The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-22

Dy upon n QueS-
tion of which you have not already
heard enough to make you uncom-
Portable. But, child, all l ask is hat
you will trust me until you see reason
for distrust."
/ could hold my peace no longer.
But, father, mother is SO unhappy
Forgive me, but Why do you do the
things she hates to have you do?"
such as what?" he asked gently.
/ stammered and flushed. Il hardly
know what some of them ars," l
admitted confusedly. But l do know
that mother does not like you TO go
to see Mrs. birmingham"
"Why?"
The question staggered me. / did
not know just why. and l spoke timid-
ly. We'll, l think she feels that you
belong to her. that you are married to
her, and that you should give all your
time to her"
She would be bored to death IL l
did" he rejoined.
l shook my head sadly. / was
puzzled and miserable, and went out
OF the room without further COM
ment.
This condition of affairs at home de-
cided me to accept an alluring invita-
ton received the following day. A
girl whom l had known at boarding
school had married a wealthy man and
had a handsome home in New York.
We lived in a suburban town an hour
from the metropolis. Edith Warren
wrote asking me to spend several days
with her, and although, when at school,
she and l had had few tastes in COM
mon, l gladly embraced the oppor-
tunity of getting away from home and
it's problems.
AS l have said before, my mother
was fond of providing pretty clothes
for me, and had always taken a GER
tain pride in my appearance. So,
while my wardrobe was not elaborate,
it was dainty, and l had no need to be
ashamed of my costumes in the midst
of the more elegantly gowned com.
pany in which 1 found myself at the
Warrens'. l recognized at once the
fact that what my hostess called "the
crowd" that frequented her home were
ha Isl NC . AhVuo lASh
set-not the refined kind of persons
whom Ihad met in the limited circle
chosen for me by my parents. Perhaps
because l was unhappy l did not object
to the unconventional manners of
these people. They made me laugh,
they gave me a good time-that was
all l cared about. l met one man
who encouraged me to talk freely to
him when we were alone together.
Gradually he learned that / was not
content at home, although I did not
tell him why. ] acknowledged to him
that of late 1 had been longing to be
independent, to carr my own living,
to come and go freely, as did many
women. He listened with sympathy,
then asked me what / could do. l told
him that all l was fitted for was to be
some sort of a secretary. He sug-
gested that he needed in his office a
person who could write well. Per-
haps if, later, l wanted this position
l would let him know. / was half
frightened at the offer, but promised
to remember 1t. The salary he men
toned took away my breath, but I
tried not to look astonished. / knew
nothing of the remuneration received
by secretaries without experience, so
I expressed no surprise.
On the last night of my visit to
New York we all went to the play.
The piece was a rollicking musical
comedy, and 1 enjoyed 1t thoroughly.
But as we were leaving the theater,
and l was laughing at some witty re-
mark of my escort, the laugh suddenly
died on my lips. In the crowd surg
ing out of the doors in front of us 1
saw my father and with him, chatting
gaily, vas Mrs. birmingham. Even
as l watched l saw father hail a pass
ing cab and help Mrs. birmingham
into it, then get in himself. I was
near enough to hear him name the
restaurant to which he wished to be
driven; 1 heard him call out, Hurry,
for we have a train to make at twelve
thirty"
My mother was excitedly glad to see
me back, but she listened to my &C,
count of my visit with what l saw
was but half-hearted interest. AS
sat in my usual place by her couch
-lOT sue udQ duOLneT neaudCne-
wondered if she suspected that my
father had taken another woman to
the theater and to supper, and had
not reached home until the early
morning hours, while she lay there SUI.
fering with and, perhaps
wondering where he was. / could not
forgive my father this deception. Why
: did people marry, anyhow?
1 had forgotten thus far in my mus
! ings when my mothers sharp tone
startled me from my seeming calm
, ness.
Il have the proof that you asked
for the other night" she said sud
denly. 81 car show you now what
your father is"
l She drew from the pocket Of hel
wrapper a letter addressed to my
father. Pulling 1t from the envelope
7 that held 1t, she read it to me SO rapid
ly that she was halfway through Il
3 before / attempted to check her
Then my protest was in vain, for, with
l a sharp BE quiet!" she continued
t The letter was signed Ida" 1 knew
: that was Mrs. Framingham's frs
name, but l did not know anyone ex
I cept the members of her family called
( her that-least of all my father. II
( began Dear Tom" and said thai
the suggested plan suited her per