The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-22
Married Life
the Second Year
By MABEL HERBERT URNER.
Monday, Oct. %

Monday, Oct. %.
Dear Mother:
You write that my last letters have
been merely notes about Winifred and
the apartment, and that it has been
months since | have written anything
about Warren or myself. And you
fear things are drifting back to where
they were before I came home to you
last spring.
That is true | have not told you be-
cause it could do no good But it seems
TO me that every day we are growing
farther and farther apart. For few
months after he brought me back he
tried to be gentle and considerate. But
gradually he returned to his old hab-
its-of GOODNESS and irritation.
1t has been days since he has given
me a voluntary caress, and he only
tolerates mine. Sometimes | wonder II
he loves me at all
But there is no one else-of that
am sure, Always | hug that thought
and try to comfort myself with it. If
he does not love me, at least it is not
because he loves any one else. He is
absolutely true to me and | believe he
always will be.
When | think OF how many hus-
bands are affectiOnate to their wives,
and yet unfaithful to them-I wonder
which is the better way. | wonder If
those wives would not gladly change
with me. if they would not prefer the
i1oyalty OF their husbands to any pro-
testatfons Of love.
suppose it is WaUren's nature to be
cold, just as it is mine to be affection
ate. And | am trying to become recon-
ciled to that. But his irritabiltty Is
very hard to bear It seems to me that
I spend most of my time trying to ap-
pease him to keep him from being
annoyed at some trivial thing or from
being angry with me.
It is a pitiful commentary on Mar
rxied Lie that a wife must be con-
stantIy straining to keep her husband
in good humor and yet that is what It
has come to.
Mother, sometimes I wonder If we
have reached this stage IN two years.
what it will be in Ave or ten? Do you
suppose the time Will come when we
will not be together. Oh, I'm afraid of
what the future may hold. II there
was only something to look forward
to, something which might happen.
which would bring up nearer together!
Before Winifred came I thought that
would-and it did for while. For a
few months we were very, very happy.
But it did not last, and now If there
should be another child it would be
the same way. 1t might bring up to-
gether for a while, but I know he
would soon drift back again.
And then when l was so desperately
i'll at home this spring, and father had
that long talk with Warren, I thought
that would help-but you see it didn't
last That is the desperate part of it
all. Even though something may hap
pen which might bring him nearer for
a time-it would nto last. He would
soon drift back to his GOODNESS and ir-
ritability.
make their children fill their lives
When they give up hoping for the af-
lection they want in their husbands,
they try to satisfy themselves with
their Children's love. Perhaps in time
! can do this, but | cannot now. I love
Winifred, but she does not fill my life
] want the love of my husband, and it
seems to me nothing in the world will
compensate for the
WARREN RETURNS.
There was sudden sound in the
hall. Helen looked up startled. Surely
it could not be Warren. 1t was not yet
four!
She ran to the door Warren stood
with his back to her, putting his
gloves in the pocket of his overcoat,
which he had just hung on the hall
rack.
Why, Warren, has anything hap
pened?"
Happened? Can't a man come home
when he wants to without anything
happenings"
why. yes. of course. dear, but you
never come home so early"
We'll, I've got a ripping headache
today. and | stood it down there at the
office about as long as | could"
ooh dear, I'm so sorry! Can't I do
some thing for it?'
Now, I don't want to be fused over
7 just want to lie down and sleep If
can"
Don't you want me to fix the bed
or would you rather lie down on the
couch?"
III lie on the couch in the front
room. Pull the shades down in there.
and stuff something in that blamed tel
ephone so it won't ring about the time
Il get to Sleep
Helen darkened the front room,
took the uncomfortable velvet sofa
cushions off the couch, and put in their
place a cool linen pillow from the bed
room.
Warren. who had gotten into his
smoking jacket and slippers. now laid
down and she covered him with a
steamer rug.
"Oh, | don't want that thing"
throwing it off It's too hot and
woody"
Then I'll get something lighter"