The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-18
The Woman
He Married
RY JANE PHELPS
MOTHER WILLIAMS RETURNS
HOME
BY JANE PHELPS

Chapter A.
Mother Williams had gone. L
breathed a sigh of relief when L saw
the train to waich I had taken her,
steam out of the station. / now real
ize that had 1 been doing right, liv-
ing accordiIg to our means, with noun
ing to conceal, SO there was no need
for deceit, I would have felt Tar dill
ferently toward her.
She had been kindness itself IN
many ways; had been loving ana
thoughtful with Junior. She had Of
fercd to stay with him and let DICK
and me go out, had insisted once or
twice. She had knitted and sewed
for him all the time she was with us.
and had done all my darning. But
because 1 had a guilty conscience
resented her suggestions and became
angry if I thought she was finding
fault.
Clara was to meet me after the train
left and we were going to lunch to-
gether.
Il feel perfectly reckless" I told
her when we met, II can breathe free
ly again."
BLESSED be no relatives she re-
sponded laughingly.
"Oh, she's all right. Only-well.
we don't think alike about a lot of
Things. ana DeCduSo SHE ID OICh .
mother I can say nothing"
We had luncheon at a lovely tea
room, then went shopping. Clara had
a few things to buy, and l also wanted
some material to make rompers for
Junior. We spen. a delightful hour
thru the stores, and both
of us bought more than we had
planned.
Il couldn't, resist that lunch CLOTH"
oh cot xr,1,i al hnr
IT needed gloves. and they were
such a bargain" I had bought two
pairs of white kid gloves at $3.50 a
pair. Down in our hearts we both
knew we had been foolshly extrava-
CANT, for We could have gotten along
very well without these articles.
The day after Mother Williams left
I busted myself about the house all
day. Clara came up and had a pick
up luncheon with me. She was a great
favorite with Junior. and played with
and fused over him while I worked.
"Oh Nan, you remember about Nick
Crawford and his wife, don't yon2
How he advertised that he would not
pay her debts?'
Yes. What about them?"
what do you Think"
Has she left him? I thought she
would?"
My, no! I saw them at the movies
last night and they were acting as if
they were just married. Turtle doves
doesn't express it,
You don't mean she has forgiven
him, and goes out in public with him
after that insult % I asked perfectly
Mortified.
Sure she does! Don't be SO scan
dalized. He's a pretty good meal
ticket you know"
How you do use slang, Clara But
don't see how she can do it. I never
could show my face in public if such
a thing happened to me-"
II suppose she feels guilty-that she
really was extravagant-so takes her
medicine" Then, 81 am sorry for her
tho. She was such a wonderful host
ess."
DO you know, Clara, Mr.. Gray
said he felt just as Dick said he did
that Crawford or any man was justi-
fled in advertising his wife if she de-
liberately lived beyond her means and
ran him in debt-that a man had a
right to insist his wife live within his
income"
Hes an old fogie! Men are all
alike, they want to boss
After Clara left 1 kept thinking of
Mrs. Crawford. 1 wondered how she
could bear to go out with her hus-
band after he had so insu1ted her,
and how she could bring herself to
face their friends.
1t depressed me. I couldn't avoid
thinking of what should have done in
her place. T was glad when Mildred
Stowell called. Among other things
she said:
ct suppose Dick told you that George
has opened an account with Blake and
Ogden? He did it, I imagine, because
he likes Dick. 1 know he has ac-
counts with several other firms"
mo, he hasn't told me. His mother
has been here, you know, and We talk
no business before her.
''Wise children"
Now Dick MUST borrow enough
to make some money!" I said to my
self after Mildred left. 81 know he
can"
(Tomorrow-Felice wants pay for
Mans gown