Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-08-03

4
r. This one happens to be clever arts
is Alonzo employs her as decorator
e, even know her name. She's Flor
Is Balzanni. You know Balzanni. tn
sr opera sInger2 She's his divorced wife
IS and is quite promiscuous. Alonzo hal
+ been-well, attentive TO her for NOR,
e than year. or course, he has ne
e Idea | know anything about 1t, and ]
D wouldn't have him suspect I've learned
for anything In the world. You see.
e be wouldn't want to hurt me, and he
r would think that II knew, would be
: offended. But l have no more feeling
OF Jealousy for this passing fancy Of
his than / would have for a good cigar
he enjoys after dinner. Oh, 1
know my views are anything but con-
ventional. I am shocking you; Alice
interrupted herself, smiling a rather
hard. cold little smile. 81 would
shock most women. But believe al
together too much emphasis is placed
upon fidelity In marriage. As long as
my husband In no way jeopardizes my
rights as his lawful wife. why should
concern myself with what he does
outside his home? Frankly. would
rather have him unfaithful to me in
an occasional way, as he is. than have
MN drink himself into besottedness.
as many man does, and bring home
10 me throbbing head, a nasty tenn |
per- and rancid breath. Alonzo sat |
isnes me; he more than adequately full
ILLS his part Of llfe's companion with
me. l am thoroughly content; what
else matters?"
Her own apartment smelled close 10
Lucy, when, later the same day. She
closed the door behind her. 1t seemed
cheerless empty. desolate. The mood
with which Alice Gray had infected
her all day. dropped from her like
cloak suddenly falling TO the floor.
she put away her things and set
about getting dinner. washing the
dishes, whipping the unmade beds to-
gether, setting the table. After all.
her husband was probably no worse
nan any other woman's. She made
Tim pan of hot biscuits, of which she
Knew he was particularly fond. :
AT six o'clock, she heard him come {
n. She heard his creaking steps to /
ne closet where he always hung his c
TAT and coat; she heard him creak his t
'ay back to the front room where she n
new he had thrown himself down on 0
he sofa, and was reading the evening
aper with feet cooked over one hard t,
phoistered arm. He had no word of d
reeting for her; he-would have none; a
dark and sullen silence would enwrap
i'm for days to come. :,
She put the food on the table at the n
alf-hour, and called him to dinner. nj
e did rot stop to wash his face or u
inds or comb his hair; he came Just NJ
he was, sullenly, silently, and ri
lnched his chair up to his place. or
Suddenly something snapped In her.
he screamed; she screamed piercing bo
F.; one Wild sharp Shrek. She buried fir,
'r lace in her hands. forcing the tut
lgers deep into her eyeballs Then ST.
e began to sob, brokenly, passionate be,
all the grief pent up In her burst .
out In an agony of weeping.
In IL years, Tom Valentine had tir
yer seen his wife cry. He was n
'rtled now-alarmed and shocked. in
watched her in panied uneasiness cle,
some minutes. cropping about in his a
nd for some way to check the flood a,.
soDbing that beat upon his ears.
had been long, long time since he
i laid hand upon her In affection. Ing
now he was moved by the violence 'aSi
her grief and the unfamiliar i'm ouS
Sc came to him. He laid down his 'ei'
re and fork and stared at her stol- turt
z, frowning deeply. He thought of tne
ting up and patting her shoulder: d III
tried to think Of something to say, III
In his perplexity began to talk st 81
dom. He did not know how TO be teac
tie; he had forgotten how to he hea'
der. The iron bonds of habit were nigh
well forged about him. He had nj. thou
IS treated his wife with contumely. air
now when he strove to reach her TT
bled spirit with gentle words he won
Id himself only mounting justi6- thou
Oh OF MS actions that morning. brou
: could not suspect that behind the Mary
n voice. and slow, clumsy words An
{ ''"reu "itnin MIN the first con him
Tor her he had known In years he h,
',e uosseu reiteratlon OF the tor
about the cream reached her anon
ciousness. Her sobbing fell silent prese
she stlll pressed her palms to her c.
ks. her fingers to her eyes. Pres. a., ~,
she was aware he had forsaken
opic of the cream now II was OF "a
'irtues he discoursed. ,oi
-. let you live your own life. lse a
go and come as you please; you The
your own friends | never ask and n
now or why you spend the money his NJ
month, and never let the first eyed
without deposlting your check Drsft
Dankf never question what
% with yourself all day; all ask nn"
! nice 49,, ""N 1''p ure Jil