The Meeker herald., 1922-12-16
The
Other Woman
D MYRA c. LANE

faithlessness. Thers they were, set
down IN black and white, the other
wsmaa's letters, proof enough for q
divorce In any court Of any land.
And dull resentment, not unmixed
with curiosity. burned In her,. Why
had Jim done thisi Why had no
proved unfaithfulf
She went over In her mind the seven
years Of hsr married. life with him.
Gle had, been % dutiful, % unQuesti0n.
Ing. shaving for him. cooking. scrub
bling. washing. and sever. taking her
troubles 70 him when he came home
1t night.
She had not lost her beauty, II II
mad grown more nature. And there
Gas NO reason-thas was it-no rea-
son at ALI
She remembered the cynical informa-
lion given her By other disiliusi0ned
married women. All men, they said.
were unfaithful. But Molly had never
expected It e Jim.
She had already decided that there
should be no divorce, on account Of
Elsie. He was fond Of the child, and
she would bear her burden. But why!
Whyf The question rose to her lips
inaistently.
She knew who the other woman was
-Aiss Clinton. manager Of an once
force In big corporation. q business
woman By day, 4 gadabout at nights.
She was well known; she had had
other affair1 with other men.
Jim should never know Of her dis
covefy. Molly put back the packet Of
letters where she had found them.
She would not let Jim know. But she
meant 10 ~ this Clinton woman and.
quite sincerely. NJ wssee she herseif
had faaed.
Fog thosg lsttess rsoectsd Jim's, and
: breathed7s passion tlsat in hsd-never
felt for her.
On the following evening. alleging
an engagement. Molly made her way
to Miss Clinton's apartment.
She knew that Jim had \ business
appointment that nisht-a real one!
She had ascertained that beyond
doubt.
The apartment IN which Miss Gin.
ton Lived was q the PERSECUTION
and-Walk-up kind. 30 Jim was not
keeping hsf In luxuryi summoning
all her essssse. Molly went up to the
top hat w1ssn the door opened.
: Miss Clinton was pretty. there was
nc. 1snyfng that. and Nelly felt oddly
toucAed to go that shs was quite pass
able like hefSeif.
TIN Mrs. Prothsros, = saId Molly.
Hostility AaESd into Miss Clinton's
eyes. ,'tCome to make o. seens, I sop
pose l" she said.
mo. Just 70 take ieok at you."
saId Molly.
Miss Clintoa opened the door reluc-
family. Look sil ySa want to. then"
she answered.
II haven't come hero to quarrel With
you Miss Citation Nelly said. n Just
wanted to ind out-well. you zee.
know everything. and wanted to f,nd
out what jim sees In you that he
doesn't ,see N ma"
The other laughed uncomfortably.
''Oh. Jim and I INST and found We were
meant for each other. guess that
covers everything"
HE, thought that about me, per-
haps."
swora OF. maybe"
.Wili II wear Of with your
II don't know, nor care" answered
Miss Clinton. That's the beauty Of 1t.
That's what keeps NJ together. You
fool. didn't You knew thatf'
1--WE never been ekactins." said Mol
~ humbly. Eve worked for him
when We were poor shaved for him."
The other softened. my dear. I've
never shaved for man In my life, and
never wih," she said. II guess the
truth il you're the typical wife. and
I'm the typical-wsll. you know"
Are all men untrue to their wives
when they've. thought about them all
the timer
Mostly, I guess. You see, q man
doesn't want q servant when he mar
ries. He'd much rather come home to
love, with . dirty icebox, or sit down
to hash and kisses than housewifely
meal. I guess you haven't learned
that, Mrs. Protheroe."
mo. I've been q fool" said Molly.
"Ah, well, that's the secret" Miss
Clinton answered. You can't hold
love BY housework."
Il guess you're the type Of woman
the men 20 to-" admitted Molly. but
maybe I'VE got q secret, too"
what IL 1T"
They always come back-when
their wives are big enough and brave
enough and loving enough. And I'm
the type they come back to. They do
ret tired Of hash and dirty iceboxes-
and Broadway dinners, too"
Maybe" answered Miss Clinton.
And Molly went down the stairs,
Wondering the DID, unanswered Ques-
tIon:
(which would I really rather BET"