The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-15
REVELATIONS
OF A WIFE
BY ADELE oARsIsoH.

Dicly took his hand from the door
knob of his room, and whirled to face
me when I asked him if he did not
think he owed me an explanation of
the piece of paper ha1 just given
him. 1t was the crumpled copy Of an
impassioned love letter written first
in some unknown feminine hand, and
then in my husbands. which had
found in the hall after Dicky had with
such care and secrecy destroyed the
contents Of his waste basket. .-'
$50 you have read it," he said, and
| knew that he meant his voice and
eyes TO convey unmeasured contempt.
I really gave you credit for better
breeding"
/ knew that he was purposely work
ing himself into rage over my read
ing of the paper in order to get out OF
any explanation concerning it. His
accusation did not sting me as it might
have done, however for had a vivid
recollection of a day in the first weeks
Of our marriage when Dicky had read
the first sheet of a letter my brother
cousin, Jack Beckett, had written me.
and had made a most disagreeable
scene. The remembrance steadied me,
and enabled me to answer him in the
way he richly deserved.
Don't be so melodramatic, Dicly,"
I said coldly and carelessly,. I'VE really
aren't doing any Dora Thorne' act, you
know. This was not a sealed letter,
simply crumpled piece Of paper
dropped from your waste basket. But
the language upon 1t, both in your
handwriting and that of some woman,
surely needs some explanation"
My husband stood still for minute.
staring at me. Then his eyes flashed
angrily.
''Well, I'll be if you get any
from me-" he said, and, turning. went
swiftly into his room and / heard his
key turn in the lock.
The oath, the cruelty of the words.
affected me as a blow in the face
still, gazing at the 1oor he had shut
in my face for long minute. Then I
turned and, going to my own room
and sitting down, looked my new prob
lem full In the face.
In the first months of my marriage
such a scene, such actions of Dicky
would have meant to me the end of
all things. / would have reasoned that
he must have ceased to Iove me alto
gether, thus to offer so grave an in
suit. But association with Dicky has
taught me how much on the surafce
his moods and lenses are, has also
80 t.
real or feigned anger his sins Of omis-
sion and commission
had hoped, vainIy now saw, that
ny husband had put away such actions
toward me with the dawning Of our
second HONEYMOON after the terrible es-
arrangement we had had. saw some
thing else, too, that since that recon
Citation / had been so fearful OF my
so reJoiced in its restoration
to me, that / had not adopted the
right attitude toward Dicky's lapses Of
behavior.
Lillian Underwood, who knew
Dickys temperament far better than
T. was afraid would never know it,
had warned me repeatedly that I was
spelling him." but / had given no heed
to her warnings, although secretly /
their truth.
This last piece of fragrant rudeness,
however, strengthened a resolution 1
had made some time before, that
would no longer meekly accept Dicl1y's
tantrums without making some fort
to bring home to his understanding
the fact that resented them. thought
out my plan carefully, and when had
went down stairs to Katie.
81 have a headache. Katie" which
was the truth. II am hot coming down
to dinner. and am going to stay in
my room the rest of the day. Mr.. Ora
ham is busy in his room. and do not
wish to disturb him now. When he
comes down TO hts dinner, tell him
what l have just told you. If it won't
trouble you too much, please bring me
a tray of something light at dinner
time"
Trouble mel" Katie's tone was eIo-
luent But MIssis Graham, can / no
10 something's for you if you seeck2 I
no like you stay in dot room all day
alone"
Her tone was anxious, but her eyes