The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-10
The Woman
He Married
AN EARLY AFTERNOON CALL.
BY JANE PHELPS

Chapter ga.
Mr.. Burns came very soon, but not
as Dick has planned. He called in
the early afternoon, bringing me n
perfectly gorgeous bunch of violets. l
was delighted at receiving them, not
so much because of the attention, as
that Dick and I were going out that
evening, and I would have them to
wear.
Ever since Mrs. Stowelrs party Dick
had been perfectly lovely He seemed
to have suddenly Weakened up to the
fact that was very GOOD to look at,
and that / needed handsome, stylish
clothes to set off my beauty.
had old him my blue and silver
dress cost $1S5, without a tremor, and
he had laughingly said:
II see where have to make a mill
lion to dress my pretty WIFE" then had
kissed me, and added: I'll make it,
too. some day. you see if l don't!'
recalled how had hidden my first
purchases of Felice. How 1 had de-
ceived and lied to him. and thought
boastingly that it was all owing to me,
my determination, that he was SO diff
ferent-that he was making money,
that L no longer had to deceive him.
Even yet, however, he knew nothing
of the many tradeSmen's bills, and l
constantly bought new clothes, hata
shoes, Stockings-al the latest STYLES
and so expensive that 1 was deeply in
debt. But 1 no longer worried about
unpaid bills, no longer laid sleepless
wondering where the money was COM
ing from to pay them.
Strangely enough even with our in
creasing prosperity had not yet paid
Mrs. StoweI back that $3.50 she loaned
me so long ago. Once more. just be-
fore the fire, I had mentioned it and
as she had done before, she laughed
at me for thinking about II.
Didn't / tell you that when Dick
made a million you could pay it; or
when Mr.. StoweIl lost his money and
1 needed it ?" she asked.
Eyes, but
"Have you SO much money now-a-
days that you don't miss s25O?"
mo, indeed"
"Then say nothing about it, unless"
she paused, and looked keenly at
"Unless WHAT" I had no faintest
idea of what was coming, what she
meant.
Unless you tell me whenever Mr..
Burns gives you information on the
markets. He is a wizard at making
money, and anyone could see you had
made a terrible hit with him"
But you are SOL had been about
to say rich" but change it-"unlikely
to need money!
who seem very wealthy often have
their money tied up so that they can
not use 1t freely as one might. think
Then securities and-oh, there are
many reasons why even people consid-
cred wealthy need money"
I knew even now so little about
business that I said no more about
that part of it, but did add:
Dick tells me very little of what
he is doing, of what Mr.. Burns tells
him. He doesn't think a woman
should know or talk of her husbands
business"
There. ? was sure was right.
I told Mr.. Stowell the other night
after you left that I knew Mr.. Burns
must be helping Dick or you wouldn't
have been able to keep on going to
Felice, ct cetera. You were the lowell
est thing that night No wonder Mr..
Burns fell for you
I thought of this remark of Mil
dred's when Mr.. Burns called. and It
embarrassed me a little. But he was
SO genial, so flattering in his remarks
and admiration of our little. home,
that / soon forgot to be embarrassed.
and chatted away as if had known
him always. 1t was early. but in
sisted he have tea. L had made some
delicious cakes that morning. and
after he tasted them he declared he
must go or he wouldn't leave any for
Dick.
He made great fuss over Junior.
and promised when he came again to
have something in his pocket for him.
Really 1 had a thoroly enjoyable af-
ternoon, and anxiously waited for Dick
to come in to tell him all about il.
(Tomorrow-Nan gives Mrs. Stowell
wanted information.)