The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-06-05

nightmare Of jealous fears 20 me
Must this lovely girl of whom was
already afraid bc IA daily contact
with Robert OF one thing ! was
sure would not remain away
from his office as ! had dosa while
Miss Perkins was there Whether
DE liked il or not would md some
excuse TO visit Robert often /
would know just how matters were
between him and The new stenog-
rapher
II may seem that knowing Rob
erts dignihed bearing. his pride
etc, should not have been so sus-
picious OF his actions But aside
from my jealous disposition. had
the sure knowledge or thought
habitat women. beautiful or ac-
complished women. were his weak
ness ! had read somewhere that
the most dlgnifed. tho most erudlte.
the cleyerest men, were addicted 20
this one thing Ia lives which other
wise We're above rcproach"
had never forgotten this. and
naturally in my jealousy endowed
Robert with the same falling
/ said nothing more 10 him. how
ever. just then about Miss Bailey
that was me new girls name not
because I didn't want TO- but be
cause il would do no good
Now he vas away more than ever
often J knew ne was our OF town
Office or went 10 his club. and re-
NAMED late At least that was
what be said when he told me any
thing ! grew more and more dis
turhed. more and more unhappy be-
cause Of his actions -his neglect a.
called il.
had been so soberod by the
children Illness go Frustrated by
fear cf The result, especially 70
Bruce that ! had had neither time
nor strength 20 think OF other
things But st. seemed Robert had
time 20 ind and hire q new steroe
rapher and 70 read Phyllis Lawsou's
stories
! knew ne was reading them. be.
cause the day I won't 90 tho Office I
saw magazine lying face down on
his desk. and unthinkingly. in my
nervousness AZ hnding Miss Perkins
gone. | turned II over. The Cruel
BILE, story ny Phyllis Lawson.
stared al noe from the upturned
page
felt all my old reckless ideas 70
turning. sharpened by what con
sidered my discovery Of Roberts
new affair with the beautiful girl
in his Office II only weren't so
unhappy II only did not love him
30 dearly
Thru an this time OF sickness and
trouble Harper Carleton had been
unohtrusively kind and thoughtful
His notes Of sympathy and gifts Of
fowers often frightened The dark
DAYS spent in the sick room. and
his unaffected delight az seeing nae
again, worn and tired Ar looked.
when the quarantine had been re
moved, was very Aatterinr Since
then he had often taken the children
out IN his roadster Bruce thought
IL a great treat and always begged
20 60 Harper had also called sew
eral times. always unfortunately.
! told him finding Robert absent
You are much alone he said 70
me one evening as we sat on the
piazza y imagine you are often
lonely
"Noi often" parted You see
when Roberts necessarily away
some one lis sure to drop 10 ss You
have tonight Yet an the time /
vas talking ! was quivering with n
dignation that ne should be- obliged
10 comment on my loneliness be
cause Sc was so evident that ! was a
neglected wife
battered myself that ! handled
this man. whose attentions were so
welcome in my life, in a mastery
way Never since The day re.
buked him, had he said one word
OF love 10 me, nor had be- shown In
any way desire to be more than
my true and loyal friend often
smiled 20 myself as thought Of
the mistaken idea many people held
about platonic friendships Surely
there could be none more platonic
than ours. none moro free from any
thing with which the most exactlnr
Mrs Grundy could find fault
That Harper knew. or even sus
pected how unhappy / was because
Of Roberts neglect never dreamed
was very careful when with him
70 say or do nothing which would
enlighten him
One day Robert came home unex.
pectedly in the late afternoon. and
found Harper with me He had just
that moment arrived. and was
holding the roses he had brought
me- when the living room door
quietly opened and Robert came in.
lie greeted Harper pleasantly.
then apologizcd 10 me for interrupt.
ing us without knocking. which In
any one else would have seemed
like sarcasm. Bur 10 was not so
with Robert He always insisted
that rNorv ouo oven IA r,rtarf ,,-o-