The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-12-19
LETTERS OF
TWO WOMEN
Kate Follows Her Letter With Another.
New York. Nextsday.
By ZOE B.EcKLEY.

Kate Follows Her Letter With Another.
New York. Next,day.
May dearest;
1t is crazier than act I-or am l
more crazy?
Here's chapter or act No. two!
l was SO upset by what happened
last night that 1 could not work today.
So I went home an hour earlier.
George. the elevator boy. met me on
, the stoop. He looked queer.
'Dey's a lady wants Mist Dahnsko,
he said.
Maize. ] give you my word l knew
who it was before | saw her sitting on
the bench in the hall. 1t was Paufs
Pasti 1 wanted to run. But l was
afraid of what the neighbors would
say.
May. people often say fear drove
him or her crazy Just as often it is
/ fear that keeps US acting sanely when
We feel crazy. Fear of what the
neighbors would say! So l walked up
to the woman and asked, though l
couldn't recognize my own voice:
You wish to see my husband?"
i She rose as though she were going
| to eat me.
'Tss he your husbant? ?" she Missed.
j / felt chilled to the marrow. but
forced a smile. God knows it must
! have looked a fright
Wont you come up stairs?' l
said. And wait? He'll be home any
time now!"
She followed me into the flat with
out a word. Our little flat, that was
always a haven, a refuge, a sigh of
/ relief And now this! She sat down
! without word and without taking
off her Electrically beautiful black
furs. 1 was trying to find voice
when l he;.rd Pau1s key in the lock.
He came in. saw her and stopped dead
Madge, I never thought he could look
as hard and so blazing at the same
time.
coming here, Sonia" he said in a low
tone IF you insist on forcing your
self on me, 1 suppose l shall have to
come to see you. But"
She tried to carry off the situation
with defiant bridling.
IF you had come to see me last
night"
1--WE won't discuss that now" Pau
said his voice beginning to shake
with anger. Il shall see you at the
theater tonight
She tried to say something, but Pau
went to the door and waited there
significantly. His suppressed fury
hypn noticed her.
Paul" 1 managed to say, IF Mis-.
Luboff wishes to speak to you 1 viii
TT is not your place to step out
|. Kate he said kindly, but finally
without looking at me.
She looked at me fiercely, at tht
coy little home, now seeming SO mucl
like a stage set for me. Then walk
ing quickly to the door she turned
to Paul and said something in Rus
sian in the most rapid passionate
burst of speech I ever heard. 1 sup
pose it was threat if Paul did no
come. He didn't answer by word OF
! Iookd.
She left the room. Paul saw he
into the elevator. I listened, hearC
the ground floor door open, shut. NJ
further commotion. She had left. Pau
came into the house. For a Ions
time he was silent.
Kate" he said abruptly. "Wher
1 was a student in Petrograd,
thought l loved this women. She lef
me for another man. That was nine
years ago. L have not thought of hel
once in the last four or five years
I don't want to speak of her now. Blu
if there is ANYTHING at all about thi
matter you want to know, 1 will glad
ly tell you all. Ask"
/ asked nothing. / somehow didn'
want to know. He said nothing more
But he has gone down to that YiddisI
: theater to see her. And I'm not feel
ing very happy. Oh, Maize, laugh a
me in your next letter or l shall G,
crazy! KATE.