The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-23
Chapters From a
Woman s Life
HELEN RALSTROM SUGGESTS A
PARTY.
By JANE PHELPS

SndplSI -
| Scarcely conscious that I was doing
it read what Helen had written.
DO come and take me for a long
ride in the country, as long as we
aren't to work. Get some others and
ven have a party. stay to dinner and
dance. You say your mother is all
right now, SO you have no excuse.-H
I sat down feeling suddenly~weak,
angry. Hot tears forced themselves
from my eyes. hard as 1 tried to re-
strain them L had spent all my time
for two weeks waiting upon Walter s
mother, never complaining, and when
she was better--instead of taking me
out thinking of me-he was taking
the day off with Helen Ralstrom-
dropped my veil so the Jap would
not see my tears and asked;
''Will Mr.. Page be back?
mo. He's gone for the day"
i"Did he go in the car?"~I hated my
self for questioning servant, put the
immobile Jap showed no surprise as he
answered:
"Yes, Madame
I left at once and hurried home l
had been gone longer than intended
You took plenty of time for your
walk Mrs. Page said fretfully, and at
once asked me TO do several things for
her. She kept me running Tor hat an
hour After Claire left she said:
please do not leave me again until
I am able to wait upon myself 1t ism t
pleasant to ask strangers, even friends,
to wait upon me. hope you'll not
delegate your duty to another again.
I bit my lip to keep back an I'M
patient reply. But when I looked at
her pale,J thin face suddenly felt only
pity for the high spirited old lady Who
while disappearing OF me In many
ways really wanted me with her. A1ter
a moment she added:
when one has daughter they
naturally look to her"
1t was the first time she had used
that word in reference to me- Some
way it made me feel suddenly very ten
der toward her. leaned over and
kissed her lightly, then said:
''I won't leave you again until you
are able to get around the house.
She was now sitting up, but too weak
to walk.
"I hope not!'
The words as well as the tone were
ungracious. Yet I took no offense
The warm feeling that had flashed
over me when she called me "daugh-
ter still remained
But after she dozed off my mind re-
verted to the note had found in the
studio.
What did Helen Ralstrom mean by
throwing herself at Walter as she did ?
Was it a, deliberate plan to take him
from me-if she could? Was it only
the careless girls desire to have good
ne was gay NAAO
dom stopped to think when anything
appealed to him. He had a boyish
love of a good thing. and was always
ready to make one of a party on pleas
ure bent. must not think there could
be anything wrong; it made me too
unhappy.
Dinner time came but no husband.
Just az Jennie came and asked if she
should wait longer, or if would have
my dinner, the telephone rang. It was
Walter. He said:
I'm out on the Island, Doreen!
Don't wait dinner. Having a jolly
time. just ran into Grace and Harter.
and some others. It's too bad you
aren't along, but knew the Mater
would have a fit if I suggested it.
may be late. Don't sit up, dear"
He hung up before I could say
word. Yet was not quite as unhappy
as I had been before he telephoned.
He had said it was too bad I wasn't
along, had been evidently doing moth
ing that precluded my presence. I
would not make myself SO unhappy.
I had my dinner with Mrs. Pages
Jennie set up a small table and we ate
cozily; she delighted that I did not'
leave her to go into the dining room.
Afterward I read to her, telling her
phoned, would not be at home until
late. After I had fixed her for the
night. she said:
you are very good to me. Doreen.'
She drew my face down, and for the
first time kissed me. I went into my
own room to walt for Walter, almost
happy. Perhaps in time she would
love me a little.
(To be contiRued.)