Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-08-05
SANDRA FINDS LIFE A PUZZLE
CHAPTER XXXVIII

So everyone had thought Everett
would marry Irma Barton. Perhaps
he was sorry he hadn't! He always
acted so gay and interested when he
was with her-not at all stern and
quiet as he was when with me. l
had felt a little jealousy of Mrs.
Barton ever since the first time had
seen Everett talking with her. Now
that jealousy was increased. She
acted flattered by Everett's atten-
tions-but if he had cared for her
why hadn't he married her instead of
me?
Then I remembered that Mr.. Lev
eridge had said:
"She's not young, and guess
Graham is ready to settle down with
a family. 1t looks like it, marrying
that child.
How l wished the music had not
just then started up. l couldn't help
wondering what more ne would haze
said. He had started "He is"-then
/ heard no more.
IL LFSIGIG NIdHdII JllOuSnI 1IC
was going to marry me just to make
mother of me, he was mistaken!
Let him adopt children if he wanted
Them" / said to myself, then blush
ed at my immodesty in thinking of
such things. Yet hadn't he as much
as told me that that was his reason
for asking me to marry him?" a
home and family, wife and Children"
he had said when l asked him what
he married me for when he loved
Leola.
Sometimes l thought that no girl
ever had such a queer sort of pu%-
zle to solve as | did If l could have
written or talked it over with Moth
er, think she would have found some
way to help me. But she was so far
away; had been so averse to my
marrying an older man, and would
be unhappy if she thought was not
contented that l could not bring
myself to let her know anything
about how l felt.
| blushed whenever | thought of
how l had told Rose Grandon that
Everett was "crazy over me, wild to
marry me-" l had heard how he had
treated Leola, the woman he was in
love with, and of whom he was so
Jealous. And l knew the way he
treated me, the woman he had mar
ried for those other reasons.
Oh, if | only dared to do the things
Leola did! If when Everett told me
not to dance in public places, l had
the courage to dance all I wanted
to-and re treated me coldly or fared
up at me, l dared to make such
fuss that he would have to do some
thing to quiet me.
Some day when l was little old
er, and when l had been his wife
little longer, would do those
things too-the things that Leola used
to do. I was learning a lot about
her. Perhaps l would soon learn
something of the indiscreet things she
had done; then l would do the same
things. If they made Everett love
her, they might make him love me
too. He might also be jealous of me.
And I like all other girls thought
jealousy sign of love instead of
lack of faith.
l did not reason that it was not
because of the things that Leola did
that Everett loved her, but because of
what she was she herself; that he
loved her so we'll that he was willing
to bear with her because of that
love, and not having the same feel
ing for me, that same intense love,
he would not be willing to put up
with the same things from me.
The next afternoon Barrett Ed
monds came up to practice the new
songs. l tried again to get him to
| enthuse over Rose but he simply
would not He just said nice things
to me. Not silly, babyish things like
fat Mr.. Leveridge and that horrid
Mr.. Cantwell did-Barrett treated
me as if / at least knew a little
something and had PASSED the stage
when all l could do was play with
dolls.
We had delightful time even if
he wouldn't talk about Rose. called
him Mr. Edmonds, of course, but he
asked me if l didn't think knew him
we'll enough to call him Barry, as
Alice Sloane did?
"Oh no." l replied, blushing flu
riously. 81 never called anyone in
Hendon by their first names"
"Why not in Hendon as well as
any other placer"
ooh, don't knoww I wanted to
say that didn't think Everett would
like it, yet hated to- "You see l
haven't known you ve~v long"