The Washington times., 1909-04-10
The Journal Of a Neglected Wife

Horace noticed at breakfast how pale I
was. and how my hand trembled as 1
held my cup. He said he would stop ar
Mr.. Martins on his way downtown and
have him come to see me. I am afraid
Of DR.. Martins keen eyes, so ] tried to
persuade Horace not to send him. But
he insisted; said I had not looked we'll
for several days. For several days.
Oh. my dear husband. how blind you
have beeni You have not seen that for
months 1 have been sick-sick with a
broken heart, the most horrible sickness
woman can have.
May 18th
DR.. Martin came yesterday L answer
ed his questions vaguely, tried to make
light of it. said I was merely a little
nervous and unstrung But he waived
all my evasions and asked bluntIy.
Mrs. Kennedy, what is worrying
you?"
At that ] bursp into tears-hysterical
tears. I could not help it. He was very
kind. and did not press me with uues-
lions. Perhaps he knew it would be use
less. He left a tonic" and said he
would call again. 1 wonder what he
thinks? He sees so much of life And
yet he has known Horace and me for
so long; there has always been such a
quiet dignity about our home and our
life
For moment the longing TO conhde
IN him was very strong. The relief It
would be to tell some one of this misery
to unburden my heart of 1t all but
afterward, to know that anyone shared
my secret would only deepen my degra-
dation. 1 must go on bearing it alone.
May 31st-
Inls morning I happened to go into
MS room before the maid had straight
ened 1t. He had been shaving; the
door Of bay rum was stil in the room.
Inc bed was just as he had left 1.-THE
covers thrown back, showing the i'm
preston Of where he had lain. I threw
myself down, kissing passionately the
Pillow and the sheet, trying to believe
they still held some of the dear warmth
OF his body. Closer and closer I pressed
my face against the pillow where his
head had been, to which chung the faint
oder of his hair. Oh, how starved I
was for this. How often, when he used
to lie asleep beside me, have crept
nearer to him just to breathe that
fragrance of his hairi
One reads Of the allurements. the SEN
suousness, the intoxication of certain
perfumes ian any distilled manufac-
tured essence be so wonderful as the
faint flesh odors Of the man you love?
When rose from that bed IL was as
though had been drinking wine-some
rare sweet wine that thrilled me through
and through. I caught up his silver
hairbrushes from the chifTonier and
pressed them against my cheek. 7
wanted more-more-to steep myself
deeper in that Intoxicating odor OF him
seIf IT seemed to bring him nearer to
months
And then I moved around the room.
touching everything that belon Eed TO
hiEn-everything seemed charged with
the Wonoer of his personality Later.
Wnen the maid came up, 1 sent her
away. l was filled with an unreasOning
Jealousy, resentment of her intimacy
Win his room, mis- clothes. 1 resolved
that hereafter 1 alone would care Cor
them.
June 2d.
have been looking In the mirror AT
my worn. lined FACE. The tragedy OF |
age for wOmani When the years take
from her youth and beauty why do thew
not take, too. her longing for love? |
why DO they mercilessly leave her with
young heart and faded face?
Continuation of This story VIII he
Found In Sunday Evening Issue
OF The Times.