Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-20
Chapter XIV.


come the business man. and Joe would
come home humbly and ask my pardon for
judging me so harshly. For 1 had not yet
reached the point where could understand
that love gives all, asking nothing in re-
turn; nor yet feel that had Systematically
dec eived my husband in order to gain my
own way.
But night came and no word from Philip.
1 grew nervous, and lay awake, tossing on
my pillow half the night. And then began
again to pity myself l recalled how Joe
had opposed my joining the Nota Bene, and
how he had from the beginning sneered at
the aims and accomplishments or all
clubs; how vigorously he had denounced
club leaders, although he hungered In his
secret soul for place in society. Ana hao
not l. by sheer force of my own achieve
ments and my own personal charms, gone
fl ON round to round of the club ladder,
until now l was on almost the top rung
Had not forced an entry into the very So
ciety he coveted? Had l not position Sc
cure enough, even, to take him also. If he
would but conduct himself meekly and sub
NIT to be led? And then l laughed. alone
there in the quiet of the night, at the idea
of Joe's being led by anybody; and thrill
of pride went over me as l dwelt for a
moment on his strong, sturdy, Independent
character and reflected that 1t takes a
man of brains and tremendous will power
to come up from the ranks of poor boys
to the head of so large business as was
now represented by Joseph Henning d
Company For now we had plenty of mon
ey to support any social position l might
achieve; and yet, of what use was it with
out Joe?
In the morning 1 dressed and went down
town. No word had come from Philip, and
l drove to the rectory.
Dear Philip is in his study this morn
ing" said his wife. "He is rather over
worked, and l have given strict orders not
to have him disturbed"
But he would see me-, l persisted. Il
must consult with him for a moment
"Oh, he would any one and every one,
If I would let him. she replied. But,
really. Mrs. Henning, you must see how
in portant it is that the man should have
some quiet Still. if it is absolutely neces-
sary-or. why cannot | send him round to
call on you when his work is done?' she
added with sudden generosity. Why can
We not both run over to luncheon-qute in
formally, you know?
This was not at all what l wanted, but l
was obliged to put up with it, hoping for
private word with Philip But no such OPP
portunity came, and the quiet luncheon left
me more impatient with him and my own
position than ever. When they had gone
sat down and wrote him note asking if he
had seen my husband. A reply came
promptly the next morning.
Dear Jackie" it said, II have not been
to see Joe yet. 1 fear Lily is right when
she says it is a serious thing to interfere
between husband and wife or to intercede
with either. Still, if you insist l will make
it a point to see Joe today. PHIL"
answered the note at once, sending my
reply by messenger boy.
Dear Philip" l said. Il do insist. See
Joe today and let I.ily's scruples take care
of themselves. I shall be at home at l.
Report to me at that hour. JACKIE"
Rather imperious.' l said to myself as
l read it over. when one remembers that
he is the one man in Chicago most in de
mand at afternoon functions. But it will
bring him to terms. And it did.
He came at four.
Yes, I've seen him." he said rather
sloomily in reply to my question. Joe is
very angry, Jackie
Il need hardly to be told of that l an
swered. What did he say? Is he willing
to be forgiven
"If the truth must be told" said Philip.
II hardly think 1T has occurred to him that
he needs forgiveness. And 1 did not sug-
gest it, he added.
But why?' 1 added Think how he has
misunderstood and wronged me- He left
me, Philip, not 1 him.
Yes, but under just provocation," he
answered.
"Philr'
yes, I must say it, Jackie You have
behaved shamefully with the count. You
know l warned you. And even after your
husbands return, you received the French
man. Joe will, I think, listen to your ex-
PLANTATION and allow you to apologize to
him, but he will never live with you again
unless you positively swear and sign a
solemn contract that you will give up club
work and attend to your children and your
home. And I think he IS right, Jackie"
Phil L managed to gasp.
Yes, l do" he went on mercilesslv.
You have, as he says, deceived him from
the beginning. 1 did not understand this
when [ advised you to go on with YOUR
cyb work. You never told me his IS side OF Of
the case. woman has no right to pursue
her club life to such lengths as you have
done. And now. Jackie, take my advice
Resign from the Nota Bene, go to Joe and
say, Here am; forgive and take me back
ana III be a better woman Look at Lily
for example. She has this very day
written her letter of resignation to the Nota
Rene. She says she cannot be a good wife
and a good club woman at the same time
Do the same thing, jackie
l looked him straight in the face Il
would never be such a coward, Phil" But
he did not comprehend
Then that anonymous letter. On general
principles 1t is not best to notice such
things, but in this your own and your
husbands reputation have been assatled
but you sit calmly by and let it all go as
II your husbands happiness and his honor
were OF no consequence. AS Lily says no
married couple can be happy without per-
feet confidence on both sides. Take NV ad-
vice. Jackie. Put detective on this case
and sift matters to the bottom. Then ex-
pose the man or woman who has been try
Ing to blacken your character"
For moment l could not speak and the
world seemed all In a whirl about me. Then
l laughed, scornfully, hatefully
philip Haven, co. l said at last: land
when want any more of your advice | will
send for you" Then l swept from the room
and upstairs. Remembering reception at
that hour a few blocks away to which had
been invited, l threw on another gown and
hurried away. A brisk walk In the omen air
is one of the best nerve settlers in the world
And no one who saw me in Mrs Fishers
drawing rooms half an hour later would
have dreamed that l was going through a
great Soul-criSiS.
All these weeks party feeling ran high in
the ranks of the Nota Bene Some there
were who admired my courage and were
as forcibly opposed to me and were using
every possible weapon for my defeat. And
as usual there was larger ma jority walt
way the current was to set before deciding
how to vote. Open electioneering and a
flood of circular letters We're resorted to-
plored the state of things and worked for
greater harmony; the younger declared that
the club had degenerated into ward politics
and believed in fighting fire with its own
weapons. Discussion and electioneering were
in the air whenever two or three Nota Bene
members were gathered together. The lad
vertising scrape" of the spring before was
used against me, and the fight became so
bitter that some of the white-hared women
came to me one day and begged me to with
draw my name as candidate for any office
You have had a year of it; last winter