The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-17
EVENING STORY
A Lesson i'm Time.


happy couple than the Wards. who
had been married a few short weeks;
but today Helen was not happy. This
was due to the fact that she had taken
the time this morning to review the
events of the past few weeks. She
knew that Bruce loved her dearly, and
in his good -heartedness would deny
her nothing to make her happy. But
now, she had to acknowledge he had
one serious fault. which was a menace
to their future happiness. His belief
that it was his sole right to supervise
everything about the household
clashed harshly with her free and in
dependent IDEAS
Helen had religiously refused to al
low these thoughts to enter her mind
until last evening. when they had en-
tertained for the first time in their
new home She had looked forward
with much pleasure to this event. and
thought with a touch of pride how
Mrs. Warren would compliment her on
the haven of delight that she and
Bruce had created for their home
But what a bitter disappointment it
had been to- her as she stood by and
heard Bruce, in answer to the many
plea SAINT exclamatiOnS from the guests,
as they viewed the furnishings, as
sumo the credit to himself, in pro-
prietary manner, with not one word of
praise for herself. The realization of
this trait in Eruce had spoilt her eve
ming, and she was unable to be the
gay. Hght-hearted girl they nao al
ways known.
After the guests had departed Bruce
had asked her what was wrong; but
her efforts at an explanation only
aroused in him a feeling OF resent
ment. Her gentle remonstrance at his
persistently ignoring her. not only in
the selection of the household furnish
.ings but their arrangement as Weh'
had brought forth from him his dec-
laration that he was master OF MS
home.
She realized the futility of further
discussion of this subject with Bruce,
because she knew him to be too posi-
tive in his ideas. She thought over
all this, carefully, and made up her
mind to change things. Yes. she
would begin right now. She called her
mother on the phone and asked her TO
go shopping with her.
Helen bought new silk covers for the
round cushions, new curtains for the
windows and a beautiful rich brown
cover for the library table. she had
wanted those things in the l1vlng
room, when she was first married.
Well. now she was going to have them.
Mother had always selected these
things at home. other women
planned the arrangement OF their
homes So would she.
After they had tea, she left her
mother and went home. Hurrledly
slipping into her large blue glngham
apron, she went to work. First. she
took down the curtains in the living
room. Mrs. O'Brien had cleaned the
windows just two days ago, SO she
could now put up the new curtains
Then she opened her packages.
what beautiful, rich golden
brown." she thought as she held the
curtains up to admire them. And
how we'll they looked with the brown
rug." Soon the room took on new
pretty effect. True. the curtains and
other things that Bruce had bought
were lovely, but they were not just
what Helen had wanted; and then,
she must show Bruce that she, too.
could plan and furnish room with
excellent taste, and that it was her
right.
Her work completed, she found 1t
would be little more than an hour
before Bruce would be home She
would have plenty of time to dress
and read awhile before starting to
prepare dinner. She had just been
in the sun parlor a few minutes try
ing to become interested in late
novel when Bruce arrived. She saw
him coming up the walk, carrying
square white. box under one arm and
a long box in his other hand. Flow
ers and candy" thought Helen. This
had happened once before, when
Bruce left the house in a bad humor
after breakfast, because Helen had
served bacon with their eggs. and
Bruce did not eat pork Gin any way,
shape or FORM" Flowers and candy
were his peace offering. which should
cover any breach. Well, he must
learn differently. She usually ran to
the door to meet him. but today she
pretended to be reading.
Bruce entered the house and. plac-
ing his ma CkaceS on the table. he went
to her quickly.
Helen. dear" he began, At want
to talk to you. 1t is about last
night"
Helen gazed at him in surprise.
Why, what did it mean? This peni-
tent tone from Bruce. And he had
never before said he was sorry. Per-
haps she had been too hasty about
buying the new things for the living
room.
"Oh, Bruce. wait! I want to tell
you about this afternoon. L"
She was interrupted by Bruce. 81
have been selfish cad. / know how
you must feel about my selecting
everything for our home, and trying
to supervise their arrangement. But
I must tell you how I came to realize
this. This morning going to town Mrs
Warren and Mrs. Travers got on at
Homewood. They took the seat right
back of me. At first I did not recog-
nlze their Nolces' tilen tieS AieAtioheo
your name" Bruce paused, made an
other effort, then went on. Mrs
Warren was saying some nice things
about you. when Mrs. Travers re-
marked What a pity she allows her
young husband to run everything.
Why. when you asked her where she
bought her pretty cushions and the
reading lamp. she looked confusedly
at her husband and he had to answer.
should hate to think that 1 would
ever become nonentity in my home
I wonder how such men would feel
if their wives interfered in their busi-
ness? /. well. was furious. I
couldn't stand to hear any more, but
when I got to the office and thought