The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-24
The Woman
He Married
DICK DECLARES MONEY ISN'T
EVERYTHING.
BY JANE PHELPS


Stowells, Dick? ?" ssked one day. Mil
bred Stowell hadssaid something that
made me think Dick had not told me
just how intimate he had been with
| them-or her.
II have known Mildred ever since I
was in college. You know, she and
Stowen married only about six months
before we did,
NO, I didn't know it. You were
pretty intimate with her, weren't
your
why. I used to call on her, take
her out occasionally, just as I did a
lot of other girls. Why?"
"Oh, nothing, Only something she
said let me see that you and she had
known each other pretty well. I don't
see why you made such a secret of it,
Dick threw back his head and
laughed.
Secret! had no such idea"
Then why didn't you tell me more
about her?
"Fll be perfectly honest, Nan, and
tell you why. Mildred Stowell mar
ried very rich man. Naturally she
can have everything she wants 1 pre-
ferred we should not keep up the &C
quaintance. I feared 1t would make
you discontinued. There! That is all
there is to it. Now that you have
brought up the subject, TN tell you
that liked Mildred, she was awfully
good company. But once when some
thing came up concerning money, she
showed herself so mercenary I never
felt quite the same toward her after
ward. 1t was foolish, perhaps, but well
money isn't everything, altho we
can't get along very well without it !"
"I should say mott I, for one, don't
want tot The only trouble seems to be
don't have enough" 1 laughed lit
tie when I saw the serious expression
on Dicks face. Someway he had be-
than he ngad IN he
not as full of fun, and so dreadfully
practical where money was concerned.
well, keep your courage, dear!
Better times will come some day, and
until they do we have each other and
the kid. Most people would feel rich
if they had half as much L believe
Stowell would give all he has Tor a
boy like Junior"
Mrs. Stowen told me that he want
ed to adopt a boy about year ago
and that she wouldn't consent"
That was selfish in her, think!
She had so much, and could make
some poor kid so happy IL she Wpuld. :.
''But a child is combining. Dick: And
unless it is your own 1 can see hoy a
woman might object to having thefre-
sponsibility."
Dick grunted. we often had such
little talks, andSI accused him of being
old fogey; of always wanting to do
what I3caned the Sunday school act.
Later, Sonlysa few years later, what
wouldn't have given to have had him
feel and talk the same.
I told Clara Watson about Nick
Crawford and his wife-what he had
done to her. Clara was terribly
shocked; she had met Mrs. Crawford,
and had liked her immensely.
ct called there once with a friend
and she had the cutest little parlor
maid you ever saw. A perfect duck of
a French girl. She had her dressed in
gray pongee, with white apron and cap.
the apron tied around her waist with
black ribbons. I was Jealous for weeks
every time Thought OF that girL I
just hate to open the door to my
guests. 1t looks so common"
had not felt at all that way, but
agreed with Clara that it was rather
plebeian. I had wanted a maid. but
principally because of~Junior, and to
help with the kitchen work. Now I
had another reason: I wanted to make
a good impression on anyone who
called by. having a smart maid to- open
the door.
was she SO. extravagant?" I asked.
And wasn't it an awful thing for him
to do?"
"She had lovely things in her house,
and she was wearing the loveliest tea
gown the day we called. She is very
pretty. I don't think a man has any
business getting nasty because his wife
runs few. bi1ls--if Jim ever did such
a thing to me, I'd leave him in a
minute"
That's what told Dick. Why, it
would be so embarrassing, 1 wouldn't
feel that I could ever show my face
again. Yet down in my heart L knew
that nothing would ever make me
leave Dick-nothing ever destroy my
love for me. y
(Tomorrow-Mrs. Stoweu finds Nan
WeepinE)