The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-11
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
BY JENE Phelps
VERA FINDS INACTIoN Diff
CULT.

CULT.
Chapter 81.
While thanked Mrs. Aldrich for
her effort to straighten out my tangle,
yet I had no hope that she could. In
how often Keith had declared be
would not break the promise given to
Margaret; the intense way she had
held him to the letter of 1t. No. there
was no hope he would ever give, up
his sister for me, merely a wife.
If I only had had the opportunity
to show him what a good wife I
would have been, if only 1 could have
been a homekeeper for him was sure
1 could and would have made him
happy, and been happy myself.
never knew more than she told me
what Mrs. Aldrich had said to Keith,
but the days passed and no letter
came.
HE never will give her up, never
say that he will provide a separate
home for me-" 1 said to her one day.
Never is a long time, my dear. and
have faith that shall yet know he
has given you your home
I had not looked for the papers
quite SO eagerly, thinking that perhaps
Keith would write Mrs. Aldrich again
in care of her friend. But when she
failed to hear I once more examined
them as carefully as at first. ..
I would not give in. 1 would have
my Lares and Penates, ind I would
set them up in home of my own. On
everything else I would be plastic to
Keith's desires If ever he should ask
me; but in that I was adamant.
The line of inaction 1 laid out for
myself was not easy to follow. In
reality 1 often doubted If would have
strength to carry out my plans, so dis
couraged did often become. 1 would
IL, lit he ov-f n .
home by complaining or by whining.
would have it because it was my
right; and because he recognized that
right.
wanted, too, that Keith should love
me. had none of the coquetry which
some women have. l had realized
long before that there was but one
man to whom would ever give my
self-my own husband. That he never
had felt for me the same oneness OF
desire was sure. That he had loved
me in his own way at first I was
equally as positive.
At times the thought came over me
that I did not know how to make
man love me as wished to be loved,
or how to hold the love that once h1<i
been mine-in a measure. Keith had
married me, but he was still in way
(always had been) devoted to Alice De
Lisle, the sweetheart of his youth. Now
that I had left him, this fact doomed
large, before me.
commenced TO order the society
papers; to scan them for news of those
I knew. Occasionally would see
names, Margarets Mrs. Hunters.
Clarence Butler. But I saw nothing
of Keith or Margaret's or of Alice De
Isle.
Margaret and Keith were, of course.
again in mourning. unable to take
part in social functions. Margaret.
tho, would be- sure to have Alice De
LisIe at the house often. I could not
forget how she had kept the widow
with them when 1 was with Mother
Sanderson.
Several times had spoken of tax
ing a position in Boston-if 1 could
obtain one. but each time Mrs. Aid
rich had urged me to remain with
her; urging her need of companion
ship, my loneliness.
Now as the days passed and we
heard no more from Keith. I made up
my mind that he had decided to abide
by what he had said. He would not
break a silly promise given under
stress to a selfish sister for my sake.
TT only proves how little he loves
me- murmured as I thought of him.
chow very little he cares what becomes
Of me-"
'T must get work" I said to Mrs
Aldrich, my money won't last for
ever even tho you accept so little
Now that helped her, she would take
only Sc a week.
stay with me until after the Holt
days; then If you insist 1 will not urge
you to remain longer"
So it was decided. It had been
April when 1 left Keith. I should
have been away the better part of a
year by the time she had set. IT, in
nine or ten months, he could not feel
that he wanted me to come back, he
never would desire me. did not think
that in his case absence would make
the heart grow fonder, Rather, felt
that with each days absence he was
growing farther from me, more under
Margaret's influence: nearer to Alice
De LisIe, yet would not; could not
give in.
One day I saw Tom Benedict's name
in the paper. I was really shocked to
find how completely he had passed
from my mind. How this young man
with whom I had been a bit intrigued
because happy and my natural self
when with him. had passed from my
thoughts-as completely as from my
life. And I had tried to make Keith
a little jealous because of Toms boy
ish liking for me. It was almost
ridiculous
(Tomorrow-Vera wants only a home
and a husband.)