Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-22
AND BEAU
MY MARRIED LIFE
BY ADELE GARRISON

TNEARY women" were always an abom-
l. ination Of mine in the years before my
| marriage. I suppose It is Judgment on
| me-" as my little mother used to say, that
1 seemed to be unable to control my tears
when Dicky is unusually unkind.
A flaming self-contempt consumed me
| as 1 lay on my bed trying to quiet the
| sobs which Dicky's brutal reception of
| Jacks letter had caused Where was the
cool, cynical self poised woman that had
| fondly imagined myself to be? could not
recognize myself in the nervous, weeping
| creature on the bed.
| But the anger which / felt toward my
| husband helped me to control my nerves
| and my tears l arose and bathed my face
| carefully, put on some powder to hide the
| ravages of tears, and donned my hat and
coat. I had no very clear notion of what
| ! was going to do, or where | was going.
| one thing | knew that in my blind wrath
| against Dlcky | could not endure his pres
| ence for the rest of the afternoon.
| on the other hand l did not want TO
give him chance to go away and leave
| me alone with his mother something which
! he was quite capable OF doing If it hap
| pened to occur to him. That, to me, was
a more terrifying possibility than Drawing
| DiCky's anger.
where are you going?" His voice was
fairly snarl
''I do not know" ! replied truthfully and
| coldly. Il am going out for the rest OF
the afternoon. Perhaps you will be able
| to control yourself when I return"
| 1t was not the most tactful speech in the
world But | was past caring whether
! Dicky were angry or pleased. | am not
! vCy quick to wrath but when it is once
reused my anger is intense
/ you know you are lying" he said
/ 1.,.,.l r.,t,, Nl,t4
| cious OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, whichever he
| may be-"
My fear that Katie or his mother would
hear him overcame the primitive impulse
had to avenge the nsolent words with a
! blow, as a man would.
AN UNWELCOME INTERRUPTION
"You will apologize for that language
| to me when | come back" | said icily.
! IL do not know whether ! shall go TO bid
Jack good-by or not | have no idea what
| shall do, save that | must get away from
| here for little while. But II you have
any sense of the ordinary decencies of life
| you will lower your voice. | do not sup
pose you care to have either your mother
| or Katie overhcar this edifying convcrsa-
| ton"
"Aluch you care about what my mother
| thinks" Dicky rejoned and this time his
| voice was quorulouS but decidedly lower.
| Fine courteous treatment you're giving
| her. leaving her like this when she has
! been in the house but couple Of hours"
| your mother has shown such eagerncss
| for my society that no doubt she will be
heartbroien If she awallens and finds that
/ am not here"
That's right slam my mother why
| didn't you say in the first place you couldn't
bear to have her in the same house with
you?"
"Dicky. you are most unjust" / began
hotly, and then stopped, horror-striclen.
What is the matter my son. The in
cisive voice of my mother-in-aw sounded
+! from the door of her room.
Go back to bed mother" Dicky said
hastily. I'm awfully sorry we disturbed
you"
Disturbing me doesn't matter" she said
| decidedly, but what you were saying does.
l heard you mention me, and | naturally
| wish to know if l am the subject of this
| very remarkable conversation"
/ know now where Dicky gets the sneer-
ing tone which sets me wild when he directs
it against me. His mothers infection is
| exactly like her sons The Contemptuous
| glance with which she swept me nerved me
| to speak to her in a manner which l had
never dreamed 1 would use toward Dicly' 8
mother
HER DECISION MADE
Mrs. Graham" l said. raising my head
| and returning her stare with look equally
cold and steady, my husband empha-
sized the words slignty-"and are discuss
ing something which cannot possibly con-
| Germ you You were not the subject of con-
| versation, and your name was brought in
| by accident | hope YOU will be good
| enough to allow us to finish our discussion" "
My mother-inaw evidently knows when
| TO stop She eyed me steadily for n mo-
| ment,
"Dicly," she said at last and her man.
| ner of sweeping me out of the universe was
| superb. sin five minutes 1 wish to sneak TO
| you in NV room"
| "Au right mother" Dicl;v's tone ,yas I'M
| steady and as his mothers door closed he
| hind her nrenared rnvseIf To face his in
creased anger
"How dared Won sneak to NV motber in
| that fashion ." he don,onded boorsaI 80
When an, r,,n,t anor,, n diahniion,,,, r
| ora,atina s,';rit soa,,1 " ,'nasost 10y ,,, 'e
Gould saei II np,noshing mo ''N'" '''e
"pIease don't no ,roorodroro,io Dio,,,, -
| - ,I LII De ~ a. @ ,''''ie, DieNS,
| erishaa ,,',Ii ~ >, 'N ''o H'''e