The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-18
EUening Story
The Blue Bowl.
BY LILY wANDEL

that she did not fit in and last ana
most of all that Kitty, Jim's wife,
was OF a different social class. Kitty
with her expansive bosom, bad gram
mar, loud voice and booming laugh,
had dragged Jim down to her level.
The whole neighborhood was akin to
Kitty and the house and children
belonged specifically to her. The
green and red rope portieres and
fIowered carpet told that. q
Even the warm spring sunshine
failed to penetrate that numb feel
ing of despair that settled on Iris as
she lay, pale and weak, bundled up
in an old steamer chair in the back
yard. 1t would be months before she
apd@ earn her living again, many
months, and perhaps she would never
be able to fill her old position again.
She had no money, no home, except
this of Kittys. Iris could not call it
Jim's.
To have come for a weekend visit,
the very first since Jim had married,
to be taken violently i'll, to lie weeks
In Kitty's guest room with its pink
and green wall paper-that had been
her fate. She congratulated herself
that she had been able to keep Jim
from knowing, knowing how she
ionged to get away, how everything,
most of all Kitty, had made her feel
Oul Ol PLdCCs 0CSpCIdICfy unhappy
DR.. Bowen had understood That
had been the one crumb of comfort,
an embarrassing crEmb, that was de-
MED her now. for old DR.. Wells was
back again and his young assistant
was released from the case.
Iris stirred restlessly under Jim's
old steamer rug that Kitty had tuck
ed around her. Why did DR.. Bowen's
not coming affect her so much? Was
it because he was the only link to the
other world, her world OF so-called
nice people and refinement, that was
left her? Even in her position in the
city there had been constant
struggle to keep above the surging
mass that seemed almost to sweep
her off her feet and with them-a
constant practicing fof self control,
not to enjoy their company, rather to
be lonely at times than lose her foot
ing in the certain circle 70 which her
family had always belonged. Jim had
stepped off that rung in the social
ladder when he married Kitty and.
lazily enjoyed the security and i'm
portance of his new position.
Kitty, red-faced, came from the
kitchen with an immense basket of
wet clothes and Iris hastily closed
her eyes to avoid talking. She shiv-
rent the air in conversation with a
neighbor, crushed her fingers in the
palms of her hands when her name
was mentioned, her physical condi-
ton discussed
shes asleep over there" Kitty
'lookin' mighty peaked. What she
needs is cheerin' up, Sam, she's too
down-hearted, never talkin'. Wait
till I get this wash done. I'm going
to bake some lemon pies that'll make
an undertaken smile!" And her loud
laugh made Iris cringe. What would
this indiscrininating Kitty tell Sam
Moore next, this man who was ever
lAstingly leaning over the fence talk
ing with Jim or Kitty?
Something made Fer open her eyes.
DIR. Bowen was coming across the
lawn. Her heart began to pound
and she was suddenly painfully con-
scious of the wretched bathrobe Kit
ty had enveloped her in, and of Jim's
old cap Kitty had pressed on her
head. She heard him explain to Kit
ty that he had just dropped in un-
professionally to see how Miss Long
when Kittys voice responded heart
lily, "Just the thing; go cheer her up,
doctor, there's a camp chair, and
make her laugh, that's what she
needs!"
He came over to the convalescent.
drew the camp chair close to her
steamer chair.
"You are not getting we'll as fast
as you might" he was saying in low
grave tones. Somewhere else an
other environment more suited to !
you," he ventured and stopped.
TT is impossible she answered |
quickly and then blushed, "you must |
have realized that I am penniless-l
With a swift movement he caught |
her hand. cold trembling one. Iris, |
noticed everything! I know how |
all this''-he touched the old rug and
nodded toward the flapping clothes
'is repugnant to you, how that your
reacts on your nervous |
system, Iris! Didn't you feel that |
I understood? That I knew you be-
Ionged in a different place among
different people? Dear, it hurts me
TO see you in that old cap just as
Il makes me wretched to think of |
that Kitty administering to your |
needs. Iris, let me take you away.
My mothers home is beautiful, of
such Iavishness and Iuxuries that
you will realize only when you are
here what a hovel this has been!
Iris, look at me, you do care for
me you DO? You will get well at
nother's and then we will be mar
He'd. You will forget all this. You
belong in the environment can give
1oui Dear, tomorrow is your birth
lay, is it not? Let me send you
will make it possible for you tot
come and then in a day or two I
will take you in my car. Iris. 1 love
7ou!"
F1er Dlu6 eyes opened Wlde, nalI
With delight and rapture. half with
He spoke a long time,
out in the end she told him that she
must consider. She wanted q days
grace. Then she would give him her
answer.
1t was her birthday. Kitty gave
her a vivid, flowered kimona and
.wo substantial muslin nightdresses,
Ind Jim slipped a ten-dollar bill in
her unwilling fingers. II was all SO
did not belong there.
1t was sunshiney but cooler than the
lay before, and Kitty added q hot
water bag to the steamer rug and
hen came rushing out again with
huge box. 1t was from DR.. Bowen,
hings for the stay at his mothers,
wonderful things that he would not !
have to be ashamed of that would