Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-11-22
\ TURN IN THE ROAD
BY EDITH LocKETT HosMER


the frayed silk hat that she was try
ing to recover with velvet She had
been resenting the necessity of this
task even before Rena Crowell had
dropped in for a moment In every
move of Rena's she had detected
amusement, even ridicule - not in
words, for there are means of express
sion more eloquent than mere words.
1t had begun when Diana's hand, dis
colored a little from much canning
and homework, had met Rena's white,
manicured hand in a clasp that was
mere form. Then Rena had noticed the
frayed silk heap that she must have
remembered as Diana's honeymoon
hat" but Rena had inquired what Di-
ana vas trying to do with it.
"Oh, like the shape Diana had
fbbed, $50 I'm trying to recover 1t
with velvet"
ooh, how cleverl' Rena had cooed
the words, but her tone meant, "Oh,
how pitiful, |"
Her hands had moved to her own
expensive hat, which covered her per-
fectly groomed hair.
Pretty little house." Rena had COM
mented. Then, daringly. you'll have
room for quite family"
Il hope So" Diana's reply had been
! simple.
well, one hasn't time for every
thing" the guest persisted 'Td hate
to be tied down. Oh, my, I've got to
run-going to bridge party, yon
know"
/ Rena was gone, faint scent Of her
heavy perfume lingering In the room.
! The hat, the despised, frayed silk
hat. lay In little heap on the floor.
ut isn't fairl 1t isn't fairi" ex-
claimed Diana, holly. why should
go without things?' She picked up the
offending object and bent 1t as much
out of shape as she could.
"Now, I'll have to have another. I'll
tell Bill I'll have to have new one"
They had done nothing but scrimp
and save since they had been married.
OF course, they were buying their own
home, and doing well with the pay
ments, too; but 1t certainly was hard
to curb her desires for beautiful
things, when she wanted them now
while she was young. She couldn't
i understand how Rena and Dick could
have so many things, for Dicks salary
could not be very much greater, as he
and Bill worked FOR the same firm,
though in different branches.
Diana smiled bitter little smile as
she picked up the hat from the floor.
She would put 1t on just as it was
now and make fun Of 1t to Bill. Bill
would then tell her to go ahead and
buy up the town. Rena was living and
she, Diana, meant to live, too. From
now on she was going TO hold out her
hand to take things, beg for things,
get things.
The door opened again, but very
slowly and Bill came In. He was not
smiling his usual smile-he was white
and haggard looking.
"Oh, Bill'--she ran to him--"oh,
Bill, you're Sick"
He did not speak, only shook his
head, then fumbled in his pockets and
handed her a letter It was rumpled,
as If he had read 1t over and over
"Dear Sir: We are not pleased with
recent reports from you, and regret
to inform you that after the first of
the year your services Will no longer
be required, as we feel that 1t will not
be hard to find a man who will rep
resent us better. Our Mr.. Tildren will
be at your office In day or two II
there is anything you wish to inquire
about"
1t was signed personally by the
head of the firm.
For a moment, but only for mo-
ment, feeling swept over DIANA
feeling that she had married a weak
ling, failure She. looked at BIZ: and
saw great tears in his eyes.
1T hurts when you've done your
best r. His young lips trembled.
Diana watched those tears. She
thought 1t SO pitiful to see man weep
She must not let the tears flow. Her
hands--hands that only few mo.
ments before had been ready to take
reached out now to her husband to
give Of her love, her faith, her loyalty
Her arms wound themselves about his
neck and she drew his face down to
hers.
There must be some mistake" she
suggested "Oh, Bill, don't worry
You're young, and you've got me-" she
finished gayly.
All the years that followed held nc
sweeter moment than this.
OF course 1t was mistake, the mis-
take of new clerk at headquarters
who was unfamiliar with the branch
Offices. But "our Mr.. Tilden" soor
made 1t plain that Dick should have
received that letter, and before he lief
he convinced Bill that the firm intend
ed to give him substantial raise.
1t was hard for Bill to believe a
first, but he went flying home to Dians
Nmffh the news Flo took her in hi