Phillips County herald., 1923-09-06
The Trump
Card
BY MYRA CURTIS LANE

lett lie WOulu nave Carried on Us
long as he lived. But that had always
been one of his reasons for feeling as
be did about Dorothy-her unwilling
ness to assume the burdens and cares
d maternity. 1t was always a thing
iOr the future. And she was past
thirty. He knew that in her heart
she had determined that they should
peycr have one.
den any longer? They had always
been at lOggerheads, and since Randon
bad met her cousin, Isabel, who had
come to live In the suburb after her
husbands death, 1t had all become
frankly impossible. He and Isabel
we're in love with each other, helpless
ny In love.
Why shouldn't Dorothy and he sepa-
nate? She wanted home, and she
wanted him as a lay figure In that
home. Many women feel that way.
The husband becomes a symbol. Other
wise he is nothing TO them. 1t was all
impossible And, since Dorothy would
mot consent to separation, Isabel
and he were going Off together.
1t had been arranged for the fol-
lowing Saturday. Isabel and he were
TO meet at the station, go into town
together. purchase their outfit and
their tickets. and soon they would be
lon their way West. No scruple sof.
tened Randon's heart. 1t had become
Impossible, and there existed no rea.
son why he should continue to live
that life OF misery.
Ind Dorothy suspect? Random had
often fancied that she did. He had
noticed the queer way In which she
looked at him sometimes. especially OF
late. since Isabel and he had become
Intimate. And a queer thing was the
friendship that had sprung up between
Isabel and Dorothy.
II am so sorry for her." Isabel ex.
planned. II feel that our love Is every
thing. that we deserve to have each
|Oihcr-but I can't bear to think OF
Dorothy left alone"
"She won't grleve." said I.andon
|"l,'s the social position"
Isabel knew that was true. II was
the shame OF being left that would
trouble Dorothy. not any replnlng for
Random.
And they were to meet at the sta
tlpa that evening. Isabel had been
away; she could not bear to face Dor
othy In those last days. She was to
come quietly back and meet him there.
They would meet In half an hour Ran
don had left Dorothy at her cooking
she was baking for the morrow, and
the thought OF what that morrow would
bring gave him momentary Quaim.
Going outT she asked him.
"Just for a little STROLL" Random an
swercd.
She kissed hlm-one Of those chill.
formal kisses she, gave him whenever
he left the house-one OF those kisses
that are so Irritating because so mean.
ingicss.
Aud there had been n queer look on
her face then. Rnndan Ind almos,
suspected that she kncw-aithough. OF
COURSE. she could not have known that
he wns planning TO leave her.
Not then and there. II was with
feeling OF Intense relief that Random
nepped out Into the night. The air
was frosty, autumn leaves were drift.
Ing dosn. He would always remember
that night. lie III clgnr, tried TO pu,
the thought OF Dorothy out OF his
mind. In few hours he would be
aboard the train with Isabel. And the
Price vss well worm the paying.
Now. the station ioomcd out OF the
darkness. He went 10 the ticket sellers
window and bought two tickets for
icwn.
Round trlpr" asked the seller. who
knew him.
Singles" answered Random. And
he thought tao setter looked mt him
queerly. too.
Tie turned AWAY. Isabel stood ia
the dark. looking nt him. He turned
10 her with nm exclamation OF hnppl.
plas She drew him aside
Dear"
Rnndon's heart contracted viii,
ynguc alarm.
Il can't go with you"
iIc felt It's slow. hcnvy strokes: they
mng like n tocsln IN his cnrs-
iicndily-
"you know. Dorothy WINS In town TO-
day met her She had written Ia
mo 10 have lunch with her. Whit SHE
told me makes II Impossible quite ln''
possible. oh. denrsst-".
She burst out sobbing on HIS nhoul'
ier. "i'm going AWAY for u year, denr.
When ! return We must Just be
filcnds arnln-"
That was Nil hc remembered nfter'
ward. hut ut lcnst ho hnd gained
tomcthlng; II hc hnd lost love he had
won fntbcrhood.
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