The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-22
The Woman
He Married
BY JANE PHELPS
INExCUsABLE BLINDNEss.


Junior was sent to Los Angeles to
school. Not once did I suspect Dick
of any Interior motive in sending him
away. Nor do 1 even now believe he
himself was conscious of any. He be-
lieved it was best for Junior, SO ar
ranged it for him.
1t almost broke my heart to let
him go, but boy-Hke he was glad of
the new adventure, and so l tried to
be glad also. But how I missed him.
No more boyish condolences. for altho
he wrote twice a week, letters aren't
the same as the personal talks
mother has with her son.
What puzzled me most about
Juniors going was the evident relief
his absence was to Dick. 1 knew he
loved his son, loved him devotedly.
But there was no mistaking his ex-
preston the day Junior left. 1t was
relief, sheer and simple. I said to
him:
1--WE shall miss him dreadfully,"s
my eyes full of tears. We had stood
on the platform until the train that
took him away was out of sight, then
turned homeward-
"Of course we will miss him, but it
is for the best" Again L saw that
same look of relief upon my husbands
face.
You may think that 1 was wilfuily
blind. that I was lacking in common
ordinary sense not to see the trend of
all these things of which 1 have writ.
ten. But when one considers that they
were drawn over a long period, that
there was nothing really blatant that
could give name, it will not seem so
strange. 1t was more like many diff
ferent impressions received during the
long spaces in which nothing hap
pened to bear out the impression.
. So after few days 1 ceased to think
of that look I had seen on Dicks face
or thought of it only as a Pigment of
my excited condition because of
Juniors departure.
1 had been more than usually busy
Our house was finished, and L was
decorating it, naturally with the great
est delight and enthusiasm. I had
plunged into work after Junior left
taking all I could possibly do with
the help of capable woman. 1 would
have gone mad from loneliness those
first few months had 1 not had some
my routine duties in our home.
Dick had commenced his book. /
was elated when he told me he was
going to-that if I insisted upon
working and putting my money into
the general fund, he would try to
make 1t worth my while. That sounds
as if l had done more than he. it
was not so. His stories had grow
very popular, and he had received
good prices for them, especially in the
last year. I also had done well. NV
success with Juanita's bungalow. then
the Hibbard house. had led to all and
more than 1 could do. I had even
refused several contracts.
Then when our own home was fin
isfed; the home to which I had SO
long. looked forward with glowing an
tic1pations. 1 added the decorating of
that to my outside work
l mad been SO delighted when Dick
told me he was going to commence
MS novel, so sure of his ability to
write great story. that at first I
said nothing and thought little of his
withdrawal of himself more COM
pletely than before. Perhaps this was.
IN part. due to the fact that he ha d
| been doing this gradually for year
more noticeably SO since Junior had
gone away 1t was only when the boy
was at home on his vacations that /
| saw much of Dick. His work seem
| lng1y absorbed him
| His work, and Juanita.
They had collaboratede on several
stories. Naturally she had to be with
MN TO do this. Yet sometimes when
| Ventured into the study and saw
| them sitting so closely together be-
side the big desk I had given Dick
felt out of place. seldom re.
| manned long
When knew the book was to be
written I almost unconsciously held
| the thought that Dick would now oc.
| cupy the study alone. He would no,
need Juanita. She would have nc
excuse to be so constantly with him
| But. was mistaken. 1t seemed thai
Juanita had travelled extensively il
the parts Dick wished to lay his story
and that much of it had been inspired
by tales she had told him.
Once in speaking of my delight tina
he was to write the book, he said:
| Juanita inspired the story Hel
| vivid tales of what she had seen, where
Sne mad been, have been the creates
help to me-" AS Juanita was witt, n,
at the time could say nothing, proba.
Dfy would not have anyway. But m,
| heart felt heavy. This would mean M
cessa ton of the intimacy in the study
| 4 should still faa1-in !, 81,