The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-04
The Woman
He Married
nv FAME DIET DC
BY JANE PHELPS
A CRY FOR HELP,


| Chapter 100.
The years spent in New York SEEM
| ed very distant, and 1 had grown care
less in writing Mrs Gray. But in my
need her sweet motherly face came
before me, and thoughts of her as the
one person in the world who could
| help me filled my mind.
| I wrote asking her to make me a
visit. I did not realize until I heard
from her husband that she was i'll
and could not take such a journey,
| how much 1 had depended upon her
coming. I could hope for help from
no noe. I must fight my trouble,
| attack my problem alone.
| 1 felt almost sure that as long as
| Junior was at home Dick would not
see as much of Juanita as he had be-
| fore he came. So as 1 must make hay
while I could, started at once to put
| into execution a plan I had formu-
lated.
| I'm going over to Aunt Nita's,
Junior" L remarked, don't you and
father want to go with me?"
| It'll goi" Junior replied, but Dick
excused himself.
AS tactfully as I could turned the
| conversation upon Dick. I told Juan
tia I suspected he was not well, that
| he was unlike himself.
eff I did not know him so we'll,
| would think he was getting silly in his
old age" said when Junior had gone
| out On to the porch with Juanitas
pomeranian. HE acts as if he were
in love-"
what do you mean?" Juanita had
| flushed.
Just what say. Dick is a pecu-
liar temperament He changed in
many ways when he lived on the des-
| ert so long. He is easily affected by
| colors by anything which appeals to
| n tu hUf E11ff
this only lasts while he is with the
person, or in the place where he is
so affected. As soon as he is away,
he is himself again.
You mean he is fickle?" a puzzled
look on her face. s
"Thatsl no name for it," declared
laughing, but relieved at Juniors re-
appearance. 1 had started some
thing" as he would have said.
When we reached home Dick was
hand, a look of encouragement on
his face.
what is it, Dick?" I asked.
/ Read that!' he replied shortly,
handing me the letter. 1t was a short
one from the publisher to whom he
had submitted his manuscript. The
tbook was not suitable for their read
ers, and so they would have to re-
turn it, ct cetera.
I could have sung aloud with Joy.
but rather scathing criticism of some
Of the descriptions and characters,
most of which had been furnished by
Juanita.
1T would have been all right If you
had written it alone" 1 said as I re-
turned the letter. but woman who
is as prone to exaggeration as Juanita,
cannot help but ruin any serious I'M
dertaking."
why didn't you say SO before?''
| r al, .
do you mean by exaggeration?"
Just what the word means. In
dress, in manner, in all she does, She
is an exaggeration of self. To be
really helpful, one cannot think OF
making an impression ali the time
person, or upon the public"
ct thought you liked her"
81 do,"s it was excusable to lie in
such a cause, but that doesn't blind
: me. She is so fascinating that many
women would consider her dangerous
Yet one would tire of her just as one
, tires of some exotic plant. But
why are we SO seriously discussing
Juanita?" I had made up my mind
, to discuss her with him constantly
him with her. Instead of avoiding any
mention of them, would talk so con-
stantly of Juanita to Dick, of Dick tc
Juanita that they would tire of hear
in each others name. It may seem
. like a childish thing to do, but I was
/ willing to do anything short of muir
) der to keep my husband.
I had thought of going to Juanita
and frankly asking her to keep away
from Dick. to keep him away from her
to. refuse to see him. Then I recalled
seen her give Dick, and felt sure she
: would only laugh at me. If I could
!, turn them against each other in some
|. . way it would be far better.
The publisher by his rejection O.
themanuscript had helped me. Juanits
had said SO much about her helpful
e ness on the very points the publishe
1 criticised, that it did not need a wo
: mans 81 told you so" to make Dicl
4 feel I had been right in my feeling
that If she was helping she should b.
t recognized; if she was not, he woult
t do better to work alone.
= 81 should like to so away for
while, Dick. Suppose you come aloni
= and get material for some goot
5, stories?' ventured day or two afte
S had been over. Junior was at home
t and L smiled as ne told me:
e Father was so glum over his bool
n stayed right with them and helpe'
), entertain Aunt Nita-''
: why didn't you invite her to din
: ner?" I asked Dick. WAS she a
Y gorgeously gowned as usuaI?" H
(. had said he couldn't go away.
n Looked like a Christmas tree!
o Junior replied. Honest, mother. Aun
=. Nita is all right for a once-in-a-whil
l. person. but as a. steady diet she won
y do. Makes me think of a circus rider
) It's all right at parties and things, an
= when was a kid 1 thought she wa
e wonderful But honest. I'd hate t
e ave you doll up like she does
: could have Rugged that blesse
IT boy. He was playing into my hand
: as beautifully as if he knew what
8 was trying to do
Ter, Tr,a III AL