The Washington times., 1923-07-07
THE WAYS OF A HUSBAND = BY Ann Il
A Delightful Narrative of Domestic
Life by a Popular Magazine
Writer.
<-~Ou not loyal" / cried.
"Oh, jeanne, way back
L. .-n,,. heart Ph0ahe

"Oh, jeanne, way back
in your heart Phoebe
knew even when you were
estranged that it was the big love
you had for her which caused it
ALL"
at hurt her." protested Jeanne.
"I hurt you, too. That isn't what
matters now-but hate to think
how my coldness to Neal always
hurt Phoebe"
mo, dear" affirmed with con-
viction. 'She was so sure in her
love for him that she only-pitied
you for not understanding him bet
ter. Does that sound unkind? It
isn't meant to De-"
Its meant to be comforting"
whispered Virginia, coming close
and smuggling against me as
Phoebe had so often done. eft Is
comforting. It's terrible to remem-
Der when someone you love is
gone that something you did made
her unhappy. You've taken the
sting away I don't mind if she
thought me stubborn or stupid.
I mind-if clouded her
"You didn't You made her life
golden" said. There never was
q better sister. She adored you.
And her little life was beautiful"
Virginia kissed me.
1--WE never felt so close to you
nor yet so grateful for you," she
whispered against my cheek.
DRAWN TOGETHER.
And all through the long morn
ing. when we were busy with the
tasks that needed loving hands to
do them. our sense of being sisters
grew. We did not talk of the grief
we shared, but 1 had a comforting
sense that it was easier for Vir-
ginia because she had me. So,
against the background of sorrow
felt close to the big sister little
Phoebe had always adored. And
when Virginia turned to me once,
In utter despair. held her in my
arms and was glad 1 had strength
and love to help here. Her mo-
ment of weakness revealed her to
me as all her strength has never
done.
Flowers kept coming The phone
rang necessarily. The hours went
by. Suddenly it was 1 o'clock.
81 wish Neal would come" said
Virginia tenderly. ''The poor boy
must be worn out. Maybe Pat was
right to give him that big job to
do. But l want him to come home
90 I can mother him a Bit"
You darling!" 1 cried. You
have the mothers heart. believe
you're going to pour out on Neal
some Of the love you always had
for Phoebe. Shed want you to
love him a lot. Jeanie-he needs
love so now"
But Virginia was staring at me,
her eyes narrowed and her face
strangely tense.
You said it yourself" she cried.
"You said 1 have the mother heart
Then-won't that make it easy to
decide who's going to take the
baby?"
Firginia's sudden demand that
we must decide who was going to
take the baby came like a thun-
derbolt out Of a smiling sky. I'd
never thought of anyone taking
the baby" 1t seemed the most
natural thing in the world that
the baby should be with Neal.
30 l answered calmly enough.
Carroll will stay with Neal, of
course. And / suppose he'll want
TO make his home with me, don't
you? He'll never be able to en-
dure staying here-nor being
alone either"
virginia didn't answer me.
The strained look which had
come into her face, intensified
Her face was gray and the skin
seemed to be stretching tight
against her cheek bones. Her
mouth had an avid expression. r
felt that her grief was making
her half mad for the moment 7,