Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-12
MY MARRIED LIFE
By ADELE GARRISON
"NGARGARETr' My motherinlaw's tone

AFl was almost tragic. "Richard has gone
of with my trunk checks"
why, Of course. he has" returned. won
dering little at her anxious tone. II
suppose he expects to give them to an
expressnian and have the trunks brought up
this morning"
Richard never remembered anything in
his life,' said his mother tartly. Those
| trunks ought to be here before / leave
| for the day."
| "oh, l don't think II would be possible
for them to arrive before we have to start,
even II Dicky gives them to an expressman
| rlsht away, as l am sure he will do"
IL seemed queer TO be defending Dicky
| 10 MS mother. but / felt a curious little
| thrill OF resentment that she should criticize
him. l sometimes may Judge Dicky harshly
| myself, but | don't care to hear criticism
| OF him from any other lips. even those OF
| his mother
| Richard will carry those checks in his
| pocket until he comes home again, if he
| is lucky enough not to lose them," said
| his mother decidedly. II wish you would
| telephone him at his studio and remind
| him that they must be looked after"
Obediently I went to the telephone.
knew Dcky had had plenty of time to get
| to the studio, as It was but short walk
| from our apartment
Madison Square 36s4," / said in answer
to central's request for number"
When the answer came I almost dropped
| the receiver in my surprise. 1t was not
| Dicky's voice that came TO my ears, but
| that OF stranger, woman's voice, rich
| and musical.
Yes" with a rising infection. this is
Mr. Graham's studio. He has not yet reached
! here. What message shall | give him,
please, when he comes in?"
please ask him TO call up his home"
| Then / hung up the receiver and turned
| from the telephone. putting down my agi-
| tation with firm hand until l could be
| alone
"Dicky has not yet reached the studio"
l said to his mother calmly. Il think very
probably he has gone first to ex-
pressman about your trunks If you will
pardon me l have few things to attend
to before we start on our trip. Is there
anything ] can do for your"
NO, thank YOU" Mrs Graham's tone
was still the cold, courteous one that she
used in addressing me. 81 suppose | can
ring for Katie when | am ready to have
my dress fastened?"
ooh. by all means" | returned ] thought
bitterly of the little services | used to per-
form for my own mother How gladly |
would anticipate the wants of Dickys
mother IL she would only show me af-
fection instead of the i-concealed aversion
with which she regarded me-
MISS GRACE DRAPER?
My mother-n-law went into her room,
and !, walking swiftly to mine, closed and
locked the door behind me. | threw myself
face downward on the bed, my favorite
posture when | wished to think things out.
The voice OF the woman at the studio
haunted me. IL was strange, but familiar.
and could not remember where l had
heard 1t.
What was woman doing in Dckys
studio at this time in the morning anyway?
l knew that Dicky employed feminine mod
els but | also knew that he always made
II a point to be at the studio before the
model was due to arrive.
81 suppose l am an awful crank" he
had laughed once, but no models rummag-
ing among my things for mine"
| knew that Dicl<y employed no secretary.
or at least. he had told me that he did not.
l had heard him laughingly promise himself
that when his income reached $4,000 a
year he would hire one.
All at once the solution to the mystery
dawned upon me. The RICH musical voice
belonged to Grace Drapet the beautiful
girl whom Dcky had seen first on a train
on our memorable trip TO Marvin
He had not rested until lie had found
out her identity. She was just the type
that he wished for model but he had
feared that he could nos get her to consent
to pose for him.
1t had turned out. however. that her
whole life was centered in her ambition
to become an artist. She had gladly ac-
cepted Dicky's proposition to pay her liber-
ally for the hours she spent in posing for
him and to give her the of his studio
and the benefit Of his help and instruction
at other times
why had not Dicliy told me that she
was at the studio? The question ranked
in the back Of my brain.
That was not my main concern. however,
What swept me with. a sudden primitive
emotion, which I knew must be jealousy,
was the picture of that beautiful face, that
wonderful figure in daily close companion
ship with my husband.
| remembered her appearance on the
train. She was absolutely one of the most
stunning creatures | had ever seen in my
life. If | read her rightly, too. life had
hardened her a trhc, had chilled whatever
generous impulses she might have pos
sessed, had left her perfectly poised. ready
to meet any emergencies or to take any
chance.
That she had the trick of being per-
fectly able to conceal all knowledge Of any
admiration directed toward herself, while
al the same time being aware of II and
relishing it, ! knew by my observation of
her demeanor on the Marvin train.
Suppose she should fall in love with
Dicky To my mind did not see how any
woman could help it, Would she have any
scruples about endeavorng to win Dickys
love from me?
My common sense told me that this was
the veriest nonsense. But ! could no more
help my feeling than | could control the
shape of my nose.
The ring of the telephone bell put a
temporary end to my speculatons. / pulled
myself together in order to talk calmly to
Dicky for / knew It must be he who was
calling.
Copyright, 10lO
CONTINUED TOMORROW