The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-26
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
VERA SEES HOW THINGS
WILL GO.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 2.

CHAPTER 2.
That first winter was a strenuous
one for me. Keith had many friends
and they invited US to affairs of all
kinds. However, Margaret was also
almost invariably included in our in
vitations. Often I wished We might go
alone. But 1 never voiced the wish.
After our first big dinner party
Keith wounded my feelings, altho 1
am sure he had not intended doing
so.
THE dinner, everything, was a great
success, Margaret" he said after the
guests had gone. You are a won
derful hostess. L must send you some
thing nice to show my appreciation"
Il arranged the table and the flew
ers, keith-praise me little too" 1
said half laughing.
Il reaIranged them when you went
up to dress" Margaret said, a tone in
her voice 1 had already learned to
hate.
Better let Margaret attend to
things, Kitten" Keith said. She has
exquisite taste"
I made no reply, yet I knew she
had told an untruth. She had not re-
arranged the flowers, She might have
moved a vase a fraction of an inch SO
that she might claim Encouragement,
but nothing more.
The next day Keith brought her an
perhaps it was a bit childish, but I
wept a little because he had not
brought one for me also. 1 may per-
haps be forgiven my childishness be-
cause 1 had been married only three
months.
Our wedding trip had lasted six
weeks. Often have 1 almost wished
that had died before our return, be-
fore that few weeks became only a
happy memory standing out fiercely
because of the unhappiness which fol-
lowed. ls]
One day when I told Keith I felt
depressed, blue, without giving any
reason, he suggested that 1 ask some
young friend to come in and spend an
hour or two with me each day. I
acted upon his suggestion, often ring
ing for tea. One afternoon, almost
before the door closed after girl 1
particularly liked and had enjoyed,
Margaret Remarked:
eff you are going to entertain so
much we will have to have another
maid. 1 can't spare Martha to serve
tea to a lot of giggling girls. 1 need
her to help me dress" AS Keith paid
part of the servants wa ges as well as
half of all the household expenses, 1
felt like saying that L had as much
right to Martha's services as she had.
But with my usual meekness I said
nothing.
When Keith questioned me about
the afternoon I told him.. however,
and was astonished when h%&said:
81 hadn't thought of it. being Mar
garets hour for dressing9Wh I ad-
vised having your young friends in
for tea. I don't believe we can af-
ford another servant, so you will have
to find some other way to amuse
yourself. 1 am sorry, but can't take
any more expense upon myself just
now"
when alone I stamped my foot
and said very naughty word under
my breath. 1 suppose 1 should be
ashamed to confess it-but even if
was meek, 1 was not. am not now, a
saint And one needed to be to keep
sweet under such provecation as
mine.
But after this I seldom invited
anyone to tea or luncheon, aitRrp
Margaret lad her friends with her
constantly.
resented it, but had not the cour-
age to complain to Keith, who in
variably took his sisters part against
me.
1 suppose it was because he had
lived with her so long-seven years,
and only three months with me.
| used to try to comfort myself by
thinking that perhaps when we had
be more considerable of me, more as
he was on our wedding trip.
That winter I proved the truth of
the old saying: that to him that hath
shall be given-as far as unhappiness
was concerned. One little annoyance
after another, the taking away of all
my independence, until I used to say
| to myself that I hardly dared to
| breathe naturally for fear I would be
forbidden to breathe at all.
I tried. God knows 1 did, to be
! patient, to keep quiet so that I could
| hold my husbands love which l felt
sure his sister was deliberately try
| ing to undermine I had overheard
/ her say to one of her intimates that
| she was sure our marriage would end
| in the divorce court because Keith
would soon tire of me.
I had been shopping, and had
| brought a box of her favorite candy
| to her. was taking it to her room
! the door of which was slightly open,
when 1 heard her prophecy about me
| I took the candy into the kitchen
and gave it to the cook.
II