The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-04
Epening Story
Yellow Dog Stuff.
BY DORA NOLAN.

lar trimming room of the Kareful-Fit
Corset company that Mrs. Ludden has
been the forewoman of that depart
. ment since some time in the dark
ages, and that she is the sole support
of an invalid husband of whom she
never speaks. Anyway Sadie Carson,
who has worked in the trimming room
for five years, had it from a. girl whose
employment antedated Sarah's by
three years, and that girl had it from
some one else.
Mrs. Ludden is a small woman with
gray hair and gold-rimmed eyeglasses
which she always removes when she
has something to say. She held them
in her hand for fully two minutes on
the day Ethelwyn Smith announced
her engagement to Michael Daily, pre-
vented from making herself heard by
the surprised CALCULATIONS ocoasioned
by the size of the solitaire which
blazed in it's platinum setting on
Ethelwyn's left hand
When Mrs. Ludden at last did sue
coed her thin, gentle voice spoke the
words which have also become a ira
dition in the five-dollar trimming
room. Sadie Carson had it from the
girl before her time, and she, ditto,
from some one else, that upon a like
occasion Mrs. Ludden always put the
same question, II hope you are mar
rying for love. Miss Smith,"
Ethelwyn Smith was dark-haired,
dark eyed beauty who believed in EN-
phasizing her own good points. To
this end she peneiled her black eye
brows. rouged her pink cheeks and
powdered literally the white skin of
her throat. Ethelwyn's reply to Mrs.
Ludden's query brought forth louder
and more startled "Oh's" and "Ah's"
from the group of girls clustered
around her and caused that lady to
replace her eyeglasses with jerk.
NO" replied Ethelwyn, 'I don't
love Michael DAILY, and what's more, I
don't believe in this love stuff at all!
Most women get married like they
were walking in their sleep. and when
they wake up and find out the truth
about what they got, they stick to him
like the man that owns a yellow dog
and folks call that lovei He may be
a NUT and not good for much, and his
owner knows it, but he won't let any
one else say sol" Ethelwyn paused for
breath, then continued:
I'm marrying with my eyes open.
Mike Days a structural iron worker,
and he earns the most money of any
man I know. and he's the best spender
and the best locker, and I won't ever
have to make any apologies for him
no yellow dog stuff for mel"
The girls listened wide eyed and
open mouthed. Mrs Ludden's lips
tho she were in pain, but when she
opened them and removed her eye
glasses it was only to call her force
to work.
1t was piece work in the trimming
department, and Mrs. Ludden did not
encourage conversation. Ethelwyn only
came in afternoons, for she boosted.
PA won't take any board from me
and I only work to earn my clothes"
Ethelwyn's clothes testified to the fact
that she was a rapid worker, and the
sparkle of her engagement diamond
that afternoon Seemed to fill the room
with its -brillianey and the heart of
every girl with envy.
Michael Daily was all his fiancee
had claimed for him-a tall, power
fully built young man, with wiry
brown hair. which was in a continual
state of standing on end as tho pro-
testing with horror of the dangerous
attitudes into which it was daily
borne. He was waiting outside that
night for Ethelwyn, and shook the
hand of each girl heartily as she Of
fered her concentrations.
1t is to be feared that the sight of
him did not lessen the envy which the
diamond bad oceasioned. Only Mrs.
Ludden was free from it, for strange
Lly enough she envied no one in this
whole world as she hurried home to
shrunken figure watching from his
chair by the window for the big event
of his day.
1t was a week later that Sadie Car
son burst into the trimming room one
morning all out of breath bringing
self as I was coming by that new
building down to the corner of Jasper
street. There was a crash, and
looked and seen him lying there, all
twisted up with a great piece of iron
across his legs, and it was Mike Daily.
knew right off, because his hair
stood UP SO straight-and doctor
came, and an ambulance came and
took him sway"
''well, pity hin-ff he lives. That's
all I got to say. Ethelwyn Smith'n
chuck him over now like--like yell
low dogi" Jenny Simss harsh voice
broke the silence which followed
Sadies spasmodic tale.
Jennie Sims, with her scrawny fig
ure and sour disposition, was never a
favorite. Now she was given the cold
shoulder while words of pity for Mike
DAILY and Ethelwyn were exchanged.
Mrs. Ludden said nothing. but her lips
contracted in a straight line
And that night she fastened home,
even faster than usual, to the helpless
figure waiting in the armchair by the
window as tho by an excess of de-
votion in her own case she could
somehow make up fer the lack of it
| elsewhere.
Mikes fall and its consequences be-
came the chief topic of conversation in
the five dollar trimming room of the
Kareful-Fit Corset Company. The
newspaper accounts were eagerly fol-
lowed and when it was stated that
one of Mikes feet had been ampu-
tated, consultation was held among
the girls as to whether they should ex-
tend their sympathy to Ethlwyn. But
doubtful as to how she had taken the
news, they Clipped in out of their
earnings-all of them but Jennie-and
sent flowers to Mike instead.
AS the trimming room was settling
down to work one morning couple
| of days later, still discussing whether
| Ethelwyn would OF would not stick to
her engagement. Ethelwyn herself
walked in. There was no rouge on
her pale cheeks and no powder on her
white throat. There was ne ring en-
her left hand to arouse envy in the
heart of any one. Quietly she re-
moved her hat and coat while the girls
! seemed each one to be waiting for an