The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-06
\ THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
A. NEW AND DISTURBING
THOUGHT.
BY JANE PHELPS


CHAPTER 90:
viii you subscribe for the Times
for me?'' asked Mrs. Afdrich, as she
started for market the day after she
took me .in-
yes, our newsdealer will attend
to it for me-
The personals first. then each column
from top to bottom. But as the days
passed and nothing appeared, no re-
quest that return. that Keith had ac-
cepted my terms. 1 almost gave up in
despair. 1t wasthen that Mrs. Aldrich
gave me something to do. Had she
not, I think I should have gone insane
with my thoughts.
I was working over a bed of pansies
when a new thought came to me. 1t
was strange that it had not occurred
to me before.
was Keith glad to be rid of me be-
cause it left him free to be with Alice
De Lisle?'
Then came another thought.
would my leaving Keith give him
sufficient reason to divorce me? De-
sertion. they called it"
/ almost stopped breathing as the
thought came to me. I had not once
given either Mrs. De Isle, or divorce
a thought.
Margaret is right am terribly
Cn1lu1SI, i Sdi0 dlOuQs ally Olc OuI
me would have thought that Keith
might be glad to have me go for that
reason" Then 1 added: What's the
reason he doesn't say anything in the
newspaper, He is glad because of Mrs.
De Lisle." My tears watered the
neglected beside me.
I But Mrs. Aldrich had been right.
Even with the added sorrow these
thoughts brought me the work in ,he
garden among the flowers, the fresh
country air, the simple nutritious
food, the absence of any fretting per-
sonality with me. had begun to help
me, and daily 1 grew stronger. I had
not entirely recovered my health from
the time baby left me, so now with
this added sorrow it was a slow
process.
Often I had been tempted to tell
Mrs. Aldrieh my story, 1 felt almost
guilty because of her kindness. / had
deposited my money in the town bank
under the name of Mrs. Brown" 1t
had been her advice.
do not keep any large amount of
money in the house. my dear" she had
said, then gone with me to the bank.
noticed a look of surprise when she
saw the amount 1 deposited, but she
made no remark.
My room and board cost me, only
| SO a week. And for that $40 1 was
made to feel at home. as if had a
home: for the first time since I had
| left my fathers house. And 1 was
grateful. Probably far more so than
had my life with Keith's sister been
the cottage, Mrs. Aldrich's 1nobtrusive
kindness made me almost happy at
| times.
We took books from the circulating
library, which we read aloud. found
| Mrs. Aldrich far better read, far more
III ~, -.
| or her friends had been-so much
! wiser than I was. When I spoke OF
these things to her she. replied:
Il have always been fond of books
my dear They have at times been my
only companions. Many women in
society haven't the time to read. Theil
/ social duties do not permit"
ehe was always kind. Never did
| hear criticism of another from hel
| lips After a time 1 asked to be al
| lowed to assist her in the house as
we'll as in the garden.
- 81 am very ignorant of homework
| I told her. IT never have been taught
! arrange room. and that is about all
Please let me help your"
Indeed you shall if you wish" she
| answered heartily. II think every wo-
man should know how to cook an6
keep house whether she has to or not
!
| less she knows how the things she re-
| quires of them should be done"
| After this talk I spent an hour oil
two every day IN the kitchen learning
to cook. I only experimental with the
| simple foods in our every day menu
| but Mrs. Aldrich said if I could dc
those perfectly 1 would be able to dc
| more elaborate dishes easily.
| 1 remained close at home. I had
exercise enough in the garCen. and
shrank from meeting strangers.
knew all would not be as kind as Mrs
Aldrich; that there would be question:
perhaps questions could not, oil
| did not want to answer. People as e
rule were curious I knew. So 1 sim
ply kept to myself.
, I still searched the columns Of the
Times" each day. but without tht
/ old hopefulness. Since the thought OF
Alice De Isle, of divorce, had come
to me I had not the same feeling o.
hope that I before had experienced
| Margaret favored the widow 1 knew
as between US, and that she would ad
wise Keith to divorce me 1 hadn't g
| doubt.
/ had been with Mrs. Aldrich just g
month when I saw a name, then e
short paragraph in the Times tina
caused me anguish for days.