Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-03
ByCarolyn
BeeCher
ONE WOMAN'S
STORY

what 1 should wear at Myrtle's din
ner.
1t always has seemed too particularly
cruel that when we are most miserable
we must cope with some practical prob
! lem of living. Yet this very necessity
of thinking of something other than
that which so painfully obsesses US,
is often our salvation. So tonight the
homely task of looking over my ward
robe, kept me from dwelling too con-
stantly on Roberts friendship for Mrs
Lawson.
The going over and over in my
mind of the same miserable doubts. and
my inability to convince myself either
of their truth or falsity was rapidly
driving me into a state which could
have only one end-nervous prostration
The care of the children, added to trivial
household tasks, had saved me so far.
At times 1 held my precious Betty
girl closely to me, her pure breath
beating her soft, warm little wave:
against my breast, and 1 thought tina
nothing matter much but my darlings
Then when Bruce would throw hi:
plump little arms around my neck anC
ask:
Does muver want a bear hug?" de-
termined to be the best "muver'' 1 pos
sibly could, and forget my unhappiness
in my children.
But 1 learned that no matter how
dear are our children; no matter how
passionately we love them, they can
not make up to us for the loss of tha
other love, the love our "our man."
In the midst of all these warning anC
: conflicting emotions my life drifteC
along from day to day, the round o.
necessities and commonplaces holding
me.
In thinking of the dinner 1 was glaC
that Myrtle had invited Harper Garlic
ton and his wife. 1 had seen but little
of Mr.. Carleton, but he had shown
plainly that he admired me- I remem
bered what Robert had said, that he wa:
reputed to be over fond of women. Now
that Tod was going to be married,
could not use him to awaken "A feeling
of jealousy in Robert, but l would at
tempt to let him know that Harper
Carleton thought me worth while.
But 1t is one thing for a conven
tionally brought up woman to determine
to do as she pleases, irrespective o.
Mrs. Grundy, so that she may punish
her husband. and it is quite another
thing to carry out this determination.
1 finally decided to wear white.
had lovely white crepe gown my step.
mother had sent me which 1 had never
worn. l tried it on and 1 looked 81
CHASTITY in it l was startled. So fol
the first time in my life, 1 deliberately
set to work to make up my face-be'
cause ] needed to.
When 1 finished I again put on tht
dress and the difference was startling
Even to myself 1 looked as 1 did when
first married Robert. But-would ev'
eryone know? Robert hated rouge, haC
often declared himself as opposed to a
woman using it, or anything but pow
der. He said 1t was vulgar" and thai
mo real lady would daub herself all UP
with it,
Why should 1 care what he thought:
1 muttered. Then l put on a comfort
able house dress, and taking a book sat
down to wait for him. l would see If
he noticed my appearance, what he said
1t was about IL o'clock when he came
in, as usual telling me nothing of where
he had been.
You see l was right to insist tina
you have Nora" he remarked, you arr
beginning to look like yourself again"
smiled, but made no reply, simply
moved to where a stronger light fel
upon my face.
Yes. you are looking fine again" ht
repeated.