The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-25
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
sALLIE>ADvIsEs ME TO RETURN.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 81.

sALLIE>ADvIsEs ME TO RETURN.
CHAPTER 81.
Keith had been very generous with
me as regarded money. So was able
to get many little delicacies for ia
Their, and also hire a good nurse to re-
lieve mother.
Here are two signed checks" he
said. Fill them out for what you
need" This was in addition to the
money he had given me. I couldn't
fully away, what Margaret would say
did she know of his generosity.
don't think money ever gave me
as much happiness as that did in do
ing what I could for father and
mother. Dad was very sick. He knew
me, but couldn't talk. Mother looked
SO white, so worried, that think she
was more to. be pitied than the inva-
lid. She suffered with him and for
him.
most imperceptibly weaker, but other
wise was the same as when arrived.
Keith wrote me regularly-nice, SYM
pathetic letters, never forgetting to
give me some message from Marga-
ret. Occasionally l. wondered IL she
sent them or if he did it to make me
feel more kindly toward her.
Then came a letter telling me they
were leaving for the country.
st suppose you remember"
Keith wrote. that Margaret has
invited Alice De Isle to stay with
her. She would have been lonely
without you. I think it a very good
arrangement. I shall not be able
to go down every night, but shall
try. to run down Fridays and re-
main until Monday morning.
think that will set me up nicely"
There was much more, but nothing
that particularly interested me after
read that he would be with Alice De
Lisle practically three days a week.
I had tried to do as Sallie had
asked; being as bright and cheerful
as possible. But now it was a terrible
effort to hide from mother and Sa1lie
the fact that was worried. I was
more than that, sick at heart.
Had not known that Margaret dis
liked me SO intensely, only because
had married her brother, I would not
have been SO anxious. But long ago
had made up my mind that she
would be delighted If Keith would get
rid of me by separation or divorce.
And it would be in keeping with her
jealous character, I thought, to play
Alice De Isle off against me-not to
have Keith marry her, but to elinni-
nate me in some way.
What is it, Vera? Did your letter
| contain bad news?" Sallie asked.
You haven't been the same since it
came"
'No-Keith and Margaret are in the
country. That is, Keith goes down
over week ends"
There's nothing in that to draw
such a long face about"
Perhaps there wouldn't be II Mar
garet hadn't invited an old sweetheart
OF Keith's to stay with her.
jealous, are you 2"
eyes I ami" blurred out, and then
told Sallie OF the night at the opera,
of Margaret sending for Keith when
we were down at his mothers and
having Alice De Isle there to dine
with him, and to play and sing after
ward for his entertainment. I told of
now Margaret had manouvered TO
keep me home from the bridge club
and had paired Keith off with Mrs. De
Lisle.
Once started, kept nothing back
even the story Mrs. Brown, the old
garet's devotion to Keith when they
were tiny children. of her actions the
night Keith had taken Alice De Lis1e,
young girl then, to see his people.
That sister-in-law of yours is GER
tainly bird!" Sallie said when I had
finished. But Keith married you in
spite of her, and I don't think you
need worry about his leaving you"
But she makes me so unhappy she
may drive me to leave him." moaned.
GU dOnt knOW-yOu wouldn't be-
lieve the things she does to annoy me,
to make me unhappy. / try, really,
try, not to notice, to think that as
long as Keith loves me nothing mat
tiers. But it does matter. am get
ting SO cross, SO impatient. She keeps
my nerves all raw. and 1 am ready to
scream a good deal of the time
Does Keith know"
mo. And no one could make him
understand. He takes all Margarets
meddling. her bossing. her interfering,
as signs of sisterly interest. A man is
awfully dense, Sallie. where women
are concerned"
you would like to go home,
wouldn't you?''
Eyes, and no. hate to leave father,
and it doesn't seem right that you and
mother should have all the care. Yet
I am afraid, Satisfactorily, dread
fully afraid"
You must go. I'll wire Keith that
you will be there Friday. Then you
can go down in the country with him.
guess we can be as smart as that sis
ter of his. I don't. blame you for
hating her. She's the kind that de-
serves it."
On Friday Keith was at the train
waiting for me.
(To be continued.)