The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-01
:. The 7:
Confessions
of a Wife
A TELEPHONE TRIANGLE

A TELEPHONE TRIANGLE
l do not know how the wires
got crossed. I've read of such
things in story books, but I never
believed they were true.
l lay there on my bed OF pain
and heard a cooling voice say:
But, Dicky boy, you told me last
night that you loved me, don't
you feel the same today?"
why, of course, l feel the
same, honey" came in Dicks clear
cool tones, but you know l can't
say it over the phone. I'll tell it
to you tonight, however. in no UNI
certain terms"
"Oh, darling" came the words
in a murmur, you're the very
sweetest Dicky boy in all the
great, big world"
Even while l was listening to
hear what Dick would say to that,
my mind flew back to the time
when we were first married and
he was SO peeved when l called
him "Dicky." He seemed to like
1t now, however. For he said,
"Say it again, honey. l know it
tisn't true, but l like it just the
same"
OF course, it is true" was the
answer from the other end of the
wire. rs there another man in
all the world would be as sweet to
me as my Dicky boy is, and
doesn't everyone say that you are
a monument of patience with. that
sick wife of ours?"
We'll leave my wife out of it,
Coralie," said Dick in choked
voice.
II wish I could, dear boy, l
wish | could" came in the tender
tones of the woman's voice, sup
lplemented by a kind of groan
from Dick, but I'm going to make
you happy in spite of it. And
now, please, say it to me before
! ring Off
But, my dear girl, you would
not have me say things over the
phone would you? I'll say 1t to-
night when | see you"
"All right, Dicky boy, I'll just
say it to myself-and goodbye
until tonight.
| Goodbye, little girl" said
Dick, and / heard a click, click
(which evidently meant that they
had both "rung off," as a mad
deningly Indifferent voice came to
me with number please"
l too hung up the phone and
must almost have tainted as my
dear little nurse, who had gone
out of the room, as she always
does when | pick up the phone
came hurrying to me with, What
is the matter, Mrs. Waverly. Shall
| telephone for Mr.. Waverly to
come home immediately"
| managed to say, mo, dear"
and then turned my face to the
wall.
All the time my heart was say,
ing, ut is just as you thought il
would be. Dick has to take his
happiness in spite of you. ~
For the moment everyone's af-
fairs and troubles but my own
were forgotten.
l wonder, little book, how
many other women have. faced
this situation as | was doing
where they had to look into the
future and see that their hus,
bands were trying to "be happy
in spite of them" Very few
think who could see no way. Of
making it easier for either them
selves or their husbands because
they were in my condition. l an
selfish enough almost to wish
were insane, for then would moi
know.
Oh, little book, I am almost
ready to think that knowledge Of
any kind only means unhappiness
We always hunger to know. We
are like Faust and are ready t.
sell our souls for knowledge al
he did for youth, but it never
satisfies. knowledge of any kline
is not food for aching hearts
thirsty souls or teeming brains
1t is only the whet for the appe
tite that continually cries fol
more. l shall never be satisfied
= until | know who Coralie is.
want to know IL her fac'
matches her ripping laugh, ant
if her eyes bear out the tender
tones of her voice.
Do you know, little book, THU
time | am not even jealous.
just want to step out of it all ant
let Dick be happy Gin spite of 1t.
Continued TomorroW.)