The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-13
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
THE TExT-LovE ONE ANOTHER.
CHAPTER 96.
BY JANE PHELPS

CHAPTER Sc.
''Well. dear?"
Mrs. Aidrich asked the question
when I laid the letter from Keith in
had been addressed to her and knew
how very punctilious she was in such
things.
II haven't changed my mind, Mrs.
Aldrich. There is only one thing he
can do to make it so can or will re-
turn to him-and that. he doesn't
love me well enough to do"
"And you won't write him to come
and talk things over once more!
mo, in this must go against your
advice. I can't see him until he agrees
to meet my wishes, or until everything
is ended between US forever" l MADE
this last statement, with divorce IN
my mind; the idea that he would d.
vorce me.
''Very we'll, dear. I. was thinking
only OF you. your happiness "neh l
It was like her. She dropped the
subject Immediately.
''when you reply to that letter
If you do answer it, please make II
plain that I am not so petty as he
lions mean nothing to me. A place
of my own with him is the only stipu-
lation / have made; the only one
make now. Until he assures me
shall have il, I never shall return to
him-not if it breaks my heart to
lose him. There are things that make
a broken heart seem desirable. Things
that hurt and cut to the quick-when
they come from one you love"
had spoken very bitterly. Mrs
Aldrich patted my hand and com
forted:
IT stin believe It will all come out
right in His own good time, my dear
child"
"shalI you answer that?" pointed
to the letter.
''Unless You object-yes 1t is all
can do I fear" she added, speaking
to herself more than to me.
The next day was Sunday For the
| first time since 1 had been in the
village went to church with Mrs
| Aldrich. I now believed, after a
sieepiess night, that Keith's letter
was in the nature of a warning; that
his mention of gossip making his
position unbearable; his foolish offers
of unimportant things, when he knew
my only and repeated stipulation p;l
ditions this time, he would-end it all
| by divorcing me.
The word divorce had not been
mentioned between us, yet m
thoughts of late had dwelt much upon
the possibility of it-and upon Mrs.
| De Isle.
! The clergyman, an elderly man with
| a kind face, took for his text: "a new
commandment I give unto you, that
We love one another"
And there I sat and listened to the
old story of Christ's love for US, and
that we should pattern ourselves after
Him, and love even those who
wronged US.
! I thought of Margaret as listened.
I had tried to love her, and failed.
Was it my fault? Had she herself
~ NO da x iv,nossihIe b1 her attitude
toward me?
Yet when he pronounced the bene-
diction in his quiet voice, felt in a
way comforted, more at peace.
ibid you like the sermon?" Mrs.
Aldrich asked as we walked hime.
Eyes, and no! I do not believe 1t
is possible to love every one. Even to
like them But I am glad went, and
shall go again il you care to have
me-"
~ shall be very glad"
"You see," I went on after a mo-
ment, 'I may as well commence try
ing to live as other people do. I shall
never go back to Keith. am sure of
that-now. He never will give Mar
garet up, I mean give up living with
her and ! never shall go back to him
under those conditions. So 1 must
make my own life, make it as best I
can"
"You are wise, my dear. to get out
little. mingle with people. 1t isn't
natural for one as young as you are to
shut themselves away from human
companionship."
rs it natural for one as young as
I am to be thrown aside? Is it the
usual thing for husband to prefer
to please his sister rather than his
wife? Is it the usual thing for a
man to marry girl and refuse her a
homer"
Mrs. Aldrich looked at me-, sur
prised. seldom had allowed her to
see the bitterness in my heart. I
went on:
1T have a friend, girl of my own
age. She has a tiny flat-Jim doesn't
make much money. but he gives her a
home, he kisses her goodbye in the
morning; he calls her pet names. If I
could have had for one month the