South Bend news-times., 1921-01-14
Revelations of a Wife
Ny Heart and Ny Husband
By ADELE GARRISON

, Dicky, bless his heart, is distinctly
possible. however otherwise may
think sometimes when his instabil-
ity or his jealous RACES make me
suffer.
AIy thoughts go back 10 my we'd
ding day, 10 the wild. wonderfui
bliss OF that honeymoon time, yes
and 10 the doubts that beset me
even then as to the probability OF
happiness in marriage.
How much I have learned since
that time, learned that If there be
no happiness in marriage there is
certainly nothing outside its charm
ed circle which can bring such bliss
and contentment 10 n woman s
heart as the knowledge that she and
the man she loves belong 10 each
other wholly. irrevOcably. together.
''fOr better. for worse" with all the
rest OF the world outside.
Learned, too, with a tremulous
fear at my heart. that there could
be no greater tragedy in the world
for me than the loss Of my hus-
bands love. II / want any peace
In this life II behOoves me TO make
good on my job as a wife.
CuriOusly enough, IL has been the
trembling inquiry of a girl on the
| brink Of marriage which has set me
TO the self-inquiry. the mental
stocktaking Of the last houh.
Leila Fairfax came to my room
this morning. She is 10 be married
to Alfred Durkee in a few weeks.
and I have invited the mOtherless
girl 20 be my guest while she is pre-
pairing her simple trOusseau. Put
ting her arms around me she said
earnestly. with a hint OF tears in
her voice:
"Madge. dear, tell me--I am 40
frightened-isn't IT an awfully hard
task being a successful wife, You
and Dicky always seem so happy.
and yet I know you must have had
your share OF troubles as well as
other women. And fell as is ]
knew so little, and-and-I do want
to make Alfred a good wife"
The tears were overlooking now.
saw that the girl was OverwrOught
and 7 wondered for an unworthy.
fleeting minute IL her remembrance
of little studio parties in which her
sister, herself and Dicky had figur-
ed innOcently enough. yet without
my presence, was troubling her now
that she herself faced the pOssibil-
ity Of being the wife who stayed
at home while her husband enjoyed
himself elsewhere. But In another
second I had banished that thought
and was assuring her emphatically
that all her fears were unfOunded.
You foolish child" I scolded.
There's one thing certain. A
teary wife Is the worst possible
kind. So stoT. crying and listen to
words of wisdom from an authority.
You're going 70 make Alfred the
best possible wife. and you're go
ing to be idiOtiCally happy. Now
run along and dry your eyes, or Al
fred will see that you have been
crying and think you don't want
to marry him"
She tripped away. smiling
through her tears. and I have been
sitting here ever since going over
and over her question.
isn't IL an awfully hard task be
ing a successful wife ?"
7 would not daunt her by answer
ing her in the affirmative. She Is
entitled to rose color and sunlight
now; It IS her time for gladness.
untinged by worry. but if I had an
swered her truthfully I should have
said:
Yes Leila. il is he hardest task
In the world" But just outside my
window 7 see the sunlight breaking
through the drizzle. and I take it
as a good omen for the VOW I am
taking:
"It is the hardest thing in the
world. hut please God, I am going
to succeed in it"