The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-31
The Woman
He Married
DIV LAME DHEI DC
BY JANE PHELPS
A WEEK OF ANXIETY.

Dick had done as Mr.. Burns had
advised. He had invested $4,000.
whether to laugh or cry. whether to
be glad or sorry,
If he should lose it, He had told
: me many times of the danger in spec
ulating; had warned me that if he lost
it must say nothing Yet 1 felt that
if he did lose it l should go out of my
mind. Three thousand dollars! Why
| before 1 was married 1 should have
considered it a small fortune.
Night and day 1 watched the papers.
L could scarcely wait for the afternoon
editions; then 1 scanned the mornin &
paper almost as avidly. I read all the
comments; all the opinions on the diff
ferent stocks and on the cotton mar
ket- I was becoming quite familiar
with their values as they then were
quoted, and urged Dick to explain
things which puzzled noe.
For days the stock he had bought
scarcely moved. A fraction up, then
sliding back again. A nervous
strained look appeared on Dicks face;
and when 1 looked in the mirror 1
imagined 1 saw its counterpart on my
own.
AS soon as the dishes We're cleared
away after dinner, and Junior put to
bed, we would sit down and talk of
what we would and could do if we
won; never considering what would
happen should we lose.
Dick became quite enthusiastic one
day when the stock had advanced
two points. That evening he spent
drawing plans for a house in the coun-
try. 1 told him if we had house we
would have to have an architect draw
the plans, but he poohhoed the idea.
ST know the kind of house L want.
1 can plan it just as well as an archi-
tect, and save a lot of money. Any
onnd and hl1i16Qr- Tala 7,
and work out the uprights, ct cetera.
But the general layout of the house
I shall attend to myself
So we planned for the future, lay
ing out our lives, forgetting the Des-
tiny that shapes our ends"
Dick insisted that a large living
room was necessary. Three bed
rooms. two baths dining room and
kitchen, with a laundry in the base
ment. in the cellar rather Then a
small room must be finished off in
the attic for a maid.
when we get rich I'll have the
front attic made into billiard ROOM -
Dick said when he planned for the
maid.
Wouldn't It be lovely to have such
a home!" I enthused.
''It would be heavenly, Nan! I be-
too in the country. This city life is
hectic even for US. 1t is an unnatural
life too, this living in tiers one on top
of another, no yards for the Riddles to
play in. no trees. nothing that is nat
ural, all artificial
"Oh, I don't know," I had Joined
in his plans for a house in the coun-
try to keep him enthused with the
idea of making money. But 1 was
not at all sure 1 wanted to live in the
country. 1 was not yet tired of New
York. I invariably thought of Clara S
remark:
81 would rather be a lamp-post in
New York than the Chamber of Com
merce anywhere else
Thursday night Dick came in early.
knew the moment I caught a glimpse
of his face that something had hap
pened.
what is it Dick ?" I fairly snatched
the evening paper from him.
Lost all the profit. and it is three
points against US. I'm afraid Burns
picked lemon
''Nonsensei You told me how stocks
fluctuated. 1t will probably go up to-
morrow"
I'm afraid not. Nam Saturday is a
short day. you known It may take
a squirt again on Monday. Goodness
knows I hope so!A
We haven't made a cent this whole
week and you made $500 last week in
an hour. I don't see why you had to
get something that didn't make us
money. There are plenty of stocks on
the list that have gone up and 6
points
That's right. find fault, I wish I
never had touched the stuff. 1 only
did it to satisfy you.'
I was sorry I had angered him, but
he would not be placated. Before we
went to bed we had nearly quarreled.
The entire week had been one of
strained anxiety. yet. I would not be
warned. Neither had my desire for a
quickly-made fortune decreased.
(Tomorrow-A discussion about
c1othes)