Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-07-01
A MOMENTOUS DECISION.
CHAPTER CIX,


After George left in the morning l
wandered about the house unAoie 10
set myself at anything, even the SIM
nle household tasks / usually did in
spite OF having sd. many servants.
The flowers for the table and library,
other little things that | loved to do
and which helped fill the morning
hours, / tried to practice, then 10
play some new music but failed IN
both attempts.
FINALLY put on my street clothes
and started for a walk. | tried TO
think 1 would not listepo TO Merton
Gray, that l would send him word
not TO come. But l did nothing about
IL. The thought of the folks at nome
intruded; father, mother. and the
hoys. David had seen that I was un-
happy at times, but ! knew he as
well as the others would be terribly
shocked should | do so unconven-
tional a thing as to leave my hus-
band, to say nothing of going with
another man.
Had I stopped loving George? DID
| love Merton Gray enough to do as
he asked? II l could only decide
those two questions, | thought as l
walked along the busy streets, tor-
tunately meeting no one whom |
knew. Had I. l should have passed
them without recognition. My nina
was preoccupied to such an extent.
Like a flash II came to me. Tell
Mrs. Sexton. Ask her advice.
Impulsively | turned and changed
the course OF my walk, But she
lived at some distance, and 1t now
seemed as II / couldn't walt, so
hailed taxi. Fortunately she was
at home, and received me most gra-
ciously; although I imagined / say
a flicker Of surprise in her face at
my early call.
Helen Asks Mrs. Seyton's Advice.
She took me into her co2y little
sitting room, insisted upon my re-
moving my wraps. then said:
! Il shall keep you TO luncheon. al
1 day If ! can. This Is good OF you
| | was feeling bit out of sorts this
morning. have not been as well as
usual lately" She then asked about
Bar Harbor, had we good time,
etc
/ chatted with her, glad to put off
! the discussion as long as possible,
I yet longing to have 1t over. After
a time l said:
Il am going to shock you, Mrs,
Sexton"
Really, we'll, 20 aheadl Perhaps
/ | need a shock of some kind" She
smiled as she said it, but there was
! also sympathy and understanding IN
! her face.
1t was strange how my feelings
| about Mrs. Sexton had changed.
once had so disliked her that
! would have gone home rather than
4 keen her longer with me; and had
| begged George to send her away
/ Now Of all the people l knew in the
world she was the only one to whom
/ [ either could or would go TO ask
| advice. I realized that nat even to
my own mother coNbl confess what
| was going to confess to Mrs. Sex
| ton: that a man other than my
! husband had love to me; had asked
| me to leave George and go away
with him.
In spite of her remark concern
| ing a shock being welcome, ! almost
| hesitated to speak of my errand, so
really i'll did Mrs Sexton look. When
| / said so she returned
| II am much better than for sew
eral days past Nothing you have
| to tell me viii injure me- it may help
me by taking my mind from myself,
my pains and aches
Then | told her, | blurted out the
main thing at once.
Merton Gray wants me to go
away with him
"Yes--I am not surprised that he
should want you. u have long known
| he loved you. | am surprised, how
cTer. that he has spoken. I thought
| he knew you loved your husband.
"Thats Just il! l don't know
that l do love George; and ] don't
| know but I d62 care n lot for
Merton, am always contented and
happy when with him, He Is never
cross and impatient, never critical
| of me, of my actions. He accepts
and likes me as 1 am. He does not
| try to make me over" I said the
| last bitterly AS always when /
Thought of what George had told me,