Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-11-23
Copyright Mcclure News Syndcate)

can't bear to ask Mr.. Dawson. but
you've known them SO lOng-dO you
think 1t would hurt him?"
"Oh. l don't know" faltered Helen
in embarrassed surprise.
1T fairly hunts 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 engeriy.
WAS she-much differently"
The picture of Mrs. Dawson as He'd
en- knew her was very different from
this localized portrait of her youth.
She knew that frank description
would ease this young brides jealousy.
hut she could not give 1t.
Forgive mel shouldn't have asked.
But you can't know how hard 1t is. I
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. l can't forget that"
Helen was conscious Of curioW
feeling. almost of satisfaction. IL
stead Of the proud. insolent security
In her husbands love that she had
expected In this young and attractive
woman, there was uncertainty an1
doubt. a brooding jealousy Of a past
that she could never share.
She had transformed the house. Lav-
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 pOrtruit. and that had now become
II ranking ObsessiOn.
"Please don't think me unrespOa-
sive." Helen was tracing q design a
the rose satin couch. but you know
l was very fond Of Mrs. Dawson"
"Oh. know. and I hope you won't
misunderstood. But it's been very
hard-cOming in among all these rs
sOciations. almost wish we hud givea
up the house and taken an apartment"
Come back here and See my den"
Mr.. Dawson's voice came from the han.
Then as he passed the door. Aren't
we going to have tea, Irene7"
"Oh, Of course" hastily. "Tll ring
for it now"
Il say, this is corking ROOM" CAM
Warren's voice. mo. thanks; I've
smoked enough"
Irene" called her husband. LETS
have the tea served In here"
"Oh, it's much nicer In the sitting
ROOM" Then hastily, but Of course
II you'd rather"
1t was served In the den. but HeleA
noticed that Mrs. Dawson sat with
her back to the portrait.
Hasn't Irene worked wonders Win
this old house7 We're going over the
third story now. Going to have the
guest room up there"
Helen thought of Mrs. Dawsoub
rigid economy. They were spending
more in few months than she haA
in years. Had all her self-tlenInl beea
"n'y to contribute greater luxuries to
the woman who had taken her paceS
swell, they seem to be hitting it or
pretty WELL" was Warren's comment
when they finally came out In the
gray chin If The late afternoon. "Ysn
liked her. didn't your"
Yes. very much"
"She's making him comfortable. an
ri Ohf Chnsc t.nrl-aI
that second flOor-used to be a gloomy
old tomb"
"Oh. ! know. but in a way I resent
the changes. You'd think he'd have
kept some Of the old things. She
even wants to hang away that Dor
trait Of Mrs. Dawson"
swell, II II gets on her nerves.
why shouldn't she? No sense in either
Of them brooding over the past"
With clutching depression Heieu
thought Of her own picture in their
bedroom. II was not n portrait, only
n silver-framed photograph ON wae-
ren's chiffonier. hut Il had stood there
ever since they were married.
"Then you think II a man marrfes
acain-thnt It's right to put out Of
sight everything that recalls the first
wife?"
81 think n lot Of this sentimentaIitv
Is all rot. The first wife had a clear
field-why should the second one be
sadd'ed with batch Of cold-storaxe
"Cold-stOrage memoriesi Warren, IN
that all II would mean" She cnught
back the words.
"Eh? What's that? oh. getting pey-
sonal. are you? Well. don't worry. I'm
not so sure that I'd take another
chance. It's n mighty big compliment
70 the first wife when n man has the
courage to marry again-just remem-
Der that"