The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-07
The Woman
He Married
GETTING BACK TO NORMAL.
BY JANE PHELPS

what naQ happened, our anxiety,
the fear that something dreadful had
befallen Junior, brought US still closer
together. What nlattered anything
else if we had each other?
Naturally I was very careful that
Junior did not get out of my sight I'M
less he was with some person 1 knew
and could trust. But he had taken
mothers talk very seriously, and
doubt if he would again have gone
willingly with anyone.
My work had been interrupted by
the incident, and for days afterwards
1 could not accomplish as much as
1 wished to. My mind would revert
to Junior, and 1 would drop every
thing to watch him at play in the
yard, or on the porch. But other
orders came in and 1 put worry and
foolish wasting of time away from
me and attended to my Job" as Dick
called it.
I bad noticed a great difference in
Dick for the past few weeks, I think
it commenced to impress me soon
ence Burns. There was q gravity, q
certain serenity about him now that
had never before been obvious. For
long time his manner had been one
of endurance, coupled with renuncia-
ton, quiet usually, but at times in
clined to make him moody and bit
cratic
I found the change in him caused
one also in me. 1 found myself sud
denly confident and gay, as we are
has depressed, lightens. If Dick
were happy, if I had my baby boy,
why nothing could ever sadden me
again, nothing make me bitter and
envious as 1 often had been III the
old days.
Junior was such sturdy little fell
low, always laughing and contented,
that he really made me no work at
all. He loved out doors, and as my
fears for his safety subsidized, 1 in
dulged him in that fancy no matter
what the weather. If it rained he
with a policeman's hood. Mother
had given them to him, and at first
even on pleasant days he begged to
wear them. 1 found when he was
properly protected the storms did not
hurt him.
7 He and Dick always had a romp at
night before Junior was put to bed.
Then either a story, or Dick would
read to him. I used to feel so peace
fully happy watching them, and Won
der how 1 ever could have thought
that dress, clothes. to be stylish, and
have things only the very rich should
have, would make me happy. Now
worked hard, helped Dick all 1 posi-
bly, could in every way. Not only did
try to bring nearer the time when we
would be out of debt, So that he could
hold up his head again"-his express
sfon-but l tried to read, to study, to
think, 1 longed more than anything
in the world to be a true helpmate
to him, to atone for what l had done
by proving nothing that made for his
happiness too hard for me.
So gradually as we became acquaint-
ed with a few young married people
of our age, 1 gave simple little eve
ming parties, either playing cards, or
playing the victrola for those who
cared to dance. Often we would just
talk-if those invited happened to
be congenial to Dick. I saw it drew
his thoughts from himself, and that it
did him good. Then we accepted in
vitations occasionally just to simple af-
fairs such as We gave. Now there was
no striving to Guido one another, no
straining of nerves and purses. A
rarebit, a slice of cake and some
lemonade, or bread and butter sand
witches and coffee, was all the refresh
afford.
We had been in Lansing two years.
We had paid our debt to Clarence
Burns. and most of the others. We
had rented larger house with small
wing room that opened with a sepa-
rate door upon the porch. This room
used for shop. l called it simply
1.-The Drapery Shop" just as had
planned. 1 had a young girl to help
with the books, delivering parcels of
finished work in addition to the one
who did the machine work. I should
soon have to hire more help as my
business had grown astonishingly when
one considered it was started absolute
ly without capital. 1 now had cloths
in the shop from which a customer
might make a selection, as well as
samples from the city stores
From the first 1 had determined
that nothing should make me neglect
my home for my shop. Sometimes it
was difficult but by systematizing ev-
erything 1 managed to do it. Dick
was never annoyed because of talking
shop. Unless he asked I never mem
toned my work in the evenings we
spent together. I felt he needed rest
and change when at home, not a con-
tinuation of what he had had all day.
(Tomorrow-Dick proves his courage.)