous foot
wear before the servants arrived. If
the worst should transpire there must
be no gossip about queer actions of
poor Mr.. Nevins' to go the rounds
Viola flew-to find her >apprehensions
justified, and John lying motionless on
the library floor
When Doctor Balfour responded
promptly to Mrs. Nevins's distressed
phone call, the master of the house
was still unconscious. Blood flowed
from a cut on his head. The physician
had the injury dressed in no time,
waved the servants out of the room
and said: Its a trifling scalp wound.
He is merely knocked out and may
come to any moment now. What hap
pened ?"
Mrs Nevfns. in mute explanation,
produced from under the davenport,
where she had hurriedly hidden them.
the evidence at once of the cause OF
the accident and of her husbands un-
balanced state.
'tUm-mi" remarked Doctor Balfour;
haven't 1 seen you wear shoes much
like these YOURSELF"
Mrs Nevins resented the tone of the
inquiry 1t seemed to put her on the
defensive Certainly" she answered.:
but since these are women's shoes,
will you please tell me why 1 shouldn't
wear similar ones. The strange thing
is a mans wanting to wear them, II
seems to mel"
Because Mrs Nevins was looking
straight-and somewhat defiantly-at
DR. Balfour she just here missed some
thing which that worthy gentleman
saw. During his wife's speech John
Nevins had opened his eyes. looked
at his physieian-and winked.