The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-08
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHEI
NAN AND JUANITA DISCUSS MAR
RIAGE.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 11a.

4ClSh IidQ al dlnDlIlOuS
story. that was what he called it. 1t
was longer, the theme more serious
than any he had yet sent to a pub
Usher. He, had written it either locked
in his study, or when sat with him
quietly mending, or designing motifs
for my decorative work. Not once
had Juanita entered the study when
he was working upon 1t, altho she
came over frequently. Always ]. told
her Dick could not be disturbed, and
often he would unconsciously bear me
out by coming into the living room or
on the porch for a moment and then
| excusing himself.
Cant I help, Dick ?" she asked one
day, annoyed think because of being
shut out,
No. thank you. Juanita. am go
ing alone this time Perhaps the next
| thing ] write I will need you" The
| look he gave her went far to spoil any
pleasure I may have sensed in his
refusal to allow her to assist him. He.
was still enamored of her-even if not
SO completely as before.
| At times my heart failed me--tines
| like these when I saw he was still in
flueneed by his feeling for her. Then
would wonder if it was worth
while! If the unwilling faith and
| loyalty of any man was worth the eff
| fort I was making? Then my love
/
willing to do anything, suffer any,
! thing, if only 1 could win back his
| love.
Not that Dick was ever actively un-
kind, he wasn't. But his indifference
| hurt me cruelty. Often he seemed I'M
aware of my existence; and he had en-
tirely stopped using any loving words
or giving me the caresses he used to
lavish upon me.
| To be sure, he kissed me occasional
IL n 7
| be gone all day, but I doubt if he
would have done even that had I not
shown 1 expected it.
And knew the reason. 1t was not
Dicks nature to be hypocritical. He
gave his caresses, his kisses, to Jua-
nita-he would not give them to two
women.
One day Juanita said to me:
| I suppose the purpose of our lives
is to get all the happiness out Of con-
can find it. That is why marriage is
SO often,a mistake"
was ~ astonished at her remark
that audibly caught my breath. I'm
til then Juanita. never had expressed
| such sentiments.
rs marriage so often a mistake ?'' L,
asked after a bit. Naturally the first
wild thrill passes, but isn't there a
something comes in it's stead, sonle-.
thing more stable?'
you call something more stable'?''
rather wondered why she said
| man? Had 1 been asking the ques-
| ton would have substituted. woman
1 scarcely knew how to answer her,
| yet had idea that she meant the
compansienship between herself and
| Dick-that IL was right for them to
get all they could out of it, regardless
| of me.
Eyes. think So" finally replied.
Fob IL r.,
fond Of anyone or anything which in
| terests him. But it doesn't last. He
| always tells me of his feeling for this
one and that one, even tho he appears
| to be fond of them"
| "You mean-that he tells you what
| he does? Always?"
| mot only what he does, but what
| he says and thinks" 1 exaggerated.
The peculiar light in Juanita's eyes
told me had hit her in some way. l
had meant to. and was delighted. So
| I went on.
"of course, Juanita, couldn't talk
to everyone like this, but you and Dick
1 have been SO chumny that I feel
can say anything to you and that you
will understand. Especially as you
| HE is horribly disappointed that
| our book wasn't a success" she
changed the subject.
| Yes, you see you and he weren't
! fitted to Work together, or he would
| have perceived the discrepancies in
| your ideas. Naturally he was disap-
| pointed. But he has pulled himself
together and We must help him all we
can
Help hin-how?"
s'By leaving him undisturbed. He
| hates to tell you himself. Juanita, for
fear you will feel hurt, SO he leaves it
to me. 1 know you are far too sensi-
BILE to feel offended If he refuses to
leave the study when you ceme over"
"Oh, certainly! 1 am sure dent
want to intrude."
ct knew you would feel like that,
I replied. and a little while afterward
I told Dick that Juanita said she
didn't expect him to leave his work
when she came. Then added:
81 guess now that she sees she isn't
liable to get anything out of your
friendship she is firing" I knew Dick
so we'll was positive nothing / said
would be repeated. He might be IN
different, but go long as we lived to-
gether his pride would prevent him
from, discussing me with Juanita