Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-21
CHAPTER XVI
Suspicion Realized

0NE morning ! ran over to see Mar
Ogaret after | had done my market
ing for the day. I found her upstairs
with a big basket Of mending nenr her
and I noticed with little shock that
In the clear sunlight that flooded the
room Margaret looked little faded.
She must have noticed my searching
glance. for she flushed little and said
apologetically
"Please don't look at me too closely.
I've been terribly busy this morning
and haven't had a chance to look in the
glass since l dressed for breakfast.
Margaret hair. which was her chief
claim to good looks, was screwed back
from her face in an unbecoming knot.
and her nose was guiltless of powder.
Norman had never seen me when ] was
not daintily dressed. and 1t came to me
as shock that perhaps when l had
been married as long as Margaret had.
and had two children. ! might grow
careless of my appearance.
Remember, Joan. you re still in the
honeymoon stage Margaret continued.
'When you have two children, ana
only one maid TO do the work, 1t won
be so easy, that Is, unless you nave
more money than we have ever had to
spend" She spoke little bitterly as
though she envied my fresh appearance,
but my thoughts flew suddenly to the
safe reliability Of Jim. and l felt at
that moment that l would have given
ANYTHING for the knowledge that l was
sure Of my husband, and that. In spite
of nv unattractive appearance, he loved
me and only me.
Margaret threaded her needle while I
maintained discreet silence. Then
when she had drawn her thread through
large hole in one of Juniors socks
she looked 4, np 3pannn at me ,' sH3E denly
Fine" said quickly, instantly on
my guard.
There was another silence, and then
she remarked evenly, Joan: ! suppose
you know that Alice and Norman are
having a Irritation Of sorts. Jim told
me not to tell you. but ! don't think
It's fair not to have you know
1t seemed to me as though my heart
stoppcd beating for q moment ] had
been prepared all along for the shock
OF knowing this sooner or later, but
now that the blow lad fallen ] realized
that ! had been buoying myself up with
the hope that it wasn't true.
tried to speak. but my lips felt
stiff and ! could not form the words
no matter how hard ! tried.
! had one desperate moment of try
ing to hold on TO the shreds of my pride,
and then suddenly / was crying, and
Margaret's comforting arms were
around me holding me close.
"You poor child" she was grooming
over and over as though she were COM
forting one Of the children. Listen.
dear you mustn't take it like this. 1t
isn't serious.
II know" / sobbcd Its just the
strain Of suspecting things and not
knowing for sure. Oh, I'm ashamed of
myself, Margaret. ! thought | was so
brave, and / was sure ] could manage
the situation by myself
She did not answer, just held me
close, until my sobs grew less, and then
when / had stopped crying she went
back TO her chair and took up her sew
ing again. Her very calmness went far
toward bringing me back to my senses
and when she began to speak l listened
In silence.
LET me tell you something about
Norman, Joan. We all tried to tell you
before you married him, only you re-
sented the interference. He cant resist
women. In this case it happens 10 be
Alice, and. Of course, she Is responsible
for the whole thing. ! knew Norman
long before you met him. and | hoped
he would never marry. least of all a
woman like you. But he met you, and
YOU represented to him a home and the
things in life that really matter. He
wants you with all the best there is in
him, but you'll have to fight to hold
him, and you haven't the weapons that
Alice Wilson has
Margaret words hurt, but ! recog-
nized the Justice Of them, Even while
I writhed under them mentally | was
gathering my forces for the battle
ahead, and 1t was my intention to fight
TO the bitter end no matter what the
odds were against me.
TOmOrrOW-A Sudden Idea