The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-12
THE EVENING STORY
His Brothers Wife.
by Belle Maniates. ]

After he had gone Joan stood in the
library, her deep eyes fixed on the third
finger of her left hand. Her breath
was still coming fast between her part
ed lips. They had been engaged only
few days and now it was all ended.
She had brought fnality to the quarrel
by handing him the engagement ring.
A CLINT had leaped angrily into his
blue eyes. He had taken the ring and
had gone without a word. She felt in
tuitively that he would not come back.
The subject of their discussion had
been his Brothers wife. She had been
a nurse when Maurice Fletcher married
her. He was big man In financial
and political circles, and he could have
been in society-in fact he had been
until he married Helen Saunders. She
was a nobody In the eyes of F1etcher's
world which she was not invited to
penetrate.
+ Joan had never met Maurice nor his
wife, but she had firmly decided on
her plan IF action when she accepted
Jim, and she explicitly stated to him
that his sister-in-law must expect only
ordinary civilities from her.
MY friends don't receive her, Jim,
and 1 am not going to see more Of her
than L actually have to-
''Why?" he asked in so guarded a
tone that she did not guess the feelings
1t smothered.
IT am not so snobbish, Jim. as to
mind her having worked for her liv-
ing. It's commendable and all that, but
Jim-you must know that she was
talked about
"And wrongly" he cried, the anger
she had never seen displayed by him
row thoroughly reused "She's a no.
BILE. sweet, womanly woman. II she
were not, I would still ask you to be
rice to her because she IS Maurice'S
wife, and he and are very near to
each other, but 1 can ask you to do so
because she is a lovely woman, and I
am very fond of her. Maybe when I
tell you why
IT don't care to hear any more about
her." she said, growing pale in open
anger.
And on a fierce, uncomfortable i'm
pulse she handed him the ring.
The next day she learned that he had
left the city indefinitely. She suffered
all the pangs of repentance and re-
morse. Still she did not write to him.
She had another plan. Instead of go
ing to their summer home on the coslst
she went to a quiet, little place among
the hills where a maiden aunt dwelt
Aunt Rachel" she asked soon after
her arrival. who lives in that new
house above here-the one that is built
on the plan of Normandy CASTER"
Its the new summer home of Mr.
and Mrs Maurice Fletcher. Don't you
know them?''
1T know their brother Jim she said
tentatively.
The next afternoon she walked down
tho road that coiled through the woods
of oak and pine. Presently she heard
whirrino sound, and she stepped out
of the road as big car came slowly
around the curve. In the tonneau sat
a woman young and fair, with deli
cate wild-rose beauty.
She looked at Joan with an indefin-
able touch of friendliness and then she
ordered the Chauffeur to stop the car.
''Would you like to ride back to the
village?" she asked in tone of en-
than one knows in the woods
Joan gratefully accepted the invita-
ton These woods always have a
fascination for me-" she observed, "al-
though I haven't been in them since
was a schoolgirl. I am visiting my
aunt, Miss Winslow."
"oh," cried the lady with br>1it
"Joan Randolph"
"And 1 am"
Mrs. Maurice Fletcher" finished
Joan.
Their hands met in greeting.
1--WE have heard so much of you
from Jim, and. may I tell you?. We
were SO sorry that
80 am Ip' confessed Joan in a low
voice, wave of color overspreading
HE was here a day." informed Mrs.
Fletcher. s'on his way west. He told
U.S.
What did he tell you?" asked
Joan, her heart beating in trepidation.
Simply that the engagement was
broken. That was all, but we never
sNo?" conceded Joan.
Il am very fond of him. liked him