The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-01-09

81 don't know whether ex-
plantations will do any good. but
! am going to be very honest
with you, explained my husband
I am obsessed with the girl you
saw me with today. / cannot get
her out OF my mind. She means
to me all the Joy of living. all
the youth and allusion that l
thought had gone out OF my life
forever. My sane common sense
tells me am not only fool. but
something too bad to name In my
actions toward you. l think per-
haps this foolishness will pass.
hope II will. but now l tell you
honestly. Helen, l am like a lad
In his first infatuation.' Those
words" said Mrs. Selwin, ARE
burned on my heart"
why do you insult me with
all this?' asked. is Il not enough
to injure me as you have without
telling me Of your indecency In SO
many words?'
oh, | know, I know, he an
swered YEARLY. but II has passed
out of my hands. Can't you bear
with me little while? Certainly
you can't despise me more than
do myself. We have lived to-
gether too long and presented too
happy a front to the world to now
take II into our confidence as to
our misery. While | shall have
to stand by anything you decide.
! hope there will be no scandal.
"Margie. | went to my room
and tried to think n out and
finally ! did this. Perhaps an
ardent feminist of the new school
of women would despise me, but
he was my husband and | loved
him. At least | had the habit of
him, and the thought of being
without what little I had had OF
his presence for the last year
filled me with dismay.
| "He had always been good to
me and l thought | recognized
that this liason of his was only a
reaching out for the youth he felt
was running away from him.
IL determined to see IL could
not fight for my own. My heart
sank when / thought of that
young face above its fragrant
bunch of violets, its red. inviting
llips--the whole sexual allure of a
Iyoung and beautiful woman.
THE next day ! told my hus-
hand that I miohad h. uuauId In
wife the girl to my house. found
she was a young widow of good
REPUTATION.
For three months I suffered
the torments of the damned. !
feigned not to see anything but
what was on the surface. ! intro
duced the girl to my friends. |
had her with us always until at
last | saw that he wearied of her
youthful energy. He could not
keep up the pace of dinners and
dances. The rich food had de-
ranged his stomach. He went to
sleep in his chair at the opera.
81 found out, too, Margie, that
the girl was not bad woman
Just bit of silly femininity that,
when her husband died, was ready
to think herself in love with the
first man who was kind to her.
She, however, was firing of Mr.,
Selwin before he began to tire
with her, and when she had an in
Ivitation to go to Europe with
some friends she gladly accepted
lit. / don't think my sigh Of re-
lief was any greater than his when
we saw the boat leave the dock,
and as we entered the motor
Arthur took my hand and raised
1t to his lips.
"'No man In the world ever
had such q wonderful wife as
have and no man ever deserved
her less, he said In husky voice.
THAT was all the reference we,
either of us. ever made to the af-
fair, and as the years rolled on we
became the friends and comrades
you now see.
81 don't know, my dear" she
said, answering the question In
my eyes. II don't know whether
II was worth, lit or not. You see,
never will know what 1t would
mean to live with man you
could love and trust all your life,
but l DO know. like your friend,
Mrs. Tenney, I'd be unhappier
without him than / am with him.
Indeed, | am not now unhappy
and IL l could forget the episode
that | have long ago forgiven |
think I would be always quite
happy, but sometimes memories
surge up and, WE'LL
you will forgive an old wom-
ans burdening you With her con-
fidence, Margie, won't you? Per-
haps. It would have been better
left unsaid. but you came to me
tonight on the anniversary Of my
great pain and have broken the
silent habit of years."
1 know now what / have al
ways seen in Mrs. Selwin's eyes
It is forgiveness, but not forget
ing. t