The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-21
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
RIGHT ABOUT FACE.
Chapter 10.


For hours Dick and I talked I
made full confession of all had done,
all I owed. When added to the
amount Dick owed. the $1,000 he owed
Burns, and some small amounts,
gambling debts, the total was astound-
ing to us.
I'VE never can pay it, never" Dick
moaned, his head in his Hands "Oh,
why did you interfere with me last
night, Nan? You'd be better off
without me-
You would always have been bet
ter off without me, Dick 1 replied.
Il urged you to speculate because OF
my wicked desire for clothes. 1t is
clothes that have ruined us, Dick, just
clothes-things that wear out. or go
out of style almost as soon as they are
purchased! / am SO ashamed. 1 think
was insane as you were when you
tried to take your life. Why Dick, it
seems as if would never care for any
thing in the world again If only I can
have you and Junior. 1 hate clothesi
hate them as much as loved them.
They almost lost me your I burst
into wild fit of weeping. I had borne
up as long as was possible.
Dick comforted me, holding me in
his arms, taking equal blame with
me for everything that had happened.
Il shall stay home today" 1t was
Saturday. You telephone I am not
we'll. God knows it is the truth! And
we will find out exactly where we
stand and what We can do"
I did as he requested. They were
very nice about it at his office and
said for him to stay at home by all
means if he was not well.
About IL o'clock the telephone rang.
Someone wants to talk to you,
Dick"
1 knew from the conversation that
it was Mr.. Burns. Dick, if possible,
grew whittier than he already was.
1T is impossible, Burns, shall
do it! You must know I am more
anxious than you can be-" He listen
ed. Then with a puzzled look on his
face said: mo, my wife cannot pay
it. She has no money. I'll see you
81 wonder what he meant? Sup
pose he thought you had money"
| l knew what he meant, and was
sorely tempted to tell Dick the whole
degrading story. Then better, more
could be nothing gained. 1t would
only make it still harder for Dick.
| was fairly sure Burns would say
nothing of his failure to lure me from
my husband. He had offered to lend
Dick that money to get even.
We spent the entire day going over
our accounts, and planning what to
do. I kept nothing from Dick, not
one single thing. We had come to
point where a perfect understand
ing was absolutely necessary. And
while it almost broke my heart to
add to his anxiety, I had lost all
desire, all ability to deceive him.
II almost lost him." rang thru my
mind, II almost lost him,"
As L have said before in telling my
sordid. pitiful story (this part of it,
you may think it strange that could
do as I did If loved my husband.
What 1 did. was entirely apart from
my love for him. I never, until that
horrible awakening, thought of my ex-
travagance as affecting in any way our
relations as man and woman. That
was a thing apart. He was my man,
the only one I ever had, ever could
love. 1 was his woman, his choice of
all the girls he had known.
Now L realized how 1 had tried
that love Of his. how 1 had almost il
not quite ruined our lives. Now I
must make amends; must win back
his trust. He still cared for me and
it made me very humble as he told
me that he loved me. / recalled
how, at first and for many months,
Dick had absolutely refused to let
me run in debt. refusedato speculate.
.
the gambling instinct had always been
in him, that it had been hard to gam
BILE in moderation SO he had never
gambled at all. 1 had urged him on,
laughed at his fears What a bad,
bad wife I had been in every way.
But when my tears dried and 1 at
tempted to tell him so, he put his hand
over my mouth and would not listen.
1--WE will try and pull out together.
Nan. Little Mani" He had not called
me that for many. many months, and
my tears flowed again at the tender
infection and the old loving express
sion.
I'VE will pull together" returned
when I could speak. "It will not be
trying, but accomplishing"
"A born optimist.' He tried to
smile at me. But it was a failure.
Neither of US felt like smiling. We
owed over $4,000 exclusive Of what
was due on the lot. That we would
sell at once.
81 have only made two payments.
If we can get that back it will pay
Mrs. Gray. She must be paid first of
all. They can ill spare that amount.
And they are old. Gray doesn't earn
much"