The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-30
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
BY JANE PHELPS
HUMILIATION.
BY JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 6.


CHAPTER 6.
Margaret had apparently accepted
my apology, but / knew that her ac-
ceptance was no more honest than my
plea for forgiveness had been. 1 had
been very unwise to antagoniZe her IN
the way I had. Things had been hard
enough 60 bear before. Now she
seemed to take delight in making me
unhappy.
Not that she did anything I could
complain to Keith about. She was far
too clever to give me a chance to en-
cradle little nagging ways she spoiled
every single day for me.
Yet because of the few tender
words, the caresses of the man l loved,
1 uncomplainingly endured.
1 often recalled that remark Mar
garet made to her friend. that some
day I would be in the divorce court.
That would be the end of my married
life with Keith. 1 determined that
nothing would ever make me divorce
my husband, nothing Not even if he
should care for some one else-some-
time, when he tired of me. L did not
realize that the constant dropping of
the water of unhappiness upon mar
ried life made for a more poignant
separation than one act of unfaith
fulness could possibly do.
1t may seem slight thing but it was
just OlI0 1AOI0 dCl w 4DJuollCSs 1hC
maid who had always taken care of
keith's rooms kept on caring for them
after we were married. One day Mar
garet called her away to attend to the
drawing room. As she was giving a
dinner that night and all the servants
were very busy 1 said nothing and in
stead of waiting for her to return, 1
foolishly did the rooms myself. Mar
garet came up while was SO enga ged.
She made no remark, but often after
that would call Annie at the time she
was to do my floor, and keep her I'M
til could endure the untidy rooms
no longer and would clean them my
self. Finally / scarcely ever had help
save once a week on sweeping day.
1 was not lazy, and I knew 1t did not
hurt me in the least to do my own
rooms, but it was the injustice of the
thing. So I said to-Annie:
Hereafter you do my rooms before
you go downstairs. Commence them
half an hour earlier; then if you are
called, say you will come down when
you have finished
Yes, madame" Annie replied, a
look resembling pity in her eyes. She
was a girl like myself, just my age, a
good servant, and L was fond of her.
In fact, L used to miss the little frag-
mentary chats we had while she did
the rooms.
The next morning after giving these
orders 1 ran up to get my hat after
breakfast. I would walk part of the
way with Keith as l often did on
pleasant mornings. Annie was already
at work, and L stopped a moment to
explain something L particularly
wished her to do, then Joined Keith
After leaving my husband at his Of
flee 1 did some>necessary shopping for
little things for US both. 1t was near
ly noon when 1 reached home. When
1 opened my door was astonished to
see things exactly as I had left them
called Annie, but Margaret an
swered:
What do you want Annie for? She
is busy
81 waht her finish my work. She
commenced it before I left. Annie!"
L called again.
"She is busy The children need
Once a week of course she will clean
for you" And as if that ended the
subject, she closed her door.
Angry tears welled up into my eyes
What should I do? I would do moth
ing. I would leave the rooms in the
they were until Keith came
in and, when he asked, tell him why
they were not made up.
All that long afternoon sat in the
midst of that disorder. I was too
angry to attempt doing anything to
make me less unhappy, so 1 Just nurs-
ed my grievance. 1t was after 6
O'Clock when L heard voices and knew
that Keith had come in.
''Why doesn't he come up?" I said
to myself as I rearranged my hair be-
fore the mirror. 1 was very particular
about my appearance,-M would
be sure to make him notice if the
slightest thing were wrong.
Finally I heard his step on the stairs
and flew to open the door. To my
horror and amazement he was not
alone. 1 stepped out into the hall, half
closing the door of our sitting room
where 1 had been waiting. The piano
cover was over the back of a chair,
the window draperies pinned up,
everything just as Annie had left it in
the morning.
MY wife, Jack. Vera, Mr.. Under
wood" I heard Keith say. Then
Come in, Underwood, 1 have my
same quarters.
If only the floor had opened and
swallowed me. Keith's face when he
entered the room was blank with sur
prise, then crimson with modification
and anger.
annie was called out before she
finished her work. said in a trem-
bling voice. Mr.. Underwood will
please pardon the disorder
ITO be continued.)