The Green Forest tribune., 1910-08-05
A Wife's Devotion.

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 A Wife's Devotion.
 q took him to my home, nursed him. saw that he had the best med ical service and did everything in my power for him. There were even then friends who told me that l was fool ish-that I should not take on myself the responsibility of looking after the man who had treated me as he had done. Bot 1 had felt that it was all part of a Big Scheme, bigger than we could arrange, and against the work ings of which none of us should rebel.
 "But, as my husband lay dying in my apartments, it became evident that, while l was doing everything in my power for him, I was not supply ing him with the one thing that he needed more than all else to ease his last hours. He must have the pres ence of the other Woman.' l deter mined that he should
 My friends were aghast when told them that l was going to send for her It was outrageous, they de clared, for me to allow myself to be so humbled as to permit her to come. They would not permit me to let her come to my home. Very well, then, I thought, there are other ways of ac- complishfng the sacrifice that 1 felt bound to make. l would take my dying husband elsewhere, and there send for the woman whose presence he crayed
 T did so. I removed him to Allan. tic City, and then l sent for her, and she came I brought her myself into his dying bedchamber and l saw them clasping hands. It did not make me unhappy-that is, any unhappier than l already was. In fact, it rather cheered me to think that l had done something which, while it hurt my pride a little, perhaps, was making others less miserable
 Mir Romans died in Atlantic City. She was with him at the time and she was very, very unhappy. l think that her presence in his last hours made it easier for him, but at the same time I know that when he passed away it was with last look toward me, and not to her-there was love and there was gratitude to repay me for everything in that look!
 And then, but not until then, did I feel that l had earned the right to think of that other love which was awaiting me and which l craved so. 1 had no false sentiments about the length of time 1 should wait before allowing myself to become happy in the possession of this love- I had been mourning, you must remember. and l had been practically widow for many, many years. There was no reason why I should prolong it more.
 Entering Into Joy.
 My actual widowhood after MT. Homanss death lasted for only month. My marriage to Doctor Par ker was hastened by his belief, which I shared, that tradition and conven- ton amount to little when the heart dictates that one should go against their tenets; and when he insisted on an immediate marriage 1 yielded Besides, his vacation was about to begin, and he wished to spend it, as he had arranged, in the British Isles, So We were married on June 25 by Rev. George Clarke Houghton in the Little Church Around the Corner, with my dearest friend, Mrs. Mabel Barnes, as matron of honor, and only a few intimate associates in attendance. We sail soon for England, and to me now life is one glow of bright sunshine!
 My meeting with Doctor Parker was, of course, unconventional. My wooing by him was equally uncon- ventional. Everything has been un- conventional perhaps. Why, then, have been asked, did I so wait on con vention as to refuse to obtain a di- vorce and marry my present husband when I might have done so months and months ago? I reply, because it did not seem right. l am governed in everything by that sense of right, and it never fails to make me happy in the long run.
 q believe that there is great hap piness in store for me and my hus- band. l believe so firmly in his fu. ture. He will never be very rich, per- haps, because he is above all things a student, but 1 shall have reason to be proud of his work. He has done some admirable literary work and Is now writing a serious volume which will challenge attention. And, after all faith and love will bring the hap piness which money has never been known to purchase"
 Mrs. Parker is still under forty, possessing more than ordinary beauty and rare gifts, including a delightful voice which has brought her many of- fers for opera. She is not interested in a career for herself, though she Is planning one for her daughter, who, inheriting her mothers vocal gifts, will make her debut this coming fall.
 And there is the story of a woman who had the courage to wait And you see the same thing might happen to any woman or any man. Only how many would have the courage to wait until fate opened the door to happiness?