The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-01
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
TORN BETWEEN TWO EMOTIONS
BY LANE PHELPS

TORN BETWEEN TWO EMOTIONS.
CHAPTER SIS.
had told Keith he must choose
between Margaret and me or 1 should
leave him; that I would not live
longer with his sister. and hts ans
wer had been: every well. go theni"
He had made his choice.
stood looking at the door he had
slammed behind him, expecting, I
think, that he would come back and
tell me he did not mean what he had
said; that he loved me, and if
were too unhappy with Margaret he
would make some arrangement
whereby I would be more contented.
That had been the tone he had
taken at other times, the very few
times really had complained. But
the door remained closed.
Had he thought me in earnest, or
had he thought I was merely a bit
more peeved than usual; would he
have waited for me to tell him that
I regretted what 1 had said?
''This time mean it," exclaimed
aloud. 'If anyone humbles them
selves it shall be you, Keith. Sander
son, not mel"
Inc QlnHeE Dell interrupted my
musings. Keith had not come up to
change. Very well, 1 would not
change either, and smoothing my hair
1 went down. At first l was tempted
to remain in my room, then l decided
that would be childish, and give Mar
my chifdishnesS in the sneering tone
she used whenever chose to remain
away from meals.
1 need not have worried. Keith was
not in the dining room. neither did
he come in during dinner.
Where did Keith go just at din
ner time? I did not know he had
an engagement this evening" Mar
garet asked.
."Didn't your" I asked. My tone,
I knew, was disagreeable.
mo, did not! Did you?"
Really 1 have forgotten whether
he mentioned it to me or not" 1 re-
turned. had made up my mind to
leave her house as soon as. I could get
away-this house which L had been
led to think was to be home to me
and had been nothing but a roof over
my head; so there was no reason for
me to fear her longer. She could not
hurt me now.
You aren't usually so leaf to what
Keith 6ays!"
speak again thru dinner save to ans
wer a question Gloria asked, and to
ask the butler for a second cup OF
coffee.
when is Keith coming back? Is
he going to be out late?" Margaret's
of the room. IT had something I
wanted him to do for me-" peeved,
as usual, because she could not con-
troll every moment of his time.
He will have plenty of time to at
aend to all your wants soon." 1 re-
locked my door. I could not endure
any of them just then-not even
Gloria whom 1 dearly loved. =
sat by the Windows in the dark.
wanted to think, to plan. 1 had de-
clared that unless he cavern home
must choose, and he had told me to
go. That meant he cared more for
Margaret than for me. He had
chosen
A wave of passionate rebellion swept
over me. For a few moments 1 paced
the floor like mad thing-my life in
ruins, my future a blank and I SO
young.
"Vhy didn't you take me, too. God,
when you took my baby?" 1 prayed
wildly.
Then after time the mood passed,
and weak, exhausted, another wave
swept me--a wave of love for my
husband. I sank into a chair, and for
A time sobbed Historically; then tears
came to relieve me.
I heard the clock strike each hour
until midnight. Keith had not re-
turned I crept into bed. About half
m hour afterward 1 heard the street
door He had come at last. Then 1
heard voices-the usual thing when he
was out-Margaret had waited to bid
him goodnight, to question him:
He came quietly up the stairs. l
the knob very gently, But I heard.
When he found the door locked he
went into the little room We had fitted
up for an extra guest. I heard him
around for a bit, then all was
silence.
Long lay awake, planning. decid-
ing just what should do. and when
There was no hurry now that knew
Just what was before me. Once when
[ thought of the little legacy Mother
Sanderson had left me, I slipped out
Of bed1and on my knees thanked God
for that.
I would be safe. with that money,
and what should be able to earn /
should be safe from all the things
hat 1 had heard beset young women
who were penniless. For altho I had
been a wife for a few years. a mother
also, was very ignorant of the world.
But the thought of that money gave
me courage I should not have had
without it.
(Tomorrow-A we'll formulated plan.>