The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-16
BY JEROME spRAGUE.

opyright. 1912. by the Associated

+ tIopyr1sht, 1919, by the Associated
Literary Prcss.)
Don't tell mother" Marcia SAX
tensely. but I'm not going back
Constance ooked at her in amaze
sfeeF4t. :. yestt.He faet--seifr back . $ he
gasped.
I'm tired of it all, and I've told
Phil"
How could your her sister de-
manded. HE loves you, Marcia"
''Oh. / know 1t. but love isn't every
thing, Connie. / thought SO when
married Phil, and wenr up there In
the lumber regions and tried to iiY3
his life And you know rye tried 10
/ be happy, but I'm not used 10 that
sort OF thing. and every time came
| back home to live in the midst ef the
/ beauty that surrounded nia wsnTe /
was a girl-and saw you with your
| lovely r7lings~~-why ! was wild with
envy. and 1t wasn't little feeling
or mean feeling. 1t was just that
can't live where everything Is rude
and rough. And as for haby~-you
know how l want her to have every
thing that life can give her, and she
cannot up there.
but how could you tell. Phil?
What did he say
"He--he didn't say much. He Just
I looked at me In puzzled way and
asked, Aren't you happy and said
! No. but 1t isn't your fault. It's only
because I'm difrerent-~and there's
nothing here to do Then ho asked.
What do you do In the cig?' and
said. oh, there are the shops, and the
! theatres. and the bridge parties-and
pretty clothes and he said. I can't
give you such things. OF. course,
can't keep you IL you want to so.
and 80 / came. And mother thinks
! IT'S just for visit"
1 "Oh," Constance cried, how can
YOU do such thing. Marcia"
Because" Marcia painted. because
know what life up there means You
don't or course. Phil In a lawyer.
but his clients are all the men who
work in the forests, and the women
why they are the wives OF those meft~--
and there isn't anything to do, and
Won't go back-so don't ask me, Cen
nie--don't ask me-
/ II won't" said Connie. gently. hut
| II YOU knew, Marcia. how I have en-
WED you. You have all OF the things
that T want haven't husband
who loves me heart and soul: instead.
/ / have n memory of man who 1iitea
t r,e~-T haven't child to make nay
/ life full OF interest. I have only the
/ thollowness OF excitement that have
lost their powers to please
Marcia bent to kiss her sister
| cheek. Poor Connie" she said. Il
| know I seem heartless--out lie mere
seems so good to me
For two months Marcia lived n a
! vhirl. Her mother. joyous TT having
possession for little while Of her
youngest girl, loaded her with gifts
and Marcia appeared at garden par
ties and tennis events. and golf tour
naments. ROBBED exQuisitely in rose
color or in white.
She dressed Baby Margaret like
coll ard took her with her. To-
rether they were petted and praised.
land II we're mp there with Phu.-
Harcss. @alti stssa Connie. II shnnld nave,
spent this summer listening to the
frogs croak and the chickens sing,
You would have shared PhiFs
hopes and sorrows" said Connie.
ooh. Marcia. isn't he roneiy'
He doesn't say So said Marcia.
evasively.
Two weeks later Phil came down to
fetch his wife.
You are coming homo with me.
Marcia" he said.
WHY" She looked at him in sur
prise. II thought you knew l wasn't
coming any mere -
That is what you said. and
thought ! might let you nave your
way. But-~I'm not going to let you
take your life In your hands.
promised to love and protect you
My duty to my child places upon me
the same obligation to love and pre-
tect her--I haven't any right as q
husband and father TO let you stay
here"
"Rut I'm not a slave" she pro-
tested Indignantly.
II know" he said, sadly. "and II
you think 1t is easy or that 1t doesn't
hurt my pride to take you back this
way. you are mistaken. But love
must not take account OF pride. And
I love you--Marcia."
IF you loved me-" she said, 'you
would want me to be happy"
He came over and took her hand.
Dear heart" he said, II know you
better than you know yourself. Back
~of all the childish frivolity there's a
woman--the woman l love, and a