The Tomahawk., 1919-07-24
changes? Why Tom, of course. H'

changes? Why Tom, of course. He
was always considerate in sittle things,
for no one knew as he did what
pleased her most.
The flowers were violets, too, her
favorites. In the excitement she had
not noticed that. It was good of Tom
to remember them. How could he for
get them-how could either Of them
forget them? Was it not in wood
purple with violets where first they
had met? Were they not violets he
brought with the ring that sealed their
engagement, and had not her wedding
bouquet been most of violets?
How beautiful had the violets
seemed then! What wonderful day
it had been! What wonderful lover
had Tom been! What wonderful
husband had he started out to be!
Why had he changed? The question
startled Edith. The thought that per-
haps she had been to blame for the
whole thing came to her for the first
time.
In q lonely apartment in q large
hotel, sitting before fireplace that
had not been kindled, his head in his
hands, sat Tom, the loneliest man
in creation. That day he had lost his
dearest possession, the most wonder
full little wife in the world, and he
had just realized that the whole thing
had been his fault.
He had crossed Edith in her every
little whim, just us she had crossed
him in his, though he should have
overlooked that. They had expected
too much of one another. 10 make
life happy one must give in to ones
life mate, but neither Edith or Tom
had surrendered to each other on even
small points. It was wonder they
had not been divorced before.
What other woman would have put
up with him as Edith had done?
thought Tom in his lonely apartment.
And what other man would have put
up with her as Tom had done?
thought Edith in the library of the
lonely home that was hers by law,
but belonged to Tom by rights. They
had been ideally suited to one another
had they only had the power of giving
in. Their tastes, their ambitions,
their ideals were the same, so why
had they not been happy? Thus they
both thought. Gone was everything,
the ambitions, the ideals, the little
children they had dreamed of and the
happy old age they had planned to
have together. The hopes Of a young
lifetime shattered by a decree Of di-
vorce! There was no turning back.
Divorced couples are only remarked
in stories and moving pictures. Mr..
and Mrs. Thomas Lester were no
more Mrs. Edith Lester and Mr..
Thomas Lester survived. The rest Of
her life would be spent in dreaming
of the love and happiness she hac
cast aside, and his would be spent in
lamenting the wife and children that
had been denied him.
"Oh, Tom. Tom, forgive me! 1t
has all been my fault" Edith jumped
to her feet and threw her brothers
manuscript to- the floor, tottered and
almost fell. Tom was right behind
her and caught her in his arms.
1T isn't true, dear; you are still
mine," he cried as he kissed her again
and again. "The lawyers haven't
come yet; let's start all over again."
"Gerald's story seemed SO real" she
sobbed.
"Too real," he laughed, with an ef-
fort to shake off the feeling of de-
preston that had crept over him. "He
led me in here to read it over your
shoulder. He's a clever kid! think
I'll give him that chance he wants in
our fiction department."
"You darling!" Edith smothered
further promises with kisses.