The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-06

and planned She was convinced that
no matter how her husband and Mrs.
Mayfield might dissemble, the truth
could not be hidden from her. Now
she cursed the clarity of vision and
the relentless logic which were hers.
Now she envied women who did not
know life as she did, who Rugged
their illusions and were happy in their
ignorance.
The picture framed in the open
doorway of the Mayfield home made
her catch her breath. Mrs. Mayfield,
slim, girlish, and clad in clinging
white, leaned back in a great arm
chair applauding Jack, who, with Con-
stance and Ruth clinging to his arms,
came pirouetting down the hall. At
the honk Of the horn they all hur-
ried forward together; but once she
was with them in the softly lighted
reception hall, the joyousness seemed
to die. The children sat demurely on
a high settee. Jack inquired in COM
monplace tones how the car had
worked coming out and in what condi-
ton had she found the roads. Mrs.
Mayfield was conventionally hospit-
able. Had she dined? Would she
have biscuit and glass of wine?
Or cup of tea?
In this harmonious little circle she
struck discordant note. From such
a paradise as this she had barred her.
self forever. Suddenly her superb
strength, her spirit of self-sacriice,
deserted her. She knew only that
she was wretched, faint. The CONVEX
sational ball rolled round her and
past her; she did not offer to pick it
up.
She never remembered just how it
happened; but after what seemed to
her like hours, she found herself up
stairs in dainty blue-and-white bed
room shared by the two little girls.
She stood in the doorway while they
hung over the ballustrade and flung
kisses to her husband on the floor
below. She looked up suddenly to
find Mrs. Mayfield regarding her with
sympathy not unmixed with anxiety.
"Mr. Reed is Sc. kind to my father
less girlies. often fear that they will
tire or bore him"
"Oh, no! He adores children and
they rest him after the days strain
in his Office. I like to see him romp-
ing with them"
Try as she would, she could not
keep the wistful not out of her voice.
1T makes him young and boyish
once more, doesn't it,"
The eyes of the two women met.
Then Mrs. Mayfield spoke slowly, as
if picking her words with infinite care.
Il am so glad that you understand.
For time feared that you might
think
Then, with burst of sincere ad-
miration, she concluded. But of
course you would understand. You
are so clever!"
"Clever!"
Helen pressed her hand against her
throat as if the word hurt.
| Il don't want to be clever. I want
Ito be happy. I want to rest-in a
home like this!"
The children swept their mother
into the bedroom. Helen went down
slowly to join her husband. He
glanced at her sharply.
You look bit tagged, old girl. I
wish you'd stop putting through big
deals in the hot weather"
She reached for his hand, and was
shocked at the hghtness of his an.
swering clasp.
Il have stopped-for the summer
for all time. And oh, Jack, don't
don't call me old girl!'"
The words ended in a choking sob.
Reed turned abruptly and studied his
wife in amazement. She swayed
under the scrutiny, and he steadied
her with the perfunctory gesture
which to the woman, alive to love,
meant nothing.
Jack, don't you understand what /
said? I am tired of it all. I want
a home like other women have. 1 want
little children in my arms. I want to
be your wife-not your pail"
Gradually the words penetrated his
brain. He laid his hands on her
shoulders and looked straight into her
face. That ride through the moon
light had been her hour in Gethse.
name. It's agony had left her features
white and drawn; yet never had she
looked SO lovely to her husband. Her
brow, so long lined by business wor.
ries, had turned smooth. The lines of
shrewdness and alertness had faded
from around her lips, which quivered
appealingly. And in her eyes shone
the light that he had grown to believe
would never flame in them for him
again. But still he did not speak. A
word and the miracle might disappear
A burst of childish laughter swept
down the stairs, and above it rose Mrs.
Mayfeld's voice, sweet and clear.
Children! Children! If you don't
quiet down Mr.. Reed will never come
to see us again"