The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-28
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
TOM SEES MUCH OF VERA.
BY JANE PHELPS

CnaQLer ok.
I was terribly jealous of Alice De
Isle, but do not think any jealousy,
no matter how intense, could have
driven me from Keith. But the daily.
the hourly unhappiness because of his
insistence that live with his sister.
and her unwillingness to allow me a
word to say as to what either Keith
or I should do, or how we should
appoint ourselves, drove me wild. Then
her unccncealed dislike of me, "a dis,
like that as the weeks went on she
extended to June, maddened me.
Lao done nothing to merit this feeling
save marrying Keith. And darling
little June had been born his heir, o
shutting out to an extent, Margaret
and her Children
knew she felt this way about June
first when I overheard her say to
Mrs. Smith, with whom she had be-
come quite intimate:
''Of course had my brother not mar
ried, my children would have come in
for fathers property which he is
left solely to Keith, suppose his child
will have it," 1t would be impossible
to show the bitterness in her remark,
her tone. From that time I knew she
hated little June almost as much as
she did me.
1t is not strange that resented this
hatred of June more than for myself.
| 1 had grown in a way accustomed to
her treatment, her feeling for me. But
! that she should resent my baby, be-
grudge her her fathers money because
she wanted it herself, was something
I could not understand. fiercely as
resented it.
If June were just a bit fretful and 1
| fused over her Margaret would sneer
and make disagreeable remarks, altho
she had been very willing I should
| help care for her girls when they were
younger and ailing. Both girls loved
| the baby, but they were too busy hav-
| ing good time to be with us often
and their mothers attitude toward
| both June and me did not encourage
them to give up any of their own
| pleasures for us.
Keith loved. his little girl, I knew
He couldn't help it. She was his, then
she was so sweet and so pretty-far
prettier everyone said than either
Gloria or Irene had been at her age.
But Keith's love. was like that of
most men in young child-a sort OF
pride and fatherly feeling combined.
| not the self-sa crificing love of
mother. I used to think he might
| grieve a little if she would die, but
| that it would not break his heart as /
\ was sure it would mine.
1 did not then realize how much
| hearts can endure ana not DTedh
| 1 had written Keith that Tom Ben
edict was staying at the club and that
had seen him. was bit surprised
when he came down on Friday that
| he said nothing about Tom. had
| been so sure Margaret would write
him, putting her own construction
upon our walks. 1t transpired she
had not, and I soon found out the
reason.
1 should have been so happy on
week-ends if 1 could have had Keith
to myself But we never were alone.
many plans for him, that he had no
time for me and June. Sometimes /
wanted to give way to my feelings,
| just let go, say what / felt like say
| ing, that / understood her tactics If
Keith didn't; that hated her as much
Keith's money, his time, everything
| for herself. But did not do it.
| simply gritted my teeth and kept still
when she would say:
| Come, Keith, dear I want you to
go over my accounts with me-" or
Keith, you take Gloria over to the
| tennis grounds for me-" or "I want
to go into the village, Keith, coms
with me, dear, 1 have something to
talk over with you" She was always
ready with a reason as to why she
| wanted him, so forestalling any ex-
cuse he might make-if he had want
| ed to make one, which I doubted.
''Why don't you ask Tom Benedict
to luncheon when you have been with
him ?" Margaret asked when I re-
| turned from my walk.
ST did not know that you would
1 care to have him." 1 longed to add
"and you might be unpleasant to
| him."
IT think it would be only decent