The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-07
: THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
KEITH TELLS VERA OF HER
FAUX PAS.
BY JANE PHELPS


Margaret scarcely seemed to notice
US, and thought Keith looked at me
coldly. Perhaps he didn't like it be-
cause I had left the box without
speaking to him about it, but when I
told him how impossible it had been
for US to see he would forgive me.
Mrs. De Lisle was more than usual
ly gracious. 1 was really sure that she
went out of her way to notice us. The
rest neither looked or said anything.
They were too intent upon getting
their wraps.
We had supper at one of the hotels.
After supper we danced. But l didn
get chance to dance once with Keith,
owing to Margaret. I loved to dance
with him and was ready to cry because
couldn't. But each time when he
made move to rise she would say:
You dance with Mrs. Deland. or
my dance, Keith" I am sure she
knew it was the last.
OF course 1 danced with Tom and
with Jack Underwood and Mr.. Deland.
They were all good dancers, and had
1 only danced once with keith
After we reached our room l spoke
"ISwas so sorry not to have danced
once with you, Keith"
ut was too bad, but it couldn't very
well be helped. I hate to find fault
with YOU, Vera, but you did a very
impolite thing tonight"
.1Why, Keith! What did 1 do?" For
the moment had forgotten my leav-
ing the box.
'When a person gives a box party
il is customary for the guests to re-
main in the box, not to take seats
elsewhere, showing they are dissatis-
fled with what the hostess has pro-
vided."
but Tom asked Margaret and she
said for us to go. You know. GEAR
we could not see one single thing
Had YOU asked me 1 would have
gladly changed seats with you, rather
than have you commit such q 1aux pas
before Margaret and her friends;
l commenced to cry. He had not
spoken angrily, but as ne would 10
naughty child.
do such a thing again. Then, too, you
haven't been married long enough, are
not old enough, to be seen sitting alone
with young man- People mignI put
n wrong Interpretation upon it,"
but everyone could see you were
there in the box"
"Rut YOU weren't with me-"
cried a little more, then crept into
led wondering if I ever should learn
to do things right, ever be the KIND OF
a wife Keith wanted me to be. l loved
him. N knew, but that didn't seem to
mean much to other people as it did
to me.
In the morning Margaret said:
"It will be long time before ask
YOU to box party again, vera.
You
interrupted.
81 should hope you had"
'"But Margaret, Tom asked you, and
YOU said all right, and you knew we
couldn't see one single thing"
You are mistaken. Tom asked me
If 1 cared. Ny answer was, ren1em-
Der distinctly, why should ~ That
is a long cry from saying all right',"
I'm sorry, Margaret. I did not
intend to be impolite. But you know
how fond am of opera, and not to
see was hard"
II suppose I might have turned my
other guests out for you. I figured
that as you and Tom were the young
est in the party, it was but right to
give older people the choice seats. II
seems I am mistaken. We should get
back and give the young the best"
s'I didn't want the besti" I said hot
1y. But if you had just changed
with me for one act I should have
been more than satisfied"
please. Vera Margaret. I hate to
see you start the udy at lOSSerHeduS
! Let's all forget about last night. Vera
will never be so thoughtless again,
am sure" He kissed me, then as usual
Margaret, who followed him to the
| door.
When she returned I had finished
my breakfast and. excusing myself
went to my room. 1 locked the dool
and taking pillow from the bed
vented my anger upon the sense1ess
thing, punching 1t until I was tired
then laughing Historically at my fool
ish act. But my nerves had to have
! some vent.
Young as I was. I was developing
a bad case of overStrained nerves.
did not know it. Neither did anyone
else. Had they, might perhaps have
been saved unhappiness.
(Tomorrow-Always a Fly in the
Ointment)
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