The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-12-31

always crush the letters" So she
smoothed it out with a harsh laugh
which sounded curiously strange and
artificial in the still room. And that,
too, was melodramatic, she thought
they always laugh harshly." Oh, why
should she think of such things now
She stopped and picked up the
check from the floor where it had
fallen. She had sent back the other
one. But she dare not send back this.
She needed it too desperately. Della
had to be paid tomorrow and the milk
and ice bill were both overdue.
A sickening sense of her helpless
ness possessed her. She must accept
this check and the letter that ca 70
with teach word of which was Il
lash to her pride and self-respec'
Warren had written her may GU
letters-but never before one Ike this
1t seemed almost as though he had
worded it with the deliberate purpose
of humiliating her as much as he
could.
Was this the fate of other wives
Must they endure such humiliation
simply because they were dependent
upon their husbands for their support
and the support of their child? Did
many men take such brutal advantage
of this dependence as to write such a
letter.
And Helen knew she must answer
this letter. She must acknowledge the
money and the letter with it. And
she would answer it now. To wait
would only make it harder.
Shall l warm up that creamed
n f0~ ~
Della, again coming to the door.
Il don't want any lunch today, De-
liza. And don't interrupt me for a while
now-I've some letters to write"
When Della had gone out grumbling
that people should eat their meals"
Helen sat down at the desk and
wrote.
Dear Warren: 1t isn't good for eth
er of US for you to write me letter
like this. 1t is never good for any one
to be Inundated as much as this hui
initiates me. Such a feeling can't make
happiness. | don't say it has killed my
love for you-it seems nothing can do
that. But if anything could-it would
be this.
The check I must keep because
need it so desperately. You proba bly,
knew that or you wouldn't have sent
it with such letter. And you are
probably right in saying that couldn't
earn my salt. That may be true now
but, Warren, it won't be true long.
am going to learn how to do some
thing which, if need be, can support
myself and Winifred.
Even if l never have to do it, the
knowledge that l can will not only re-
store my self respect, but will make
you respect me more. You would not
have written such letter had | not
been wholly dependent upon you. For
you know me we'll enough to know
that if there was anything I could do
i would not accept this check.
Probably you may call this letter
more heroics,' but | think you will
find it is something even more than
that. And in the meantime, Warren.
don't write me another letter like this
one. will take great deal from you
and | think the past has shown that
But there is a limit to what the most
abject woman will endure from the
man she loyes-so don't make it too
hard.
Winifred is we'll and I am running
things here on just as little money as
/ possibly can. / am working at my
lob" as you so delicately expressed
it, and ] shall not neglect it. But from
now on l am going to prepare myself
in some way to be self-supporting.
And l know that with determination
and untiring courag e-any woman can
learn to do that