The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-04-19
BY Virginia Terhune Van dc Water.
CHAPTER VI,

BY Virginia Terhune Van dc Water.
CHAPTER VI.
Copyright 1915, the Star Company
Some students of human nature say
that If people love each other occas-
ional quarrels don't matter much. But
every quarrel trays the cord OF love
little, and even though that cord
be of strong, tightly twisted fibre,
constant friction will weaken It,
John Hamilton and his wife, Isabel,
did not love each other less, perhaps,
because of their bitter words. But
there was a rough place on the silken
cord that had once been entirely
smooth.
Yet when a man and a woman are
married. each must try not to notice
flaws, must seem to forget past alter
cations. So, on the morning following
the club episode, the husband did not
remark upon the woman's pale face
and heavy eyes, and the wife seemed
to overlook the sharp tone in which
her husband complained to Cynthia
that his coffee was cold. Each went
delicately to the desire to let sleep
ing dogs lie.
1t is not natural to subsmit to any
discomfort that can be avoided. All
day as John Hamilton and his wife
attended to their several tasks there
was an undercurrent of resolution in
the mind of each to prevent a repiti-
ton of the painful scene of last night.
With the man, there was the determi-
nation to assert in the future his right
to do as he pleased. He would not
assert it verbally unless necessary.
But now that he had broken the ice,
he would continue to 90 out once In
while alone in the evening. Had he
done this from the beginning of their
married life, Isabel would not have
been worried because of his absence
at the club. She was a dear girl-but
little spoiled. He would do all in
reason to give her pleasure, but she
must not be exacting.
And the wife, performing her vari.
Gus household duties, was pondering
If she had not been foolish to let her
entire interest in life centre in her
husband. OF course, she loved him
dearly, but it was evident that there
were other things besides her com
panionship that mattered to him
Such being the case, why might not
other things matter to her, too? Then.
being woman, she began to cast
about in her mind as to how she could
make John love her better:
For one thing. she would try to
keep domestic trials from him. Men
liked to be comfortable, and she had
heard wives say that II one would
make q man fond of his home, one
must have that home always attrac.
tive. She lad tried to make her nat
bright and homelike. She would 60
further. She would never tell John
when Cynthia was careless, would not
talk to him of the annoyance caused
by the delinquencies of the butchers q
delivery boy or the forgetfulness on
the part Of the grocer
Even if the meat did not arrive
until the last moment, even If she did
have to telephone to the grocer three
times before he sent in all her order.
she would keep these facts to her
self. John might care more for her
If she made life easier for him. She
would help him in every way she
one watches the water one can see
small bubbles rising. followed soon
by the heads Of the swimmers. And
he added that, though they go under
the surface together, they often come
up pretty far apart" And Ida
laughed merrily at the aptness Of the
illustration.