The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-08
Chapters From a
Woman 5 Life
BY JANE PHELPS


We had been married but few
weeks when discovered that Walter
was terribly quick-tempered. He
would fly up at the slightest thing.
but was over it just as quickly. He
could not bear the slightest criticism,
or TO be disagreed with. He was
quickly sorry when he said anything
to hurt me, but often was unreason-
able in his RACES.
had thought to spend many hours
with him in the studio, but soon found
that my going there annoyed him. One
day-he had a particularly pretty
model-he flared up at me before her,
sent me home practically, said he
couldn't work with me looking on.
Jealousy gripped me as I went out.
Did he wish to get rid of me because
of the model? What did they talk
about shut up in the studio for hourS2
I was miserably unhappy all the after
Eoon, but when he came home he took
me in his,arms, called himself brute
for speaking to me as he had, and ex-
planned that he always had been that
way-never could work if an outsider
was in the studio.
But Pm not an outsider" I pouted.
Yes you are-the same as anyone
else when it comes to the studio
felt terribly hurt, but said no
more. Someway, tho, it was hard for
me to dismiss my suspicious, my jeal-
ousy. Then one day Grace Harter in
creased them both. Could she have
done it purposely, 1 wondered.
TIL bet you don't go to the studio
often" she said. walt used to be
horribly put out if anyone came in
when was posing
She always called him WALT and
invariably her tone and manner took
on a degree of intimacy resented.
'I have no wish to interfere with his
work unless L have some particular
reason for visiting him. 1 replied
HnldlE ct dnr1ff think wives nf IIlSf-
ness men visit their offices-why
should artists wives make habit
of running to studios? %
%Oh, you are right of course
Doreeni But 1 couldn't be so prac-
teal. Then I'd be terribly jealous
painting pretty women with or with
out clothes"
"walter seldom paints a nude" I
returned. determined to keep my jeal-
ousy from her.
"Once in a lifetime would be
enough for me if were his wifei" she
replied adding to my discomfort.
I felt almost hated her. that what.
ever liking l might ever have had
was gone. Had she been jealous of
Walter? Was ste still fond of him p
why does Grace Harter call you
Waltz asked him that night at din
ner. TT doesn't seem in good taste to
me when I ever shorten your name
ITS a wonder she doesn't call me
Waltiei She used to- He laughed
at the reCOilect1On.
How horridr replied.
Made me feel like a fool!' Walter
said, then changed the subject.
His reply had comforted me a little,
yet increased my feeling toward
Grace. ''WaltieH' a great six-footer
like Walter! 1t was insulting. No
wonder he felt like a floor.
When Walter was annoyed with
a hything that had happened he would
be impatient with me. And this be-
fore had been married but a few
He was sorry afterward, al
ways, but it left sting.
found out very soon after we were
that he had no patience with
tears; that a woman who cried was
an abomiDation to him. I had wept
over something he said to hurt me,
and my eyes were still red when he
came in.
you can't expect me to eat my din
ner sitting opposite such a sight as
you have made yourself" he declared.
IF you are going to cry and have red
eyes, q swollen nose and puffed cheeks
And he went out slamn1ing the door
while I went to my room and cried
hating myself for doing it
but unable to control myself.
had cried myself to sleep when he
came in. He wouldn't let Jennie
waken me. and had left for the studio
before woke up. A sheet of paper
was on the pillow beside me. On it
was written:
I'm awfulIy soYry, dear. I didn't
naughty, impatient boy. I'll come
home early and we will take a ride in
the park
Happily I hurried out of bed, and
over myself to destroy the traces of
my grief. He was-sorry and trying
to make up to me for his temper.
(To be continued.)