The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-17
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
A MOVIE THAT WARNED.
BY JANE P
CHAPTER XVII.

a MOVIE THAT WARNED.
CHAPTER XVII.
at don't see how am to get thru
the month, Dick, unless 1 have a little
more money" 1 said one evening a
little later
II gave you all I could"
'"But what did you do with the
rest?" I had always handled all his
salary except his own lunch and smoke
money.
Il gave the doctor some on account,
and the druggist"
but why not let them wait? 1t
wouldn't hurt them
''No-perhaps not. But it would
both hurt and worry me-
II don't see why-let the other fell
low walk the floor" I repeated Clara.
There's no use of your worrying.
You know you would, pay it some
time
mo. Nan! You've a wrong point
of view. 1 wish 1 could do more for
you, dear. 1t makes me very unhappy
to see you so dissatisfied
"Oh, but I'm not! Not very often.
But it sometimes seems that when you
work SO hard you should be paid
more"
IL am paid more. But we can't use
1t until we ct even again. Ther when
you can have that $50 you will see a
difference"
II hope so! There's need enough"
1 urged him to go to the movies. I
saw he was restless, and also wanted
to get away from my thoughts. The
picture was a disappointment to me.
1t told all about a wife who ruined he.
husband by her extravaganza, motor
cars, country homes, ct cetera- Di'
leaned over to me once and remarke
You see, Nan, how it works out
when one runs into debt" The wom-
an had run her husband thousands of
dollars in debt.
"Oh. such debts as that-of counsel"
I answered.
THE principle is the same"
We said no more, but when 1 de-
clared had not cared for the picture,
Dick said he thought it an exception
ally good one. We seemed never to
think alike about things any more.
Clara Watson came in the next
morning. She said she had called up,
had wanted us to come down and play
bridge. L told her we were at a pic
ture show. and that it had bored me,
attic Dick had liked it.
I'VE often go. Jim says a good pic
ture rests him." she replied, but I
can't say that care very much for
the people we see there. They haven't
any style"
"No-and at the theater the audi
ence interests me as much as the
play" I rejoined.
That's what 1 tell Jim, but he does
not see things as 1 do. A married
woman has to go where her husband
wants to pretty much, or else stay at
home. We work all day just as they
do. but to hear them talk one would
think all we did was to sit on cush-
ion and sew a fine seam, like the wo-
man in the Mother Goose Stories.''
Yet you and Jim are happy to-
gether. Think how many people quar-
rel and are mismated."
I knew as 1 said it that marriage
was beginning to seem at times a very
sordid thing to me-this daily planning
to get what L wanted, and then make
ends meet, the longing for luxuries-a
longing L encouraged instead of sti-
fling, by letting my thoughts dwell
upon my desires
"Oh, welI,'' Clara broke in, 'Iots of
women will put up with anything for
home" Then we talked of the baby,
the new pillows l intended to get for
the carriage, and other things.
HAS Mrs. Stowell been to see you
again ?" Clara asked.
Yes, she has been here three times.
I was out twice, and wished I had
been the other time. I hate to have
her climb those stairs. but she is just
wild over Junior. Says she never
cared much for babies, but thinks
him adorable. How I wish we could
take that flat over in the same house
with you. If 1 only had little money
OF my own, But 1 haven't a penny
only what Dick gives me-"
I'm in the same fix. 1 have always
envied wives who had a private in
come of their own. But try and get
Dick to come over. Perhaps he could
if he would. A good many men are
like that" she finished. 1 said moth
ing because knew as well as Dick did
better. because he knew nothing of
my debts again-that we could not
afford more rent.
''I shall have to do something to en-
terrain Mrs. Stowell. Clara. You will
have to help me. Dick would say to
have her lunch here, but am not go
ing to do it. I'll ask. her to lunch
somewhere downtown with me. You
must come. too. and meet her.
'Tll be delighted, and Will help you
all I can"
(Tomorrow-Plans for a luncheon.)