The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1914-12-24

when she married him she had 10
confidently supposed that happiness.
unadutcrated and far reaching, lay
before them. She felt bitterly that he
had deceived her Seven years back
he had given promise Of rising to any
height He was brisk, cheerful
chap confident of his power-so con
fident that she had taken It hard
when she found that confidence was
baseless. For II had proved almost
baSeless. He made enough for them 10
live comfortably, but no more And
Alice did not call II comfort, com
pared with what she had expected
yenrs before.
She dressed for the sOciable.
Though I've worn this dress TIL I'm
ashamed" she commented aloud to
herself And she saw with satisfaction
that Jerry, lounging In the living room
beyond, had heard. The faint flush
that had been In his face since sup.
per deepened to a brick red.
She came ont presently. slim
woman, good looking had II not been
for the frown upon her face. Jerry
did not look up from the book that he
had opened. but he said Carelessly:
Shall ! come after yOup"
Three blocks" scornfully. mo,
thnukE I'm mol afraid"
"DO you want me 10 gn with yOu?"
hesitntinCly. q"
no! Thanks
Again the red deepened. although II
had been deep before. Alice hurried
out and up the street From the
house directly across Mr.. and Mrs.
GraynOr were coming, both dressed
In party clothes. They, too, were goipg
to the social She hurried fnster In
her present angry mood she did not
care 10 talk with them and utter care
less pleasantrles She was In no humOr
to go 10 the sociable at all, but she
had promised TO help wait on the tn
hles. She felt ont Of gear-out Of tune.
She hated Jerry she WAS ashamed Of
dtffNi lie WIS lhlluIt.
We'll, I've done my share" she
muttered bitterly. "Tve talked and
naggcd and tried to force him into sue
cess. Now | give up"
And then at the steps Of the church
she forced smile TO her frownlng
face aud murmured TO the Wlbys that
II was indeed Il lovely evening, and
Of course they would take In enough
money this evening TO pay for new
carpet for the church Mrs. Wllby was
garruous old lady, whose thoughts
aud talk began and ended with ner
beloved church and that church's mem
bers. Alice got away from her AZ
soon ~ they entered and busied her
self In slicing cake and arranging
sandwiches II was relief 10 her 10
work hard all evening, although some
uf the women complained.
| II was nearly IL o'clock before she
got herself sandwich and piece
OF cake and sat down TO eat them.
She took pains to find chair half
concealed By n post and a palm. She
did not want to talk. At least twenty
people 50 far had asked why Jerry
had not come. She felt that she
would scream II she again had to
murmur politely, Jerry was tired
he's been working hard lately And
by some unexplained mental process
each repetition had increased ner
anger at Jerry.
so Il happened that old Mrs. Wilby
and Mrs, Gray did not zee her a. they
took seats few feet away from the
post and proceeded TO count NJ the
evenings receipts. In counting they
commented upon the various people
who had helped swell those receipts
II was not unkindly gossip. Alice
certainly IL a good worker" sighed
Mrs. Wilby ny she jlngled handful
Of quarters.
Better than her husband" said
Mrs. Gray with gentle laugh.
somehow he doesn't get ahead"
speculatively. Il feel sorry FOR Alice"
do your There was a peculiar
tone In old Mrs why's voice. Alice,
drawn into listening against her will,
wondered at II. What did she mean
Don't your mrprisedly asked the
other.
"Not very much" said Mrs willy.
II feel sorry for Jerry, II he'd half
chance he'd pluck up spirit and
amount to something. But some
times I'm afraid she's nagged all the
spirit out Of him saw him yester.
day. and | didn't like that apologetic,
sort Of hangtiog air he's taken to
wearing. Il notice those that wear n
never do amount to much. I've sort
Of figured out that they vast half OF
their brains figuring out excuses
and explanations and apologies Ia
present st home, and w they have
only half-brains 10 put into their
work. How much have you goi
therel Nine dollarsl Dear me.
really thought we'd have more than
this" hurriedly. And from force
of habit Mrs. wilby's wrinkled hand
fumbled at her purse TO make up Oh,
deficit.
When they had gone Alice set down
her meaten sandwich and put asIds
the untouched cup of coffee Her fsrs
was white and startled Present.,
she slipped out and went home.
/ qha ant.,...d fha honaa ..fii,f -.