Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1922-09-14
The End and the
Means
By MYRA C. LANE
o. 1922 Western Newspaper uaion.,

been married II years; Lee was FIVE
years her senior, but women age fast
er than men, and she knew that she
was growing old.
IL was the common fear Of women
who are In love with their husbands.
From the day when she had seen the
first crows foot about her eyes that
fear had gone on increasing. Now 1t
was something that woke her suddenly
In the night; and, looking at Lee
sleeping, she would hear the thump-
ing Of her heart, and wonder how
long she would remain attrac-
tive to him. They had cared for each
other more than most husbands and
wives do. But love was not the same,
and had not been the same for years
past. Gradually 1t was waning, that
splendid thing that had once possessed
them.
He was 80 kind, and she knew that
he would never let her know by word
or deed; but instinct is sure, and Ar
line knew that Lee had ceased to care.
Not that there was any other woman
yet. But Lee showed an interest in
pretty faces that had not once been
his. And the fear grew. 1t had be-
come a monster that was devouring
all that was her, all that was the best
Of her.
Airline never dreamed how much
she had lost Lee concealed HIS weari-
ness with c0nsummate tact. But he
was man essentially attracted by
beauty, and there was woman-we1,
nothing wrong about that, except that
they cared for each other, and for that
reason had resolved never to meet
again. But at home, sitting at the
table and looking at his wife on the
other side, a sense Of ineffable weari-
ness would come over him.
Was this the woman whom he had
loved, whom he had vowed to love for
ever2 Tie sense Of bondage was be-
coming terrible. And as long as they
lived-as long as they both lived
Her face was becoming lined, her
hair was streaked with gray; Lee was
young man still.
1t was impossible to bear 1t. He
must leave her and go where he could
be free-not with the other woman
perhaps-but he must at least get
away for while to think things over,
to recover his own soul.
He snatched at the opportunity of
business trip which would take him
to Chicago for a month. He was
little surprised that Airline did not
demur, for 1t was the first time in their
married life that they had been sep
arated more than a day or two.
II think little change will do you
good, dear" said Airline, as she kissed
him good-by.
Lee went toward the station with
the sense of having escaped from an
intolerable bondage.
He had hoped that the months alb
sence would clarity things, perhaps re-
new his love for Airline, but it passed
wretchcdly, and he was still torn be-
TWEEN tNu
that Airline had come to mean nothing
to him and the remembrance of their
lives together All the little incidents
Of those years seemed suddenly to
have assumed phenomenal imp0r-
lance.
And, instead of coming to some ir-
revocable decision, when the month
had passed he was filed with the same
uncertainty, the same longing to be
free, the same indeclsion as ever.
Airline had written that she was
going to spend week with her sister,
and Lee seized the opportunity to re-
turn to the empty apartment day or
two before her return.
And as he looked about the rooms,
at the well-remembered things about
him, new horror of life with Airline
came over him. 1t seemed unbearable.
Why could she not at least have kept
her beauty? was it not his right?
He determined to leave her forever
and yet, as that decision was made,
his mind few back to thousand COM
mon trifles, intimacies, caresses. =.
He must leave her. He would soon
forget; and then airline cared nothing
for him.
A ring at the bell. He opened the
door. Airline stood on the threshold
Airline, and yet-who?
Who was this woman with the pow
dered face and rouged lips, the hair,
newly dyed golden? This woman Of
forty vamped up like a fiapper Of
eighteen? 1t made him sick to look
at her-sick with surprise as well.
"Do you like me better. dear? /
went to a beauty specialist =. one
has to look smart. -" She was
smiling in timid, forced way.
And the pity Of it gripped his heart.
He saw through the paint and the dye
into the lonely heart of the woman
he understood With instant intuition.
And he could never leave her now.
elm every way, DEAR" he answered,
pressing his lips to her vermilion ones.
-------------------