Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-07-13


n man you can't even respect-just
because in a foolish schoolgirl way
you think you're in love with him?'
IL was in love with him. I'm not
sure even of that now"
Laura, you're hopeless. 1 don't
understand YOU any more. You
haven't been yourself Cor weeks"
Longer than that-four months, to
be exact" Then with tense abrupt
ness. I've heard you say you don't
expect women to be wholly truthful,
that they all resort to small eva
sions. But suppose some one you were
fond of was untruthful in n big way,
that her whole life was lie-could
you still be fond OF herr"
II don't think understand faltered
Helen. with rush of tOrturing sus-
piciOns.
Suppose you found that for months
I've been deceiving you. Could you
forgive that?"
Laura, you don't mean"
"rve been married to Ed Marstein
for over four months"
| Through the open window came the
rumbling street sounds, the lessening
rumble of the early evening. Helen,
sitting by her dressing table, was
bending double flexible nail file. Her
pressure frightened and the thin steel
broke.
-Four months ~ dazedly. "Then you
were already married the night you
dined here and he came to take you
hOme"
"Yes."
"And that evening you were with us
at Shanley's?"
mo, we were married the next
day"
THE next day! The very day after
both Warren and 1 had that talk with
you-and l begged you not to see him
again?"
Laura snapped her glove clasps in
silent. hopeless admission.
Its rather late to offer congratula-
tions." Helen's voice was withdraw
ingly cold.
DON'T 1 can bear anything but
cynicism."
But why have you kept it a Sc
cret? Why"
'He couldn't support me-and 1t
would hurt my work if it were known
that l was married"
And he was willing for this Sc
Gregg" with swift scorn for the man
who would take wife under such con-
ditiOns.
"Oh, no." YEARLY. "But what could
he dO-he hasn't worked three weeks
in six months. His people give him
$50 month-it doesn't pay for his
clothes"
But. Laura, he's clever enough; he
can work. Surely, he"
"Oh, he speaks three or four Ian
guages and knows all the social tricks,
but he can't hold down a steady job
at fifteen a week."
you really mean you don't care as
you did," startled at the singing note
Of contempt.
Sometimes think loathe him."
"Yet you're living with him?"
II lived with him just two weeks.
You learn a lot about a man in two
weeks, after you're married. Any in
fatuation l had for him-well he's
about killed all that. Now he's
bounding Inc to come back to him."
drawing a crumpled note from her
waist. she sent this by messenger
last night"
"Tm respecting your wish not to
come to the house. but you must come
to me. I'm waiting here, at the Fifty
ninth street station, uptown side.
Laura, I've got to see you! l saw
Gardner today, and he's going to land
that job for me at forty week. I'll
show you / can make good. Give me
another chance. l swear l haven't
drank a drop for three days. But if
you fail me tQnight-well you'd better
come, that's all. ED"
The first part isn't so bad" dis
eliminated Helen, but don't like that
threat. Did you gO?''
yes, and he'd been drinking. Oh.
If l could believe anything he tells me
but it's all lies-lies."
THE position too-you mean that
isn't true?'
"Oh no, he can get work anywhere,
but he can't keep it,"
Yet he seems to care for YOU" re.
reading the note.
That's the strange part. He does
love me, in his foolish way. He'll
be at the house tonight felt he
would; that's why l came here.
couldn't bear another scene lust now +"
Through all the difficulties that had
confronted Laura in her grim self-sup-
porting struggle, Helen had stood 10y.
ally by her. But before the overwhelm.
ing disaster of this reckless marriage
she felt helpless.
The maids out-Tll have to CO.
starting up at peal of the door bell
Then at the sound of heavy steps. "Oh
Warren's going. Who can it be; it's
after nine." glancing at the dresser
clock.
Mumbling voices from the hall, and
| Warren called curflv.