The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-15
Helen Hunters
Husband
JACK TAKES THE BIT IN HIS
TEETH FOR ONCE.
BY JANE PHELPS


Jack Hunter paid no visible atten-
! ton to Helen's complaint about what
her mother would do could she know
| how terribly he treated her daughter.
To tell the truth, Jack had become
pretty well hardened to what mother
would do under almost any circum-
stance He took a book and COM
menced to read.
Aren't you going to help me clean
up?' Helen asked after a moment.
Not tonight. There's only the
breakfast dishes. 1 see you didn't
worry to get out fresh ones for your
dinner"
Dinner! Pve had no dinner! There
was nothing in the house to eat
That's up to you"
up to mel You know I have no
money. 1 told you 1 hadn't. And 1
didn't wake up until o'clock" Then,
seeing that Jack had no disposition to
talk with her, she added, 81 couldn't
telephone then, the markets were all
closed. It's just like a man to go out
and get what he wants whether any
I-Nne else has anything or -not!''
Yes, some men-all perhaps under
provocation." Jacks even tone was
maddening to the angry woman.
"Provocation! It's I that had it. not
you'll Why, my friends would think
you terrible if they Knew"
'Yes?" he went on reading.
"Mother--''
why not let her rest in peace, and talk
of the living? See here, Helen, I'm
about as tired as man can be-.
worked all night, left the house clean,
and all the dishes cleaned up for you.
I come home to find you still in bed,
and even the few breakfast things on
the table. 1 can't see what you are
thinking of; such work belongs to a
woman, and every wife who wants
really cares to help her husband
does it gladly. All day have chased
around and have accomplished moth
ing, partly because I was too tired, too
worried to be convincing. 1 shall read
half an hour-if you will let me-then
go to bed
Don't be such crouch! I'm sure
you could have insured someone if you
had tried. You doRt need to Blame
me for iti' 2e
A silence ensued. Then 10 sls~
There's an awfuily good movie at
the Castle. I wanted YOU to take me -
Jack made no answer.
Did you hear?" Helen asked.
Certainly! I'm not deaf He
turned a page.
Il said I wanted you to take me to
the movie. We've just time to get
there before the second show
do hurry, Jack" she pinned on
her hat which she had tossed on a
chair when she sat down to eat.
I'm not going out
please go, Jacki You never take
me anywhere, and everyone is talking
about that picture"
", and Helen, 1 said 1 wanted to
read"
What I want never seems to count
with you-not any more"
'Perhaps-when you are unreason-
able"
or, MT ,,ora,so1aI1o rro ~,o,,,,-r
and like COED time"
You have slept part of the might
and nearly all day. I have not closed
my eyes for "a hours. 1 certainly
shall not go to a picture show. 1
see you are determined I shan't read,
so good night, Pm going to turn in"
'I'll go by myself"
VERY Well.''
You'll have to give me some
money"
"I have none for you. 1t will be
hard work to pay the bills you have
business soon I don't see how I ever
can pay them. I don't spend an
other cent for pleasure until we get
cleaned up. You'll have to be sat
isfied with your party
Helen commenced to cry-not loud
ly, but in that sobbing. tantalizing
way that is worse. Jack figeted
Finally he got up and went into the
bedroom and closed the door,
Helen stopped crying. Jack hadn't
even tried to comfort her. He didn't
love her any more. So she said to
herself. Then sne went Hp to Mrs.
Layton's. She wasn't sleepy if Jack
was So she played bridge until II
o'clock, then came down and went to
bed, determined to make Jack suffer
because Of his actions.
81 shan't kiss him goodbye or any
thing!" she said childishly as she
listened to his heavy breathing, the
breathing of a very tired man.
(TomorroES-Helen is out when Jack
arrives.)