The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-16


Somebody told me-wasn't It alb
surd? I wonder who ate it," They
both laughed.
she gave It to her laundress. and
the woman told our Nora"
What right has . woman to get
married II she doesn't know how to
take care of q house and make her
husband comfortable"
mo more right than q man has to
marry when he can't support wife.
But Bob Page is certainly holding up
his end"
"She doesn't play fair In the matri-
monial game" was the other woman's
comment. II suppose she would be
thunderstruck to think that he was
disillusioned-IIl wager you he's sick
and tired of married life already"
TT will end in divorce" declared the
first speaker decidedly, as they arose
and went toward the door for just then
the train came to standstill in the
big station.
Stunned by the realization Of her
own position in the matter, as re-
vealed by the thoughtless chatter OF
her neighbors. Nellie Page walked out
of the train and into another one that
was due to leave in FIVE minutes. One
thought whirled around giddily In her
mind. She must hurry home and de-
stroy that dreadful note she had writ
ten to her husband. She must never
let him realize what selfish, unreas-
enable woman he had married. What,
she asked herself, over and over
again as the train sped toward home,
what had she contributed toward the
happiness of their home?
Suppose anything happened to Bob
before she had chance to tell him
that now she knew what was wrong
she would work hard to make 1t right
she would take cooking lessons-she
| would study the housekeeping maya
zines.
The more she pondered the greater
was her wonder that Bob had ever
married her; she marveled that he had
been so patient Suppose, after all his
love for her was dead-that he was. as
the women on the train had suggest
ed, disillusioned. What would her life
be without Bob's love and devotion?
Thoroughly frightened and remorse.
full and hating herself for her blind
ness Nellie Page fairly ran down the
street toward home. Her heart almost
stopped beating when she saw light
in the sitting-room window. Bob must
be home. He had taken an earlier
train and by this time he had found
her note and read 1t and-Nellie did
not dare think Of the look he would
give her.
The front door was unlocked and
she slipped noiselessly in and dropped
her tell-tale bag In the hall closet
Then she stood unnoticed in the door
way and looked at her husband will
questioning scared eyes.
Bob was playing with Flinders who
frisked heavily around his master
barking sharply as Bob waved crum
pied scrap of paper to and fro owe
the dogs head.
It was the note. He had read II
Nellie leaned against the door, q SUD
den faintness assailing her. Bol
must have cared little for her II b.
could give her note to the dog for
lplaything.
All at once Flinders saw her, he
body stiifened and he stood rigid
watching her. his head poised on on
side, the little black sneer curling hi
lip.
"Woof," said Flinders and tor
, across the floor to meet her as b
used to do In the days before she r.
! buffed him.
What Is III" and Bob turned Quicl
ly, to see his wife staring dumbly q
him. What Is the matter, swee
heart?" he asked, gaining her side.
|, THE note, did you read It, Bob!
she gasped. pointing to the scrap
paper he held and which was no
nicked around the edges by the playf'
= teeth of Flinders.
WAS II note?" asked Bob, su
prised. why. no. When got home
!, found Flinders chewing this scrap
: paper into ball and we've been pla
ing with It." He sanoothed 1t out Il
tie and then shook his head over Il
= half obliterated characters. 1T wi
: written in pencil and guess Flinde
= has chewed all the sense out Of It,"
= declared, tossing the paper into Il
waste basket
g, Nellie was down on the floor h
= arms around Flinders whom she W
hugging. She turned a rosy face
y to her husband. "Oh. Bobby, dear,
: ever you're tempted to write perfe'
:. ly silly. unjust note to anybody-ju
y write it in pencil and leave 1t aroul
;. for Flinders to Destroy"
!" Then Nellie Page crept into her hi
:, bands loving arms and told him Z
= whole story.
" Because II will take both OF us
= play the matrimonial game-and pl
~ 1t fairly" she said. in the light of b
NJ new understanding.