Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-01
that boy now?" his sister exclaimed

that boy now" his sister exclaimed
aghast.
cts not entirely Clarence" Ra-
chael explained with a touch Of
pride.
well. then. you're mad!" the older
woman said shortly.
Not necessarily, my dear" Ra-
chael answered, resolutely serene.
"Go talk to someone who's been
through it." Florence warned her.
You don't know what it is! It's bad
enough for him, but it's simple. sui
eide for you!"
"Well, 1 wanted YOU to hear it
from me- Rachael submitted mildly.
DO o mean to say you've de-
cided. seriously. to do it?"
very seriously, l assure you!"
"How do You propose to do IT,"
Florence asked after a pause, during
which she stared with growing dis
comfort at her sister-in-law.
"The way other people do. it,
Rachael said with assumed lightness.
clarence agrees. There will be evil
donce."
Mrs. Haviland flushed.
you think that's fair to Clar-
ence?" she asked presently.
II think that in IL question OF
fairness between Clarence and me
the balance is decidedly in my ia
vor!" Rachael said crisply. Per
sonally. l shall have nothing to do
with it, and Clarence very little,
Charlie Sturgis will represent me.
suppose Coates and Crandall will take
care Of Clarence don't know,
That's all there is to it,"
Her placid gaz roved about the
ceiling. Mrs. Haviland gazed at her
in silence.
Rachael" she said desperately
will you talk to someone-will YOU
talk to Gardner"
on the couch, the loosened mass OF
her beautiful hair falling about her
shoulders. What has Gardner OF
anyone else to do with it? It's Clar.
ence's business, and my business, and
it concerns nobody else!" she. said
warmly. "You look on from the out.
side. I've borne it for seven a
I'm young. I'm only twenty eight
and what is my life? Keeping house
for a man who insults me, and
ignores me, who puts me second tc
his daughter. and. has put me second
since our wedding day-making ex.
cuses for him to his friends, giving
up what I want to do, never knowing
from day to day what his mood viii
be-, never having one cent of none,
to call my own! l tell you there arr
days and days when I'm too sick a,
heart to read. too sick at heart t.
think! Last summer. for instance
when We were down at Easthampto1
with the. Parmalees. when everyone
was so wild over bathing, and tennis
a md Aonotn0 No r---A
one moment of the time, not one
One night. when we were dancing
but I won't so into i'll"
II know" Florence said hastily.
rather frightened at this magniicen
fury. II know. dear, it's too bad
it's dreadful-it's a great shame. Blu
men are like that! Now Gardner
"All men aren't like that! Gard
ner does that sort of thing now ant
then, I know" Rachael rushed on
but Gardner is always sorry
dignity in the world. l am nothin.
to Clarence; I have never been t.
him one-tenth of what Billy is!
have. borne 1t, and borne it. and nov
l just can't-bear it-any .longer!"
And Rachael. to her own surpris,
and disgust, burst into bitter crying
and, stammering some incoherency
ABOUT an aching head, she went t.
her own room and flung hersel,
across the bed. The suppressed ex
element Of the last few days fount
relief in a long fit Of sobbing; Flor
ence did not dare go near her. Th,
older woman tried to persuade her
self that the resentment and bitter.
ness Of this Unusual mood would b,
washed away, and that Rachael, aft
er q nap and q bath. would feel NOR,
like herself. but nevertheless sh.
went on to her game in a rather wor
ried frame OF mind, and gave but al
Imperfect attention to the question 0
Rachael, heartily ashamed of wha
she would have termed her school
gtrlish display Of emotion. came slow
lily to herself. doxed over a magazine
plunged into q cold bath. and at fou,
o'clock dreased herself exauisitely
for Mrs. Whittaker's informal dinner
Glowing like q rose in her artfull,
simple gown OF pink and whit,
ichecks, she went downstairs.
Florence had come In late, bearini
9 beautiful bit Of pottery, the hrs
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