The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-07-08
THE NEGLECTED WIFE,
"Deepening Degredation',


 l ification meeting and capture him. Tn
 the rescue that follows, Norwood who
 loves Margaret, sees her in Kennedy S | arms.
 ] From the corrosive embarrassment of
 that moment, Norwood was the first to ! recover
 T think we'd better return to the
 hall-and to Mrs. Kennedy his tone was l frigidly impersonal. i The drive back was in silence pain 1 fully constrained. Margaret, drawing fur ther into the sharows of the deep seat, averted her still flaming face from the I betraying light of the street lamps. What was in Norwood' S mind? How could l she ever face him again? Now that he l had discovered her secret, would he de- l spise her? Would he have for her only contempt-because of her love: for a married man?
 Would Kennedy try to explain away the situation? His silence seemed like , an admission-yet what could he say l or do that would not add to her hu- initiation?
 l As the car drew up at the hall. re-
 porter recognizing Kennedy, rushed to-
 wards him. Instantly he was surrounded ] by an anxious crowd | "No-no." Margaret shrank back as he
 turned to help her out | "Ill see Miss Warner home" announces Norwood with curt authority. l The car moved on, but not before Mar i garet had seen Mrs. Kennedy. radiant
 with relief. making her way through the
 crowd to her husband. | This drive, too, was in silence. Nor wood sat with folded arms, staring grimly out the window. Margaret stole a tinid glance at his stern profile, but he did not look towards her. l Waves of modification engulfed her. | Never had she felt so keenly the possible
 depths of degradation that lay in her ] love for Kennedy. 1 At her apartment quietly unheeding her faint protest, Norwood followed her into the elevator. In her own living
 room she dropped on the window seat 1 with flushed averted face. l Margaret, want to help you" his voice was low and controlled. Isn't there something you wish to tell me? | You're so unfortunately alone-you have no one to protect you. Won't you confide | in mel" 1 T can't,'' her tense fingers twisting I her gloves.
 Don't you know that no explanation | you could make would be worse than what I must infer by your silence? Mar garet, care for you so much that I would forgive a great deal-more than I you would think possible "Oh, don nt-please don't I can't bear lit! There's nothing I can tell you-noth- I ing"
 "Is that final?9 his voice hardened. l She nodded her face concealed by the window drapery. She heard him rise,
 cross the room-then the sound of clos
 ins door.
 Alone, she slipped to the floor, her
 head on the window seat as waves of
 scorehing humiliation swept over her. l His face set in stern lines. Kennedy I paced the length. of the library The sit uation was intolerable He loathed him
 self for his silence on the drive back to l the hall
 1 It had seemed like withdrawal from l the woman he loved-as though he I sought to shield himself at her expense. Yet what could he have said that would not have increased her modification? And Norwood? What had he said to
 her on the way home? The mere thought 1 of her further humiliation was unen- l durable.
 He was at the telephone now. his hand l on the receiver. What could he say that would help her.? What would he say over l the wire? l The next moment her voice came faint 1 and strained. As he strove to reassure I her there was a furtive sound from the | hall. With a swift. noiseless stride he
 reached the door and flung it open. Mary" as the crouching figure fell | into the room.
 | throbbng moment as she regained l her feet and shrank back against the
 wall in blanched, quiverng defiance.
 You were iistening?" contemptuously You've stopped to that9"
 I've been driven to that by your un- 1 faithfulnessu"
 What do you mean?' stern1y threat l ening.
 l Now I've reached the limit of my endur-
 ance You must give her up; you must 1 promise me that you will" "I can promise nothing" in a low voice.
 A rigid silence that was like a physical
 pain. Then her groping step on ths