The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-10

| Aion discussing the child. AS they
turned back into the bedroom, Mrs.
Dawson paused by the window, nerv-
ously pulling at the shade cord.
Those portraits were In this room,
but couldn't bear that--so I hung
them In there. Perhaps I shouldn't
speak OF 1t, 1t mar 3eem very selfish
but I want SO much to hang the one of
Mrs. Dawson down in the back par
lor with the other family portraits. !
can't bear to ask Mr.. Dawson, but
you've known them so long-do you
think it would hurt him?"
ooh, I don't know" faltered Helen
in embarrassed surprise.
1T fairly haunts mel can't bear
to go in that room. She-she must
have been very beautiful"
"That was painted when they were
first married" unguardedly. "She
didn't look like that"
"Oh, she didn't?' turning eagerly.
"Was she-much different?"
The picture of Mrs. Dawson as Hell
en- knew her was very different from
this idealized portrait Of her youth.
She knew that frank description
would ease this young brides jealousy,
but she could not give it.
Forgive mel shouldn't have asked.
But you can't know how hard it Is.
feel always that I've only second
place-that she was first. He's every
thing to me, there was never anyone
else in my life-but there has been
in his. / can't forget that"
Helen was conscious of a curious
feeling, almost of satisfaction. In
stead of the proud, insolent security
in her husbands love that she had
expected in this young and attractive
woman, there was uncertainty and
doubt, brooding jealousy of past
that she could never share.
She had transformed the house. Law
ishly she had spent time and money
to obliterate the atmosphere of this
other woman. In these rooms there
was nothing left as reminder-except
the portrait, and that had now become
ranking obsession.
"Please don't think me unrespon-
sive," Helen was tracing design on
the rose satin couch, "but you know
was very fond of Mrs. Dawson"
"Oh, ] know, and hope you won't
misunderstood. But it's been very
hard--coming in among all these as
sociations. almost wish we had given
up the house and taken an apartment"
"Come back here and see my den,"
Mr.. Dawson's voice came from the hall.
Then as he passed the door, "Aren't
we going to have tea, Irene?"
"Oh, of course" hastily. "Tll ring
for it now"
II say, this is corking room," came
Warren's voice. "No, thanks; I've
smoked enough"
'Trene," called her husband, "let's
have the tea served in here"
"Oh, it's much nicer in the sitting
ROOM" Then hastily, "but Of course
if you'd rather"
1t was served in the den, but Helen
noticed that Mrs. Dawson sat with
her back to the portrait.
Hasn't Irene worked wonders with
this old house? We're going over the
third story now. Going to have the
guest room up there"
Helen thought of Mrs. Dawson's
rigid economy. They were spending
more in few months than she had
in years. Had all her self-denial been
only to contribute greater luxuries to
the woman who had taken her place?
swell, they seem to be hitting 1t off
pretty WE'LL" was Warren's comment
when they finally came out in the
gray chill of the late afternoon. "You
liked her, didn't you?"
Eyes, very much"
"She's making him comfortable, all
right. She's worked great stunt on
that second fioor-used to be gloomy
old tomb"
"Oh, know, but in way I resent
the changes. You'd think he'd have
kept some Of the old things. She
even wants to hang away that por-
trait of Mrs. Dawson"
"Well, If 1t gets on her nerves
why shouldn't she? No sense in either
of them brooding over the past"
With clutching depression Helen
thought of her own picture in their
bedroom. It was not a portrait, only
a silver-framed photograph on War
ret,'s chiffonier, but 1t had stood there
ever since they were married.
"Then you think If a man marries
again--that it's right to put out of
sight everything that recalls the first
wife?"
"I think lot of this sentimensality
is all rot. The first wife had clear
field-why should the second one be
saddled with batch Of cold-storage
memories?"
"Cold-storage memories! Warren, Is
that all 1t would mean" She caught
back the words.
sch? What's that? oh, getting per-
sonal, are you? Well. don't worry, I'm
not so sure that I'd take another
chance. It's mighty big compliment
to the first wife when q man has the
courage to marry agalD--just remena.
her that"