The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-16
WRITTEN
IN PENCIL
BY ClxRIssx Mxckle

stand it," was Nellie Pages decision
as she sank YEARLY into a chair. IF
l had dreamed that Bob was 20
wretchedly poor-I don't care, I will
say it, would never have married
him, SO there!"
|, There was no one to hear this pas
sionate outburst of Bob Pages young
wife, unless one counted Bobs homely
bull dog Flinders who crouched on the
dusty rug before the empty fireplace,
his dubious eyes fixed on the girls
flushed pretty face and his black lip
curled in its habitual sneer of derision.
Nellie had always thought Flinders
sarcastic expression was cute to de-
gree but tonight as she saw his steady
gaze fixed on her. as If he suspected
disloyalty to his master, she hated the
curl of his lip above his row of little
white teeth-she hated Flinders be-
cause he was Bob's deg.
1t had been miserable day, day
like hundred others since she had
married Bob Page. Bob had left hasti-
ly to catch his train into town and
Nellie knew that he had scarcely tasted
the wretched breakfast which was the
hest she could prepare after several
months of experimenting in the
| kitchen.
Nellie Page was like thousands OF
other girls in her station In life. Her
father ma de just enough money to keep
his daughters hands free from the
soil ol homework. to save her from
| the drudgery that her mother had suf-
| fered when they were first married.
rienry Borden had so provided that
Nellie could have accomplishments OF
a snowy sort, depending upon the
beauty and charm of his daughter to
consummate the sort of marriage that
would lift her above all the petty de-
tails of economy and housework. There
fore Nellie Borden was brilliant
pianist and could sing prettily; could
paint little. embroider exquisitely,
could make concostion of creamed
eggs in the chatting dish-and that was
all.
Nellie didn't fall in love with man
20 could Immediately place her at
the head Of retinue of servants who
might relieve her Of any responsibility
In the home-making Nellie fell in
love with a struggling young lawyer
and Bob Page was struggling, slipping
sliding. scrambling to keep foothold
ON the running board Of an overcrowd'
ed profession. But he stayed there
though he had to wait for his money
and that made them behind with theil
butcher and baker and grocer and Mel
lie grew peevish and Bob became more
tired and careworn as the months went
around and he saw how impossible u
was for poor man to make any head
way when he had wife who loathee
homework because she did not under
stand how to do it properly. whit
couldn't prepare a meal fit to be eater
and who persistently reminded hin
that they we're poorer than thei
neighbors.
Nellie Page was slowly becoming
that most unfortunate Of women,
disconnected wife. and Bob was beinl
rs slowly disillusioned of his dream
Of love In a cottage.
Nellie reread letter she had re
ceived from her mother that morning
! rhe eristle Mrs. Borden had sal
! that she and her husband were abou
!, take "a ,it,ie southern trip and II
were not for the fact that Bob needle
, his wife at home they would take Ne
lie with them. Nellie rebelled no.
, because she could not go. She ha
I nothing to wear and she was ashame
!. to tel; her father that Bob was so slo
1 about collecting his bills.
= Sndden.y she Jumped to her fee
4 and tossed the letter into the vast
T uasae,. size looked at the clock an
& saw that It lacked two hours Of Bob
7 homecoming I'm do tit wi
y brighten him well--aDd serve nj
Z right"
3 For a half hour Nellie Page worke
z busily and at the end of that time ST
& packed a suit case, dressed herself II
Z journey and sat down and scribblt
Z note to her husband. She wrote 1t
. pencil on a scrap of paper and 81
Z managed to convey within smi
! space and in few words all her di
Z content with their mode Of life al
! her disappointment in him and 81
told him that she was going ava
z That was all. This note she placed
: his desk in the living-room. exchang
z one defiant look with Flinders. al
4 went out of the house.
XI She was vexed that she had to wa
= the quarter of mile to the railro
z station. One of her neighbors passi
4 swiftly in a motor car, apparently q
z not see her and Nellie's disconte
4 with life was deepened.
x There were not many persons goi
= into town on that train but the WON
Z in the motor and another one W
= lived next door to the Pages sub
Z ban cottage we're in the same Goa
= and In the semi-darkness OF the W
x Ter afternoon sat down in the seat
. hind Nellie without recognizing h
z She pulled her thick veil more clos
: around her face and leaned bs
Z against the big fur collar of her CO
Z The train started and the voices
Z the women in the rear were lifted W
= unconscious clearness SO that Ne
Z Pace 1sard every word that was So
! lack says he will put the case
z the hands of Mr.. Page-he thinks I
Page is a clever lawyer and bound
z get to the 'front.'
! IF he isn't too heavily har
e capped" was the other woman's ST