The Detroit times., 1917-04-24
Chapter LxVII.


AS Bruce grew stronger | gave
~ TO the feeling OF absolute wear
ness that possessed me. | spent
long hours lying on the couch rest
ing. Bu my mind WAS unusually
slert. and many things which here
tofore had escaped me in my ana
iety over Bruce now assumed un'
natural proportions.
When thinking OF Robert and the
strenuous days We had just passed
thru. mArVeled that we had not
been drawn more closely together
While my husband had been al
kindness u was because | VAS the
mother OF his boy. instead Of feel
ing prompted by lis love for me.
realized now thl, h. all the weary
anxious weeks OF iiruce's illness
Robert never had spoken one word
OF love 10 me lie often had given
expression TO his fear that l would
uVerdo Il. but not once had n
taken me In his arms, not once had
he let us feel that he loved me.
'-- tbAi ~ss pot me way Of
taNed Catd
aneb n.-'~
frH much funger Cuan ~ nee Serv
not chAry Of allowing II TO be seen
that they still loved their wives
and were not afraid TO tell them 30
Even Tim MuIhany. brusque and
rough a. he sometimes was. often
/<howea plainly his worship of the
httie wbmau he had lived with 81
long. ~ must be because there was
some one else that Robert never
showed me the affection crAved
As lay there the lines Of .
Poem Aunt Edith used 10 quote
came to me
Could we but draw aside the curtains
That snfoid each others lives
See the naked heart and spirit
Know what spur the action gives.
often we would md II better.
purer than We Judge ~ should.
We should low each other better
II we only understood.
As repeated them softly 10 MY
self a determination came 20 me q
FRY to understand Robert better. n
he sure before I Judged him but
with the determination came =
heartache that II was necessary "a
walt and a feeling that real love
needed nothing 10 make itself felt
knew that my doubts were max
ma me unhappy. that they were
changing me from a fairly happy
woman TO a bitter type OF wife or
'irely unlike what I wished TO be
Vet seemed powerless 20 CHECK
them.
The telephone rang and won
dered why Matilda did not answer
Then ! remembered that IL Was Ma
iildas day out Again that annoy
.ng ring. and this time ! sprang ur
and answered H. My hello" was
hone too cordial until recognized
Myrtles voice.
Are you going TO be at home this
afternoon. Margaret? n you arc
and want me'I'm coming over. I'M
a. blue as can be"
Come right over" I told her. 81
shall be in the entire afternoon.
While waiting for Myrtle my mind
again reverted 10 my life with Roll
bert. Was n 10 90 on interminably
like this7 I looked forward to tho
coming years with dread. the Ions
lonely years in which I should grow
older, less attractive II Robert
neglected me now. how could II.
pect 10 hold him later Then all
unbidden the thought OF Harper
Carleton crossed my mind Here
was man who felt ! was worth
while, who admired me. and want.
cd me for a friend N I 80 al.
tracted him why could | not hold
Roberts love7 ! had made no posi.
tive effort 10 please Harper; and
had made many attempts to at.
tract Robert to his former interest
81 me
We'll. here I am ~ last" Myrtle
l;ay voice broke in UPON my reverie
II met Norah and the children out.
eide and she lot me In Did 7 starile
you, YOU look absolutely dared
You did startle m8 a biz" I ~