The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-02
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
A CoNTRETEMPs.
Chapter 10s.


The guests had all accepted and what |
is more to the point had arrived. All
but Juanita. She was invariably the |
last guest no matter what sort of q |
function she attended. I suspected
her of doing this on purpose to make
her entrance more theatrical.
1t was only a little after nine, how
ever, when she arrived. A little gasp
of admiration went up when she APP
peared. Her gown of chiffon was
other. from the deepest orange. her
favorite color, to the faintest shade
of yellow. She wore a gold bandeau
combining her hair, and a long floating
scarf of deep orange fell from one
shoulder. Her stockings and slippers
matched her gown. AS usual she wore
no Jewels.
| No one could deny or question her
beauty. My heart almost ceased beat
| ing when I saw the look IN Dicks
| eyes when he greeted her. Junior
was standing beside me, yet even SO
I could not restrain q sigh as I saw
a look pass between them
I danced with Junior. while Dick
took Juanita for a partner. Everyone
was very gay, and my party babe fair
to be a success. People wandered all
over the house, admiring, asking
where 1 got this idea, that bit of color.
or praising the ensemble. 1t was not
my place as hostess, as well as de-
signer of the decorations, to allow
them to go unattended. I let them
return to the dancing. however, with
out me. pleading a wish to look after
| the supper.
| The study was dark when I passed
the door, save for the faint glow of
| the reading lamp. altho 1 was sure
that only a short time before it had
been as brilliantly lighted as the rest
of the house.
Suddenly my heart stopped, and my
| ears fairly strained.
You do love me, Nita darling. I
know it!' I heard a husky voice,
flove-softened, say.
| There was a silence--a silence such
as a woman might keep when she was
uncertain, or when word spoken
would betray her heart and her love.
Don't torture me, Nita! Say you
1 love me. Then we will have the cour-
age to end this horrible situation.
| worship you, my beautiful girl. I
can't live without you! Tonight you
madden me-"
1t is not pleasant for wife to listen
to declaration of love from her hus-
/ band to another woman. 1t is not
made easier to hear it when her duties
as hostess compel a smiling face and
gay manner. I felt sick, faint. I re-
manned for moment rigidly by the
study door, then quietly returned to
my guests.
I felt very lonely among that gay
laughing crowd, and motioned Junior
to my side. I took his hand in mine
and the touch of his warm strong fin
gers gave me courage
where's father?" he asked after a
moment
81 don't know Somewhere about I
guess
Last time I saw him he was talk
ing to Aunt Nita They didn't see
me, SO I didn't butt in. Better look
out, mother. or Aunt Nita will steal
dad. He's hippy about her..
knew that Junior was only joking,
yet his careless boyish speech hurt me.
Junior. I know you are Joking, but
others might take you seriously, and
it would hurt your father
Just then Juanita came into the
room followed by Dick. She at once
commenced to talk with Mr.. Baker
while Dick sought other guests. But
they both were flushed, and Juanita
was plainly excited.
Don't let anyone know" I said to
myself. keep up your courage. don't
give way to your feeling" I felt un-
like myself, as If were incorporating.
1 laughed at nothing at all. was so gay
that once or twice I caught Junior
looking at me in amazement.
} The supper gave me little relief.
as they were all too busy eating to
: notice that for a moment I slipped
away. In my room I breathed a pray
J er for help, then returned and re-
NAMED with my gueStS until they de-
? parted in the ''wee sma' hours re-
{ claring they never had enjoyed them
selves more thoroly.
Mr.. Baker took Juanita home. I
thought Dick looked disappointed
when he offered, but he said nothing,
! and Juanita in her orange dress raw
ished him with look as she accepted
the invitation.
I went up with Junior and talked a
|. few moments. Dick had gone directly
to bed. Late as it was, / was not at
|. all sleepy. so I sat by my window and
5 tried to think. to plan.
ST can't ignore it any longer" !
s whispered to myself. "It must not go
D any farther. I must find some way to
win him back before il is too late"
I wondered If ever wife had been
q placed in the same position. and If SC
r what she had done? 1 thought with
v a SILVER of self-reproach that had /
. been the right sort of wife in the first
n place Dick never would have known
4 Juanita. Somehow. everything went
: back to this-my wick edness, my fail
. ure in those first years
; st will fight her with any weapons,
= but Dick must not know 1 am fight
= ing said as I finally rose.
(To be continued.)