The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-29
The Woman
He Married
nv ZANE pHET
A PLAN FOR BRIDGE LESSONS.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 81.


'Mr. Stowell and 1 are coming over
some evening soon-that is if you will
have u.s." Mrs. Stowell spoke exactly
as if she had done nothing to make me
her debtor in any way. 1t was wonder
full to me that she could do so. HE
is extremely fond of bridge. and Dick
used to be a very good player. You
play, don't you?"
Rather an Indifferent game" re-
piled.
80 do l." Mrs. Stowell said. Let's
take some lessons of that wizard
Markham, who is teaching all the
women to play. We won't let the boys
know and wen surprise them by our
improvement. Perhaps that Mrs.
Watson would like to go with us?"
She evidently expected no objections
from me.
1T don't know that Clara would feel
she could afford it, and how much
does he charger"
"Only SIS for half hour lessons. OF
course 1 will pay for yours, as it is
doing me a favor to go with me. Then,
too, If we learn to play we will be sure
OF winning out when we are partners,
because having learned of the same
perfectly
A year ago I would have been
shocked at the idea of paying SIS for
half an hours instruction in bridge, or
in anything else. But now L took it as
a matter of course, and said thank-you
to Mrs. Stowell, and planned in my
mind how I was going to get Mrs.
Dooly to stay with Junior. and keep it
from Dick. Mrs. StowelI had i'm
reraccad hof Of 70
let the men know anything about it.
We settled upon the days We would
go to him-twice a week. Then she
chatted entertainingly all the rest of
the time until she took me home.
Suppose Mr.. Stowell and I run over
Saturday night" she said as / stood
on the walk in front of the house.
He prefers to go out on Saturday be-
cause he can sleep late on Sunday"
DO GOMEZ" urged, II shall expect
you." Then I tried to thank her once
more for what she had done for me.
But made such stumbling work of it
that she stopped me, laughing blithely
at my embarrassment.
There, don't say another word. 1
have forgotten all about it. 1 never
shall get home at this rate. Goodbye
gone.
1 stood watching the big car until
1t was out of sight, then climbed the
stairs slowly. But once in the rooms I
commenced to laugh and talk hys-
tericaLy to Junior. I felt 1 must give
some expression to my feelings. or I
would act so that Dick might mistrust
something had happened.
We're out of debt. babvt We ran
get some pretty things now for YOU
ana mother wouldn't 1t be nice to
be rich like she is? Rich enough 40
that $25O didn't mean any more than
that to us?" 1 snapped my fingers and
the oaby gurgled with delight
VI course, 1t would And when Won
get a big man you must 20 into some
business where you make a lot of
money One might as well be dead as
poor nowadays" Another gurgIe
proved he agreed with me.
Yet 1t was a very happy poor wo-
man who got dinner ready that night.
a monstrously happy woman who
STOOD and watched for her husbands
coming-a very different woman from
the one who for weeks had trembIed
at every step for fear she was to be
exposed. had ordered an extra nice
dinner. everything Dick liked. My
forgotten as I sang in sheer happi-
ness while waited for Dick.
Not a thought that I had wroneed
DICK came to me. In fact I womb
nave sald-had been asked-that I
had done him a kindness. All those
bills paid, and he not worried with
them-it was marvellous! And 1 could
also have that hat
Hello. Mani" Dick called as usual.
Then, What's happened, dear?" as he
kissed me and then Junior. You look
as II you had found a gold mine. I
haven't seen you look so happy in a
long time"
Hurry and get washed. Dinner is
ready, and such a good dinner" said
gleefully. I'VE. baby and I, have had
long ride with Mildred Stowell. all
thru the park ond out on the Drive.
1t was heavenly. 1 wish we had a
carl"
"As well wish for the moon. deari
But 1 am glad Mildred came for YOU,
1t has done you good" Then as we
sat down: "Whew, this is a good din
ner. Be careful, Nan, things cost too
much nowadays for a poor man to
have such an elaborate spread as this
often"
(Tomorrow-Too good a dinner.N