The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-16
Chapters From a
Woman 5 Life \
BY JANE PHELPS

SndpISE AZ.
Sunday dawned bright and beauti-
full and my spirits rose. We would
have our long ride together, and with
Claire along Grace. would not be so
free perhaps: not say things I. with
my slower moving wits, found hard to
answer.
Georges car was a sedan, easily
holding five people. AS he was to
drive himself, there was plenty of
room for another. They had stopped
apartment so we could start off to-
gether.
Walter had taken the largest bas-
ket and gone ahead of me, intending
to put it in Georges car. Just as 1
reached the curb, laden with boxes, L
heard him say:
''Why not stop for Miss Ralstrom.
Harter? There is plenty of room in
your car, and the more the merrier
always on a picnic.'
Just as you say! This is your
funeraIi' George answered, and 1
thought he-threw a covert glance at
me.
I 1onged to object, but knew wal
ter's tenacity of purpose. If opposed
he never gave in, only was the more
determined. So with my eyes misted
by tears I dared not let fall took my
seat in the runabout. We hurried off,
going out of the way to get Helen
Ralstrom. [ .
Before anyone else could offer,
Walter jumped from the car and ran
up the walk. Helen appeared almost
instantly. She was dressed in blue
costume, her favorite color, and
looked charming.
This is awfullx good of you all, !"
she called. Il won't keep you waiting
a moment" She was out hated and
cloaked almost immediately. A sus-
picion entered my mind. Could Wal
ter have communicated with her, had
he planned to ask George to invite
her, and did that account for her be-
ing so perfectly dressed early Sunday
morning?
But even this suspicion was ban
ished by Walters lively chatter, the
easy riding car, the lovely day. She
couldn't be with him, and it was sell
fish in me to begrudge her a days
outing.
We had a long. lazy day in the
woods. George and Walter built n
fire by gathering small stones and
heaping them into a/circle, then gath
ering dried twigs to make a fire I'M
der a thin flat stone placed in the CEN
ter. We made coffee, fried bacon and
eggs, and were as noisy and gay as
lot of children. We had brought
many goodies, but nothing tasted so
good as the bacon and eggs cooked
on a stone.
Several times during the day I had
scolded, myself because of my fears
that Helen would spoil my day. She
was rather the quietest one of the
party; showed no intention of pushing
herself, and most of the time kept
near Claire. I saw she and Grace
were unfriendly, but both had too
much tact to allow it to become too
obvious; to- let it spoil the day.
George Looked on with lazily cyni-
cal eye as usual. He seemed to watch
Walter. especially every time he
spoke to Helen, in q, peculiar manner
as if he expected omething to hap
4
little attention. We were having a
delightful day, why spoil it by WON
dering what George was thinking of?
1t was 4 o'clock, and beginning to
get chilly before anyone spoke of go
ing home. Then we picked up the
rubbish. When I turned from wrap
ping something, saw Helen Rail
strom seated beside Walter in the
roadster. I stood perfectly still for a
AREN'T you in the wrong car. Miss
Ralstrom?"
mo, I am going to ride home with
Walter and give you my place in the
sedan,'' she quickly returned.
1 felt the tears coming. I trembIed
with anger. Then caught a glimpse
of George Harter's cynically smiling
lips, the look in his eyes, and with an
effort I pulled myself together.
Come get this basket, Walter?" I
called, and as he came close I said:
I'm SO disappointed not to ride home
with you
Helen is crazy over the roadsteri
Don't be a pig, Doreen."
I said nothing more, and started
for the sedan. Claire and Grace were
in the rear seat, and George said:
You're to sit next to me in front, |
Doreen-'' /
without a word took my seat, but |
not before I had seen q CLEAN ofnsat- |
isfaction in George Harter's eyes. |
What did it mean? felt as If he |
had some sinister plan concerning me, |
but why should he?
(To be continued.) !