The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-18
THE REVOLT OF
VERA SANDERSON
BY JANE PHELPS
VERA is ACCUSED OF ExTRAvA-
CANOE,
CHAPTER rs.

CHAPTER 70.
1t had been the first time that Mar
garet had even limited that Keith
might not be true to me. It was not
SO, I argued with myself. He had not
been nice about my clothes because of
anything wrong he had done. What
L had said, that Mrs. De Lisle had
taken him from business while I was
spending his money might have made
him Ienient, but that he had yet done
anything to really wrong me I did not
believe. Yet her remark haunted me.
Keith probably let you have all
those clothes because he felt guilty
she had said.
1 wanted to ask him If Alice De
Lisle was anything to him save a
friend, but I had learned not to yield
SO quickly to impulse as I had when
was first married. I was still i'm
pulsive. apt to jump at conclusions.
but where Margaret and her sneering
speeches were concerned 1 had grown
a bit callous. So I said nothing, but
watched Keith more closely than 1
had in some time.
went to the bridge, altho Margaret
said it was selfish to leave so young a
baby for my own pleasure. I wore my
gray and blue dress with the lovely
select. He complimented me when
was ready, and kissed me fondly.
IT believe being a mother has made
you look younger rather than older"
he said. II never saw you look bet
ter"
part of it is because selected my
own dress and, with your help, the
hat" l foolishly answered.
II had no reference to your clothes"
he returned. I had not heard her.
but Margaret had come up the stairs
and had overheard my remark. and
his answer. She said:
"She means that because I did not
go with her. Keith. The dress is very
attractive, but am sure I could havf
made a far better bargain. But OF
course one could not expect Vera to
be as careful with your money as I
am"
81 don't understand. Margaret! I
never have been extravagant, never
have paid as much for my clothes as
you do-even when Keith pays for
them for you. p
THAT will do, Vera" Keith said
coIdly, interrupting me.
Excuse me, Keith, I did not mean
to lose my temper" I said, but
never could endure being unjustly ac-
cused"
Margaret had turned and gone
down the stairs.
NY evening was spoiled just because
I lost control of myself. I played a
good game, so good everyone spoke of
it, but was not happy. I had Offend
ed Keith when I offended Margaret
Would I never, learn to keep still, to
let her talk, even let her nnisrepresent
me, and say nothing until Keith and
[ were alone?- Even on the way home
he scarcely spoke to me. Margaret not
once, altho they kept up running
fire of conversation between them.
1t was days before Margaret spoke
to me. Even the children noticed and
Gloria asked me what had done TO
make her mother mad. 1 tried to
act as usual, but it was hard.
L knew that the loss of the con-
troll of Keith's money had been one
of the objections to his marriage; that
what he spent for me, and now the
of. 1 too let my feeling about my
husbands money influence my actions
1 felt more and more keenly that as
I was his wife I had rights that his
sister could not have. Now that We
had little June to take care of felt
this even more emphatically. And
as it had warped Margaret'sS mind to-
ward me, it poisoned my mind to-
ward her.
Sometimes wonder if nearly all the
sorrow and trouble in the world isn't
traceable in some way to money. If
Keith had been poor real poor earn
| ing just a small salary, Margaret
could not have learned to depend
upon him for luxuries she could not
afford; neither would she have in
sisted we live with them.
1 never visited Erma Longstreet
that I did not go home with my
| heart filled with envy. Jim earned
only enough to be comfortable, yet
Erma had her own home, was abso-
Lutte mistress of it, and of Jim, as he
said laughingly when he wanted to
tease her. They had to economic in
many ways-cheap seats at the the
alter, the gallery at the opera. few
clothes, and the like. But they were
so contented and happy, SO in love
with each other and with life, that I
felt like crying when compared the
| atmosphere in which I lived with
| theirs.
| You have the whole of Jim" i
once told her, while don't have half
| of Keith
Nonsense! You have good deal
more than you will believe. I am
you"
"Yes-perhaps-as fond as Mar
garet will let him be-
you must get him to give you q
| home of your own, Vera. Do all you
can think of to have him realize how
much happier you would be-and him
too"
"Oh, Erma if only could!"
1t was my constant cry-oh, for a
home of my ownl
| (Tomorrow-Mother Sanderson comes
home)