Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-18
downright. 1918. by W. Werner,

|
Marian packed methodically. Her hand
some face and luminous dark eyes were
as calm as usual 1t had taken her a
| long time to decide that life with Tom
was absolutely unbearable. There had
been days of bitter hate and nights when
she had lain sleepless through the long
hours, trying to make excuses for him;
| not crying-she was not the crying sort
but drawing her breath in little dry sohs.
She should have known that they We're
| utterly uncongenial. Every one had ex-
claimed in establishment when their en-
gagement was announced back in the
| home town. You are Numerically I'M
like" old Mrs. Stimson, taking advantage
of a lifelong intimacy, had warned her.
Tom is temperamental Since he paints.
that's the correct term. Although if he
were a lawyer or a bookkeeper," she said
grimly, people would call 1t plain devil
ishness."
Marian had smiled calmly. She did not
care to explain for the deectation of the
entire town that what she loved in Tom
was hY serratic nature. his gay. even SUI
perficial. character. Perhaps it was the
contrast with her own cool common sense.
Tom needed some one to take care or
him. Marian loved him so that she was
ready TO spend her life giving that care.
But down below the intense love lurked
the consciousness that Tom was very
lucky man to get so agreeable care
taker Marian had not lived twenty-five
years in town where her father was
the leading banker and most influential
citizen without being comfortably aware
of her own value.
She knew that her eyes were charming.
her face and form desirable, her fathers
money good thing. Tom was poor-wlth
prospects, of course, and talent. He
needed the right woman to focus those
prospects and talents; and Marian was
lovingly and complacently sure that she
was the right woman.
They had gone to the city Immediately
to live. The small apartment had been
charmingly furnished with the wedding
presents. Marian had hosts Of friends.
and they all remembered her with cut
glass, napery and silver. Her father was
very generous in the matter of solid ma
hogany. Tom was handsome and happy.
and Marian settled down for a life of de-
ligtful content. Toms studio was at the
top of big building across the street.
Everything ran smoothly for three
months; then Tom didn't come home for
dinner. He telephoned that an old friend
after midnight, and Marian was silently
resentful for a week. Marian never
nagged She had the worse habit of look
ing at one with somber eyes, and keeping
sulked, then apologiZed But she was OBJ
durate and kept up the silent reproyal
until she felt that he had neen properly
punished; then she unbent and was
gracious again.
Tom didn't seem very grateful. Pres
emily the affair was repeated. and again
Unless she was smiling, Marian's beauty
was rather austere. Happening to glance
| in q mirror while she was frOWning over
Tom-this was nearly a year after their
l W. do chn no hny iod of
| the sharp, repellent face that she saw.
And Immediately she became more bitter.
| Tom was making her lose her looks; Tom
was running her disposition, all because
he must periodically indulge in good
| time.
| So she decided to go back to her father
| and mother, who would condole with her
and berate Tom. Her father had shaken
his head gravely when she first announced
| that she and Tom loved each other. A
| little sob rose in her throat as she re-
| f1ected how sagaciouS her father had
| been. II only she had let him advise her
| she would be back home, and Tom would
| be still drifting about the world, with no
one to care how many good times he
had.
1t gave her pleasure to think how I'M
comfortable Tom would be without her
| Tom said that no one could make coffee
| quite the same as she could. Tom never
| had to look for his clothes since she
| married him. She got them out and put
| them away; she kept them nicely mended !;
| she saw that he always had his favorite
| magazines at hand; she cooked just what
| he wanted; she found out his tastes be-
fore she canned fruit. A sob swelled again
| in her throat. She had been all that any
| husband could ask
Tom listened quietly when she told him
| that she was going home the next day.
How long will you be gomez" he asked.
casually turning to the next page of the
evening paper.
Il am not coming back at ALL she
snapped. Il don't think that you will
| care. You've been home only three even
ings this week.
-Four he corrected And you are