The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-07
The Woman
He Married
nv LAME nIrrrnc
BY JANE PHELPS
A BOYS KEEN INTUITION.
Chapter 112

| - Dbl > hEfsN INTUITION.
Chapter liz.
Junior had gone back to school and
life seemed suddenly dreary, cold. and
sorrowful. 1 was terribly unhappy
over Dick, but when Junior was with
me could not be entirely miserable
His boyish gayety. his high spirits,
| were constant joy to me.
Yet in a way 1 did not regret his
going. He was old enough now to no.
| tice when I was hurt or worried, sad
| and anxious. At times thought he
suspected the cause. Several times he
had made slangy, boyish. disparaging
remarks about Juanita- They were
make in a joking way, yet thought
that underneath the fun there lay q
/ certain knowledge.
| In every way 1 could had tried to
combat this idea. invited Juanita to
luncheon. to dinner, and to play bridge
in the evening, 1 laughed at her-and
with her. 1 talked openly before them
and Junior of their intimacy when
writing their novel-a sore point with
Dick, if not with Juanita. But much,
| as loved Junior, glad as l had been
| to have him with me. it was relief in
a way to let him go. His sharp eyes
| would no longer be upon his father
| l had imagined once or twice that he
| had lost some of the respect in which
he always had held Dick, some of the
pride in his accomplishments. Yet it
had been nothing tangible. simply
| boyish nonsense So tried to assure
myself.
I'VE must be very careful now, Dick:
| Junior is. becoming very observing, 1
remarked as we returned from the
station after bidding him goodbye.
He would not be at home again for
several months.
| Careful of WHAT"
| "Of what we say and do. 1t is queer
the notions a boy gets. He used to be
fond of Juanita, but treaty think he
dislikes her-sees thru her"
Sees thru her ?"--in question
ing way, yet as if he scarcely realized
what he said.
yes her playing to the gallery-as
| he puts it--wearing freak clothes, do
ing things SO outrageous in many ways.
Boys are rather old-fashioned, l guess
boys of Juniors age"
| 1t may have been beneath a wonan's,
! wife's, dignity to disparage a rival as
was doing. But it seemed 70 me the
| only way I could save my pride. and
not let Dick know l was Jealous,
! fearful.
/ I knew only too we'll that if ever
let him know had seen Juanita ingflis
arms it would be hard to live with him
| afterward, hard for both of US. I was
not the sort who could ignore such
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS could go on as if /
did rot know tiff Dick were aware
knew of the disloyalty-altho 1 did
not yet give it that name. 1 called it
his foolish infatuation, when did
name it.
! 1 worked Internationally at this time.
I refused contra cts that took me too
much from home.
Come on, Dick, lets take walk, y
would often now interrupt him
where before had hesitated- gu
have lots of time to write. Let's take
life leisurely for a while.
But" he argued. you work pretty
steadily, why not me? 2"
Yes" admitted, ST do work fairly
steadily. but you over-worked on your
book. And having Juanita with you
| so much was wearing, for. of course,
you would have many times done
| much better work alone. You see.
there is where I have the advantage.
| l don't have anyone interrupting me-"
81 wouldn't call her trying to help
-interrupting.
perhaps not, yet she didn't help
and am sure that had you continued
| trying te-work with her your lima gina :
ton would suffer. your work would
| deteriorate. Not that Juanita isn't
| lovely to look at, but she certainly ism [
| good for man of genius ike your
self. She would soon kill it IN you"
I always mentioned her looks, or her
clothes as being perfect. I would not
| disparage her in a way to make Dick
| think me jealous. but would place it
all upon the detrinnent she was to his
| work.
| Like al1---or most writers, Dick was
/ immensely fascinated with his own
ideas his ability to express them. At
first he had been timid. but long be-
| fore he met Juanita that had worn
! off, and he had grown sure he had
| found his metier-that he was bound
| to be a. successful author.
The failure of the book, the scath-
! ing criticisms had hurt him. wounded
| his self esteem, more than he was
willing to Acknowledges. That it was
! Juanita's part in the book that had
| caused its rejection was a weapon
| of which I had made good use. while
never letting him see / was using it.
l planned all sorts of things to in
hterest him. I had a breakfast room
screened off from the porch and we
took our morning meal out there. We
| now had a little Japanese maid, and I
| could make myself attractive even SO
early. But the keynote of ALL wore
| was simplicity. never atrained after
| effect. but wore dainty washable
clothes that / kept crisp and fresh.
1T is all right for Juanita who is
| single, and has loads of time on her
| hands to dress in such artistic messi-
ness I remarked, sit Is one way to at
tract attention Anyway 1t is beconn-
] ing, and she is ~wise to do it, As
4 usual, after making such "catty'' re-
mark. 1 praised her.
| (Tomorrow-Nan and Juanita discuss
| ma rriage.1