The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-12-04
Chapters From a
Woman 5 Life
FTDO. THE SUBJECT OF MUCH
DISCUSSION.
Syuox,sis of Preceding Olnpteru.
BY JANE PHELPS

DISCUSSION.
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Doreen is the wife of Waiter Page.
an artist. The latter evInces much
interest in his model. Helen Raj
stroIn. He purchases a runabout,
selected by Helen who accompanies
him riding more often than does his
wife. While Pages mother is pay
ing him and Doreen a visit Walter
carries Miss Ralstron into his home
at night, the victim of a motor &C
cident- The elder Mrs Page sends
her home in an ambulance. This
attitude wins Doreen over to her
mother-in-law, whom she, hereto
fore, had considered cold and proud.
difficult to get along with.
Grace Harter and Doreen chance
on Helen and Walter dining at a
road house together. Doreen,s
Self-po possession disturbS Miss Rail
strom's equilibrium.
Chapter 25.
The absurd devotion Mrs. Page
showed Fido. rather the silly fuss she
made over him, disguised me. Then
the namei- Whoever heard of calling
a pomeranian FIdo? 1t was ridicu-
lousi That little mite, not much more
than bark and tail, given the name
naturally associated with other breeds,
seemed to increase my dislike for him.
1 Gid not fear hirn-as 1 usually did
any dog-but he annoyed me, almost
as much as he did Jennie. When one
is not accustomed to an animal in the
house, especially in a, small apartment,
nerves are rasped in spite of all desire
to be sensible and kind.
Mrs. Page knew did not like F'ido,
and resented it, When in my pres
ence she seemed to take delight in
calling him pet names, kissing him.
"mushing over him. Walter called
it. At times it disguised me so that
had to leave the room for fear I
should say something to offend Wal
ter's mother; something I had deter
But Jennie was hard to handle.
Often she repeated her remark, made
when Mrs. Page first came:
81 amt never cooked and waited on
no dog, and amt goin' to now!"
Then for half an hour perhaps I would
plead with her to he good for my
sake, telling her Mrs. Page wouldn't
be with us long, to try and be patient.
also had increased her wages on the
dogs account. But I think my own
dislike of the dog in the house, the
knowledge that tried to be patient,
had more to dc with her staying than
anything I said or did,
''I guess if you can stand it I can!''
she said after one of my talks to her,
but never thought I'd come to wait
in on a dog. And such a dogi If
he was a nice big one, what was any
good if BURGERS come, it would be diff
leTent- But lndC QOS amt SOOQ Tor
nothin'. They could steal everythin
in the house and he wouldn't even
BARK
Claire new of Jennie's antagonism,
knew Of mine. She loved dogs and
laughed at US.
said.
Forget it," I returned, :.when it's
darling, mothers sweet precious all
the time. If people have to cuddle
- S,.-r /, AL
poor little motherless baby and cuddle
that?"
Poor Doreen," Claire Knocked. "Be
glad she has the dog. He keeps her
busy often when if it weren't for him
she might make things even more dis
agreeable for you"
+ That was So often she failed to re-
prove me, to show her dislike to some
thing 1 said or did because she was
too busy petting Fido to pay attention.
I told her of Mrs. Eldridge, of her
sweet patience, her delight IN our visit.
''She must be a very lovable charac-
ter" Mrs. Page said, then surprised
meas she often did-by adding: 81
should like to go with you if you call
on her again.
THAT would be delightful." I re-
Piled Il am sure she would be flat
tered, and that Claire would be pleased
to take you"
Miss Gordon is a charming woman.
I wish 1 could say as much for some
of your other friends. You should be
more careful in selecting your associ-
ates. A man or woman is judged by
the company they keep"
oh. why did she always have to
spoil everything? I wondered. I had
been pleased that she wanted to see
Mrs Eldridge, that she had spoken so
nicely of Claire. But she couldn't let
it go at that; she had to rap some
one and take away all my good feel
ing.
Now that Mr.. and Mrs. Harter,"
she went on. they are to my mind
very unsuitable companions for you,
and"
You remember I told you Grace
Harter was Walters friend long before
1 knew him. He is very fond of her,
and likes George Also I interrupted
inpolitely. 1T would look strange if
L refused to be on good terms with
my husbands friends"
Women with sharp tongues often
mako trouble" she replied. sententi-
Dusty. She never liked it when I in
VOWED Walter in anything for which
she blamed me-
(Tomorrow-Mrs Page suggests a
visit to the studio.)