The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-05-24
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
VERA DISTRUSTS MRS. DE IiISLE.
CHAPTER rs.
BY JANE PHELPS

CHAPTER rs.
Isn't it strange that when some
thing affects us unpleasantly it is con-
stantly thrust before us? I was be-
ginning to hate Mrs. De Isle without
quite knowing why. and certainly
without any cause, as far as knew.
Margaret and she had been close
friends as Mrs. Hunter had said.
found out the first time spoke of her.
"How long have you known Mrs.
De Lisle, Margaret % asked after the
widows first call on US. It was a few
days after had met her in the park.
"Why?" in rather a disagreeable
tone which pretended not to notice,
SO anxious was 1 to learn something
of the lovely widow.
"Oh, nothingi Only she kept re-
ferring to things that happened in a
way that made me think you had been
quite intimate with her."
II have known her about ten years.
I thought at one time she would be-
long to the family. Keith was very
devoted to her."
1 saw she was watching me, and so
laughed a little as carelessly as I
could. 1 would not let her know she
had hurt me if I could help 1t.
'She is very good looking for a wo-
man as old as she is I remarked.
I knew she and Margaret were about
the same age.
She is very good looking for a wo-
man of any age, and she is not old;
perhaps old enough to have little
poise and common sense"
well, I'd rather be young as 1 am
and lack both qualities, and 1 rather
think Keith feels the same way since
he passed her up and married me-"
Don't be vulgar, Vera!"
This conversation made me more
n fer in ed fIaa r
could about Keith and Mrs. De Isle.
never had had any affairs in my
past, and he should not keep from me
any he might have had-if he were so
much older that he had thought him
self in love before he met me.
Then, too, 1 disliked Margaret's in
timation that Mrs. De Isle had more
poise and common sense than I had.
She had not said so in words, but her
tone had made it plain that she would
nave preferred that Keith had mar
r1ed Mrs. De Isle rather than me.
shes worse than any mother-in-
law I ever heard of" 1 said spitefully
to myself as I sought my own rooms:
Il wish Keith had taken me to live
with his parents instead of bringing
me here,"
Margaret gave a dinner Much as
disliked her, I always had to yield
to her grudging admiration for her
ability and tact as a hostess. She had
| invited Tom Benedict and he had de-
voted himself to me. In way I en-
Keith and Mrs. De Isle, wanted to
hear what they said, and Toms chat
ter prevented.
1t was a small dinner, six couples.
We were quite gay, and had it not
been for my feeling of jealousy over
Keith's past CHS friendship with Mrs.
De Lisle) 1 would have enjoyed my
self hugely. Margaret's dinners were
always gay; she prided herself upon
getting the right people together al
ways.
| My disquietude was increased how
ever when, just as we rose from the
table, heard Mrs. De Lisle say:
| DO come any afternoon, Keith.
Come and have tea with me-"
I sort of edged toward them. Tom
Benedict following. Perhaps she would
| include me in her invitation if she
| saw me near. But she evidently had
no such intention for she spoke pleas
antly to both Tom and me, but said
nothing about my coming to tea.
Mrs. De Isle is very lovely tonight,
isn't she?" Tom said.
she is a striking woman, yes. But
can't see wherein she is so beautiful
| that everyone has to rave over herr"
I replied Grossly.
Tom looked at me keenly. but made
no reply. I sensed that he thought me
|
| SET have heard nothing but praises
! of her and her beauty ever since she
came back. I think Margaret is al
most as good looking as she, yet no
| one raves over her.
| Mrs. Dalton is a nice looking wo-
man. but she lacks Mrs. De Isles
fascination"
"You, too!" 7 laughed. yet I felt a
BIT resentful that this young man who
had constituted himself my squire
should also be impressed by the hand
some widow who was years older than
| heat least, it seemed SO to me.
| When we are very young, eight or ten
! years allied to our own age, typifies
almost old age to us.
| All the evening I thought Of what
| the lovely Mrs. De Isle had said to
! Keith.
"Do come any afternoon. Keith;
| come and have tea with me-"
! Tomorrow friend from home-)