The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-04
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
VERA WRITES KEITH HER
ULTIN1ATUM.
BY ZANE PHELPS
Chapter So.

Chapter So.
The letter I had left for Keith had
taken me hours to write. Many be-
ginnings had destroyed before felt
i had expressed myself, my feelings as
with what had written-far from it.
But it was the best could do.
I visualized Keith as he read, say
ing to himself, that was hysterical,
and would soon be back. Not once did
I think of him as feeling badly. or
grieving; only as angry and impatient,
and made more so by Margaret's
sneers.
In my letter I told him Of all
had felt and suffered since my mar
riage because of my position in his
home-which was no home for me.
1 put down in black and white, in
crisp short sentences all the sights.
al3 the humiliations, the ceaseless dis
regard of my feelings. 1t was easy to
remember them all, they were scared
every sentence stood out sharply de-
fined in my memory. and doomed large
as + related them.
had kept me quiet under the daily
humiliations to which Margaret had
subjected me. I also told him how
proud Of him I had been when we
were first married; how 1 had loved
him then. I made no mention of my
present longing, altho my heart ached
for love of him.
L recounted how I had often COM
pared my position as wife with that
of other married women who managed
their own homes, copartners with
their husbands in that they discussed
everyday affairs together, instead of
being shut out as I had been, to allow
the husband to make confidante of
another woman-even a sister should
not take the place of wife, I had
added.
went over my agony when I lost
my baby. I told him how all hope of
happiness had gone with her. How l
had prayed to die, too.
I spoke of my love for Gloria, and
Irene. 1 impressed upon him that
did not begrudge anything he had
done for them, nor for Margaret
either, had he at the same time given
me my rightful place in his home.
And as regarded his pocket book, he
knew 1 was not mercenary, so / had
no fear of being misunderstood in
speaking of the financial embarrass-
ment he caused me by insisting / allow
Margaret to spend his money not only
for herself and her children. but to
also dictate to me what 1 should wear;
how much it should cost.
spoke of the little things-after
a bit. His sisters refusal to allow
me to have the help of a servant al
wages. as well as the other~expenses
of the house. I told of being denied
my expression of preference for any
certain dish, even when not we'll I
mentioned the times we had dined
out, when 1 would have loved to help
prder, at least to order what wanted,
and had been obliged to eat what
Margaret wanted, because she was
more experienced"
All these things seemed very trite,
and at times 1 was tempted to tear
up my letter and only say 1 could
not live with Margaret any longer so
had gone away. But 1 knew he never
would understand. That unless let
him see how the constant pin-pricks
of my daily life had hurt me he would
angry only at what he had said.
1 had not gone for that reason.
His: Very well, then go!'' had been
but a elimination of all that had hap
pened since my marriage. It had
been the proverbial last straw"
When had recounted all that I
could of my unhappiness, I added:
IF you ever want me back, Keith.
badly enough, remember to give me
a home OF my own If it is only two
rooms, I will come. But never shall
return save as to take my rightful
place as mistress of your home-my
rightful place as your wife. Never
unless can be assured of my full
rights as wife, will I return Neither
will I ever consent to live for one
day in the house with your sister.
There are some things no woman
with anv pride can endure beYOnd a
certain point. I have reached that
point. Your sisters sneers, her open
dislike of me. her influence over you.
the condolences between you when 1
was shut out, the caresses denied me,
and given her, the thought for her
which I missed. All these things have
steeled my heart against you so that