The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-11
A Delightful Narrative of Domestic
Life by a Popular Magazine
Writer.


oh, Gerald? 1 don't think Ger
aid knows a thing about it. I
don't believe he'd care much if he
did. 1t happened mostly when he
was away; he had to go to the
Philippines and he was gone four
months. He's back now and
presume he thinks Flossie and
Wilbur are still just good friends.
They're very careful. He drinks
a good deal and spends a lot of
time playing bridge at the club.
F'lossie's always been a flirt; she's
had any number of affairs with
men, but they've never been any
thing serious. No ones ever taken
'Flossie seriously before-except
Wilbur. Oh, ma! Is there
anything so terrible in the world
. as jealousy?"
Lucy's voice broke piteously.
Her mothers thin shoulders
sagged slightly and she drew her
breath with a faint sound of pain.
I've known about it for a year
and halfs 1 first began to
suspect something was between
them on a New Years party we
had down at Del Monte. Wilbur
drove her down with Beckie and
Gerald. l was busy getting
Philip and Leila interested in
each other. The night of the
big New Years ball I was round
looking for Leila. Id gone up-
stairs to her room to find her,
and as I started down again, 1
happened to glance over the ban
listers and 1 say them below.
Flossie was, in his arms-and 1
saw him kiss her. It was
horrible kiss! 1t sickened me.
I wanted to die. wish to
God had!
Every time I thought of that
kiss 1t made me sick. 1t haunted
me. I'd wake up in the night,
and my thoughts would instantly
leap back to 1t. 1t frightened
me the way it stuck in my mind.
I determined I would not let my.
self think about it. 1 tried to
believe it was just one of Flossie's
reckless indiscretions and that
Wilbur had had too much to
drink. fought to forget it. We
went back to town, and I made
up my mind wouldn't be one of
those wives who make a fuss be-
cause her husband casually kisses
another woman in a moment of
excitement. I didn't say a word
about 1t to anyone, and I busted
myself with Philips and Leila's
affair. And then one day. shall
never forget five were talking
about arranging a house party
down at Beckie's place in Bur-
lingame, and Wilbur said business
affairs wouldn't let him get
away, and then someone men,
toned Flossie was to be there,
and he suddenly announced he'd
go. I was watching him, and
saw the quick change in his face.
Realization.
Il knew then, in a flash, from
just that one glimpse, that he
had come to care for her. 1t
rushed over me how blind I'd
been and what a fool / was.
But even then wouldn't be con-
vinced-I wouldn't admit the
truth. I kept telling myself it
was only a Irritation, that Will
bur was only playing. I was
tortured by doubts and worry. I
suspected everything. 1 imagined
everything. I couldn't go on; I
had to know. Then began to
spy upon them! Oh, Ma, if
I'd never been born, was
crazy with jealousy. I" didn't
know what I was doing.
'It became q passion with me
by and by" see continued, chok.
ing down her emotion, ito find
out about them I listened over
the telephone extension when he
was talking, searched his peck
cts, I read his letters, l even
went through his papers in his
desk down at the office.
Finally I bribed Miss Glaspell, his
stenographer. and then 1 hired a
detective agency! learned
the truth at last. 1t was
. base, horrible, the worst that 1