The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-20
The WOMAN
He Married
M la ALE nrrrxnn
BY JANE PHELPS
THE FINISHED STORY.
Chapter 123

A certain quality in this bitter self
control of mine flicked me constantly.
Loyalty to Junior and to myself led
who had been thru the fire of neglect,
and fear, and keep my pride upper
most. I had need of pride in those
days.
Usually when I had been hurt by
outsiders, even unconsciously, they
had been members of my own sex,
women or girls. But one night
had remained to dinner with Mrs.
Baker; Dick being with Juanita, as
had foundSout by telephoning-it was
nearly dark when 1 started for home.
the soft breeze waited their words
plainly to me.
You haven't met that writer Will
Hams, have you?" one asked.
''No-what is he like?"
Hes all right, I guess, but he's
evidently fallen in love with Juanita.
Some people say he's a cad and q fool.
His wife was, 1 guess is, still friendly
with Juanita. That woman has lot
to answer for. If he is a fool he has
the excuse that others have fallen for
her before his time"
You say. his wife is friendly with
Juanita. Doesn't she know about her
husbands fascinatS bn ?"
.fWen - perhapk But something
must be wrong With her-she has no
pride or something. Juanita says she
doesn't make williams happy, that he
is iwretchedly unhappy with her.
"And Juanita is willing to try her
hand again! There must be something
to the fellow or she wouldn't bother
with him.
They turned down side street and
I walked on, scarcely knowing or car
ing where I went.
No pride. 1t had been all that had
kept me going. Something wrong
with me- I made Dick wretchedly
unhappy. Was that what they thought
of me? 1 had hated the women's
gossip, but infinitely more did the
talk of these men brighten and hurt
me.
found Dick had not returned, and
SO l. undressed and. went to bed.
would pretend to be asleep. / felt
could not talk to him after what had
heard-could not talk calmly, but
would upbraid him.
1t was late when he came in, and
he went at once to the study, and
wrote until dawn was creeping in at
the windows. When he game up
spoke to him. I had not closed my
eyes.
You awake, NAM"
Inc SJOEY Is lE1iclitNy OCO
Let me sleep all day. I am worn out"
ST am SO glad for You. Dick" L
kissed him softly. not expecting a re-
turn But he pressed his lips TO sn1y
cheek. and replied:
II knew you would be- When l
wake up will send it off. Now don't
talk, but let me Sleep" Almost before
he had finished speaking his even
breathing told me he was asleep.
I rose quietly, darkened the room,
and went out Not by a sound should
he be disturbed. There were tired
lines in his face, dark shadows under
his eyes. The strain of his constant
application, added to the worry about
his relations with Juanita, perhaps the
longing to be with her entirely, had
aged him. The gray hairs had in
creased appreciably, those over his
TEMPLES had whitened.
He slept until o'clock. Then he
wrapped and addressed his. story I'M
aware that I had spent hours in the
study reading it. / was sure it would
be accepted. It was full of yigor in
the treatment. a good plot, and was in
all respects the best thing he had Of
fered.
walked to the posoffice with him.
There, now, that's gone. 1 shall
play for a few days" he said as We
left the office.
He looked relieved as soon as the
itched to change what he had writ
ten if it was not sent away imnedi-
ateIy it was finished, and sometimes
when he had done so it had been det-
rimentai He had polished all the
spontaneity from it.
shall we go over to Juanita's for
a whiIe?' I asked.
81 promised I would come this aft
ernoon and have tea With her"
THAT will be refreshing. and we can
tell her the story is finished"
''She knows. telephoned her be-
fore I left the study was his naive
answer.
He had told her first. before he
came up to me. Complaining words
hung on my tongue but did notgive
them voice. I wanted to turn from
him and run home. instead of being
an unlimited. unwanted guest at their
coy tea-party. But forced myself
to go on. and tofehat with Dick until
we reached the house
eTomorrow-We are all children at