The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1922-12-08
JEANS VICTORY
BY HAZEL L. WILLIAMS.

suburban town where the Millions had
lived ever since they came over on one
| OF the first ships from England. Ii
was snObbish little town, and from
the first everyone said Toms marriage
| would be failure For he had com
mitted the objectionable sin of over
looking the marriageable girls in his
own set and marrying a rank outsider
And that wasn't all. Tom had found
her doing a song and dance act in a
cabaret. To the people in small
town. where everyone has always
known everyone else, an outsider of
whom they know nothing always re-
mains more or less an outsider. But
to be an actress into the bargain
placed Jean entirely outside the pale.
That the song and dance had been
very good one, as well as innocent and
clean. made no difference.
The young people opened up the big
house and in due time people called.
However, they were obliged to adj
NIT that the house was clean, and that
Tom seemed to be very we'll cared for
indeed. Instead Of helping jeans case
this only served to antagonize them
the more, for everyone hates to be
proved in the wrong. No one ever
called twice, for there seemed TO be
an unspoken agreement among the
town ladies to slight Jean as much as
possible.
Tom was a member of the country
club, so he took his bride to several
Of the Saturday night dances, where
she was rather popular with the men.
Naturally she was a splendid dancer.
She was pretty, too, and men found
her the best of company. She would
have been just as friendly and anus
Ing with the women, but they never
gave her chance. At first she thought
she could get along very nicely with
out the approval of the women, but
she soon found that the married men
no longer asked her for dances, and
even some of the younger ones began
to show the influence of mothers and
sisters. or course it made Tom very
unhappy, for this was his home town."
and he intended to spend a good many a..
years there. He spoke of II to Jean
Just once, for when he saw the hurt |
look in her eyes he realized that after
all it was hardest on her.
In the end Jean found that she real |
ly didn't care whether they approved |
of her or not, for deep In her heart she
knew them for what they were. This
is how 1t came about:
1t was fearfully hot night In Au- :
gust, almost too hot to dance anyhow,
when she and Tom arrived at the
club rather late. Jean walked into
the dressing room, to find 1t crowd
ed with women. There was nothing
strange in that, for it was usually a
favorite resort between dances. But
there was something strange in the
way they were standing around whis-
pering. Something In the atmosphere
panic. AS Jean entered she
heard whisper.
"She's been sick for a week and no
one has been near her but the doctor,
md he can't even get nurse to take
he case. My dear she's got"
The speaker saw Jean and turned
Ter back quickly. SO the last word was
ost. Jean walked into the room and
Jaw girl sitting in a huge chair. Her
pretty face was CHASTITY and she was
alking Historically to the women
lear her.
II rode out from town with her the
lay she was taken ILL.," she was saying.
My God, If get 1t my face will be
narked."
Her voice rose in a trembling cres-
endo and broke. Jean stared at her,
look Of horror slowly dawning In
err eyes. She turned and walked
uietly from the room and stood for
moment on the veranda, contemplate
lg search for Tom. She decided
gainSt 1t because she knew he would
" to prevent what she intended to
o. She hurried home and changed I
uickly into more serviceable clothes.
he packed bag and, leaving a note
n the table for Tom. she stole out a
de door and across the field to the
octor's. She found him preparing to
D out and his face was white and
red.
II am going out on an important =
ise," he said, so If you're not ter
bly, Ill l can't stop now.
Jean explained her errand and over
lme the doctors resistance. He ex-
,cted the crisis that night and he was :
eatly In need Of help, even as mex
as Jeans would be. he
So the one-time cabaret performer Inn
d what none of the "virtuous wives" ~
ID the courage to do. There is no E
ed to tell of the terrible battle lean ~
Id the doctor waged against death ~
ley conquered and Jean stayed with HI