New Britain herald., 1916-05-01
Mrs. Undcrwood's Story of Her First
 Marriage

And I spoiled my life,'' said Lil- Han Underwood T married"
 Her tone was the essence of bit terness, her face held a look not good to see. I could hardly believe that she was the same woman who but moment before had told me of tho happy, struggling days in Paris and New York, when she and Dicky and other comdares had worked and Ilayed and starved together
 "Please!" I leaned toward her en- treatingly. Don't tell me any more. If ever there was a sting in my thoughts concerning your past friend ship with Dicky you have removed it by your words this morning. I am more than contented to let the mat ter rest forever
 'I know, my dear, I know. But there are two reasons why I want you to hear me out. You will be for tified to meet any gossip you may hear if you know everything con- corning that old time, and then"
 She stopped and gazed at me searchingly.
 "I have kept all this locked in my heart for years," she said slowly.
  me of any part of it. It was 8 terrible effort for me to dig it all up for you But now that it is begun 1 feel as if weight had been lifted from my heart. There is a certain relief in telling you everything. Do you know what I mean?'
 Did i? My thoughts flew back to the day in the sitting room of my
 rnr~f 1nf my reserve had broken down, and I lad sobbed out some of my troubles in her comforting arms.
 "Of course I know," I answered her gently And I won't make an- other obectiojn. Tell me anything you wish
 Don't misunderstood me-" she re- sumed "When l say l spoiled my life by marriage l do not mean that I believe all marriages are failures. I believe tremendously in married happiness. but I think I must be one of the women who are tempermen- tally unftted to make any man happy
 Her tone was bitter, self-accusing.
 "You cannot make me believe that" I said stoutly. "I would rather believe that you were very unwise in your choice of husbands
 Her Work Kcpt Up.
 She laughed ironically
 Well, we will let it go at that! At any rate there is only one word that describes my first marriage. It was hell from start to finish"
 The lcok on her face told me she was not exaggerating. It was a look only graven by intense suffering.
 T was old enough, experienced enough to have displayed some judg- ment. but I fell in love as roman- 1ically and wildly as the most love sick school girl in the world, and married after the briefest of whirl- wind courtships.
 Tt was not three months after my wedding day that I discovered my idols feet of clay, and if there was shred of youths illusion or my self I expect left when We came to the parting of the ways, it was not Will Mortons fault. He certainly tried his best to make a finished job of it.
 II am not going to weary you with all that I went through Let it be enough to say that while on the one hand his Cscapades were almost a daily insult to me, on the other he was meanly jealous. and made my life miserable with his pettiness and suspicious prying.
 "I had not given up my work when I married for the rewards were just beginning to come in. Indeed, my husband did not wish me to, and as his law practice was very slim, soon found myself not only bearing the support of the home, but supplying him with pocket money Her voice dropped, as with the weight of her memories, and trailed way into silence. I tried to think If something l could say to her, but knew that words were useless, so