The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-22
LETTERS OF
TWO WOMEN
A Too Realistic DrA1na.
BY ZOE BlECKLEY.

New York, Monday the Something.
May Dear:
Your letter was fine and helped
me a lot. But the situation isn't as
simple as you think. Let me tell you
what happened today:
When 1 came home from the office
later than usual because of some spe
cial work, 1 heard voices in my living
roonl. With latch key poised I
listened
What do 1 care" heard the wom
an. Sonia Luboff, saying, for your
silly American conventions! Your
stupid marriage-what is it to me?
> No-I won't hush! 1 am an
artistic: 1 shall not be judged by com
mon standards. You are an artist,
| too, Paul Danskoi; you have the ar
| lists soul. and you are letting it be
crushed by commercial ideas and by
this American wife of yours 1
shall
But the rest of her temperamental
sentence, dear was lost, for PauPs
can key in the lock and her American
boots made rapid strides down the
hallway and into that living room.
Paul came to me, took he in his
arms with a protecting sweep, kissed
me quickly, and as he stepped back
!
to leave the room. l declined, how
ever. and quietly stood my ground. 1t
seemed to anger Miss Luboff, whose
strong point is her weakness of self
| control.
"Ah-ha! The American wife ap-
pears at the dramatic moment" she
cried. well, let the American wife
learn a lesson from US Europeansi
Let her learn that a Russian does not
discard all his-his friends she
| Ill
flashed her brilliant eyes, because
he marries. We have larger friend
ships in our country. We have"
Madame" 1 said with quiet that
amazed even myself for 1 WIS trem-
bling inwardly, you are not in your
country now, and ask that you lower
your voice. l. don't care to have the
neighbors aroused"
Sonia" Paul cut in, going close
to her and holding her attention with
look that 1 pray he will never use
on me. stop this commotion instant
ly! shall not have my wife insuI! ed,
my home invaded, my work inter-
| rupted by"
But, May, he got no further. The
woman, her temper now thoroughly
reused. turned on him and fairly
screamed. "Ah-ahh! Your wife.
your home, your work! Is this your
work ?" She darted to PauPs tyne
writer, tore the sheets of paper from
| II, crumpled them in her hands and
/ cast them away. THAT for your worE
! Do you set your work above ME-?
! Do you"
But why go on through the whole
miserable scene, Maize? 1 won't bore
you with the details. I want to forget
them. Suffice it to say that the woman
worked herself into perfect passion
| OF anger l am sure she must be the
victim of some drug. She lost COM
plete control of herself, and ragged and
| Wept aloud and would not be duieted
Paul grasped her wrists and said
something in Russian that seemed TO
affect her oddly. Her rage changed
into sudden fear. and if 1 hadn felt
such disgust and contempt for her I
should have felt pity.
She shrank together like a person
who wants to hide and can find no
| place. Paul gave her one finishing
look and walked to the telephone. /
heard him order a taxicab and sud-
denlyfeeling an uncomfortable weari-
ness and weakness, 1 went to my room
and turned the key in the lock Soon
heard sounds of departure and in
five minutes Paul was back and tap
ping eagerly at the door
My little grill" he cried. as l on
ened it and he took me in his arms
TO think of your being tortured with
| such a scenei Well. you will never
see her again, / promise you" But
can he promise it, May? KID