The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-25
The Woman
He Married
OLD DESIRES HARD TO OVER
BY JANE PHELPS


OLD DESIRES HARD TO OVER
| &C IE.
Chapter IT.
Dick had written his mother and
sister that we had decided to live in
Lansing; that It was near mother. that
altho he didn't get quite as large a
salary. living would be cheaper, SO
| that his sala y would go nearly as far.
His mother had approved, but his
sister wrote rather a disagreeable let
| ter.
"She had such good time she
| wants to visit you again." Dick said
| laughingly at me for feeling hurt at
something she had said. "As long as
we know we are started ON the right
track. what do we care what anyone
says?" 80
That first week was a long one in
spite of being with mother. I wanted
Dick. 1 wanted to look at him. into
| his eyes. I longed to know if he were
happy or miserable. if he liked his
new position, or loathed it. But !
had to be centented with the short
note he wrote me every other day. We
had decided upon that before he left.
We would not use the telephone ex-
cepting for illness. 1t cost 25 cents to
! telephone, and we were determined
not to spend a cent foolishly.
what do you think of it. mother ?"
asked after telling her my plan.
ut is wonderful! I believe you can
| do it. toe. If you are successful you
could soon pay your debts
You see they are my debts. mother,
not Dicks would feel that in some
way had atoned for a part of what
L did if 1 could pay them myself"
81 know, dear. understand
Was there anything she did not I'M
derstand?
But, Man. she went on. 81 shall
insist that you rest at least two or
three weeks before you even COM
mei : to work out the details. You
have been thru a terrible strain. You
cannot do good work of any kind,
either mental CT physical. in the con-
dition you now are. Dick tells me no
one will worry you and
Good reason whyI" 1 interrupted.
mo one knows where we are for one
thing, and they all know we haven't
a cent for another"
well, never mind the reason. 1t is
good to know you will not be an
noyed and can keep all your strength
for what you have in mind"
That night prayed as I never had
prayed before. 1 am almost ashamed
| to tell why.
1 had been to the store for mother.
Without thinking of myself at all,
| had put on one of my Feliea street
dresses. While in the store I heard
my name.
! heard they had come back here to
| live"
Eyes, that is Nan-Mrs. Williams
think her name is now" ! half
| turned and saw a woman who knew
| me well, altho she was much older
| than I.
What does her husband do? He
must make coolies of money to let her
dress like that Wonder why they
| come out here to live?"
81 expect it is to be near her moth
| er. Suppose we call tomorrow"
I turned and went out, my errand
| undone. 1 must continue to wear my
clothes. even tho they were too hand
some for a bank clerks wife. But
the old thrill when my clothes were
admired, the old delight in being well
gowned. In all the stress of the past
| two weeks I had supposed that feel
ing had gone forever. But I had
| learned we do not SO easily shake off
old habits. old desires. So when I
went to bed that night / prayed ear
nestly to be helped to be made good,
| that my foolish vanity and love of
clothes might not lead me astray
again.
The next day was Saturday and
| Dick would be with US by or 5
o'clock. I was so anxious to hear
| how the week had gone, altho his
short notes had spoken of every one
as pleasant and the work not diff
cult.
Junior and I went to the station to
meet him, and we walked home with
Junier between us, each OF US grasp
| ing one of his chubby hands.
7 Now tell me all about it, Dicki
Every single thing Ieurged when we
reached the house and were rid of
Junior.
There isn't much to teil-rather.
not much about myself. The work
is easy, Mr.. Peabody a pleasant old
gentleman, the other employees all
| rather nice fellows. But it seems
there has been some trouble at the
| bank. I can't quite get on to it. But
the examiner came today. Mr. Pea
body asked me tie assist him, as am
a stranger to them all and so would
not be tempted to try and shield any
one"
How awful"
'.oh. they aren't sure, It may be
an error in the books. Be very sure
not to mention it, even to your
! mother
promised, but hated the thought
of any one being in trouble and of
Dick being the one to help expose
them.
Tomorrow Dick makes an
eQenay.l