The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-13

|
/ not find the book or magazine in which
, | she had read 1t. She repeated II e
. her mother and asked her II she be.
lieved it true.
. yes" her mother slowly replied
! Il think most unhappiness as we'll as
happiness comes from within ourselves
do not know that l agree with the
clause about a previous existence, but
I am inclined TO think the rest is true"
Then you think we can make our
own happiness irrespective of others?
Even OF those with whom we live?"
Yes. in a certain sense. II we live
right. do the best we can. then trust
GOD that all things will work togethe
I FOR our good, as He has promised, be-
ileve wa can possess happiness" Then:
AFTER all, daughter, isn't happiness
really having a contented mind? Max
rng the best OF everything Laughing
instead OF weeping?''
Perhaps" Madge returned. then
thought: Mother has always been
happy with dad. I should have to ask
some woman as old as she 10 who has
been unhappiy married" To Madge
that was the crux OF the entire matter
to be happily married meant 20 be
always happy.
1t was not so long ago that she had
left the ranch for her New York home.
| happy with a happiness so perfect that
| she felt there was nothing else to be
| desired OF life. 1t was not SO long ago
only little more than four years
yet in that short time her happiness.
her joy. had departed.
1t was only when she thought Of Jack
Turner that she could contemplate the
future without fear.
| CHAPTER CIX.
| All Madge's girlhood friends planned
| to make her visit a joyful and busy
one. Riding parties, hunting and fish,
ing, picnics and camping followed each
other in rapid succession.
| Instead Of getting rested am afraid
we shall send you back to Walter more
tired than when you came" her mother
| said as each urgent invitation came.
mo, indeed you won't mother!"
| Madge replied with lightness she was
far from feeling. 1T does me good to
gotten me-" She did not add her
| thought that as far as Walter was con-
cerned it made no difference how she
looked as he would not see her.
Walter had done as she had suggested
Once each week he wrote her letter
which told nothing she wished to know.
yet satisfied the family that she was not
being neglected because she was away.
He spoke OF meeting Kitty in the street.
said he had dined with Mr.. Hobbs at
the club and that he wished to be re-
membered to Madge. In one letter he
turned. Could Madge have known how
he hesitated before imparting that bit
of news, she might have felt flattered
He asked after all his in-laws and
wrote of the weather. But always in
quiries concerning his little son filled
most of the sheet.
Madge dutifully answered all letters
that came. She told of her reception,
how glad they all seemed to have her
with them. She described the various
functions and affairs given in her honor |
by her young friends. giving a glowing |
picture of ranch life. Then, always |
very minutdy. very carefully she an
swered all questions he had asked about |
little Douglas. That was his right, to |
know all there was to know regarding |
his son. She told OF the pony William |
had given him and how he was learning |
to ride. William walking beside him |
steadying him when necessary. She |
told of how brown he was getting, just |
like little Mexican. She repeated his |
cute sayings, often writing them down |
between times so she would not forget |
them. Yet she also told Walter moth |
ing of what he longed to know. Moth |
ing of herself.
Letters can be so satisfying or so I'M
satisfying. r0 - ~'~H
For four years Madge had been with |
Walter, scarcely separated from him
except for a few days on occasion.
Could she have seen him, have known
how he castigated himself, she might
have realized that he, too, was unhappy.
What a fool he had been, he told him
self over and over--what a fool. As he
gazed round on his life. 1t looked to
him desolate. His home depressed him
and he spent even more time than
usual with the lively Aimee Loree or at
the club.
This came to Madge in a round about
way. but came surely as malicious gos
sip is bound to come. 1t incensed while
it also helped her to believe she had
done the right, the only thing possible
under the circumstances.
Yet for days after receiving the In
forming letter. note rather, from Mrs.
Gleason, she found 1t even harder than
before to keep UP the pretense Of being
happy.
ut isn't so easy to be Pollyana,"
she murmured with dry smile as she
tried to show gladness because OF some
thing being planned for her, while
thoughts Of Walter with Aimee Loree
filled her mind.
Walter would never understand how
hard she had tried or how much she
forced to leave him, although she
loathed the thought of the publicity di-
vorce would bring. She felt it had not
been of her own choice that she had
left him, but OF his.
Even now that she had virtually left
.
ton she had asked so continually since
she had felt he no longer loved her:
me?'
And now she had no answer. even
as she never before had been able to
find one.
But she was not always unhappy. She !
couldn't be with so much love, so much
thought for. her pleasure surrounding '
her Every one strove to please her. to
make her happy,
IT should be worse than an migrate
did l let them think l WIS worrying !
when they are all so kind" she said TO
herself and determinedly put awaysher
sadness, to be INDUCED In only in the 4
privacy OF her room when the rest
slept.
Il guess was mistaken thinking :
Madge was not quito happy when she
lrst came. that she had something on
ler mind" William confided to Susan. 6
She's pert enough now"
What in the world would she have
IN her mind? Her lovely home. every
hing In the world she wants, md that
larlng boy You're silly 10 even I'M u
lgine she isn't happy"
erhap-but-wcll. I am glad " ] y
vas wrong" William had tried to get !
Iadre TO talk TO him more than once. !
lad evaded him. It might be as well :
hat he had said nothing-he thought =
ftcr this talk with Susan. a.
CHAPTER OK, =
The pretended calm Of her visit was .
,roken to a degree when Madge re- y
eived n letter from Jack Turner:
Dear Madgo-You perhaps will be
urprised 10 hear from me, vet | nat $
er myself you viii not be displeased.
am reduced almost 10 a state OF des- v
,eration because Of ny longing TO hear s.
rom you, There can he nothing wrong, q
'Ou dear LITTLE Puritan. In writing me | u
ust a line. Tel me- dear. II you are | p
veil and happy with your own people y
Who love you. Tell me what you are y
oing how spending your time out IN q