The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-08
THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE
-
Nettie Changed
Her Plans
BY MYRA CURTIS LANE

Nettie was packing the few
things she was going to need In
her suitcase. Once she and Cal
were in Texas he would buy her
q, new outfit. He had promised to
give her everything she wanted.
And, he could easily get position
there.
In a day and a night they would
have left Turnpike forever. How
drab the little town was, where
Nettie had lived all her life! How
she looked forward to the new life
with Cal!
1t had been love at first sight be-
tween them. For q long time they
had both resisted, but love had got
them in the tolls. And why shouldn't
they be happy? Calls wife, Mary,
was shrew and a scold, for
ever bustling about her house,
eternally cleaning, never giving
any real thought to Calls comfort.
SO Cal and she were going away
together Mary had brought it all
upon herself. Seven years Cal
and Mary had been together. And
there was no child-if there had
been, that would have made a DIFF
ference. AS things were, 1t wasn't
as if she and Cal were really do.
ing Mary a wrong. Probably she
would be glad to get divorce.
Then Cal and she could get mar.
ried in Texas and spend life glOri.
OuSly together.
Only, beneath her shrewishness
Mary was curiously supplemented.
And Nettie and Mary had always
Eeen friends in way. That was
what Jared on Nettie and made
her feel guilty of treachery. 1t
wasn't nice thing to have to do.
But then life was full of Just
such situations. One had to meet
them as best one could. Her hap.
piness and Calls couldn't be sacri-
feed because of Marys feelings. II
wasn't as if she would care.
Nettie went on mechanically put.
ting her things together. She was
nearly through when there came a
ring at the bell. She went down.
stairs annoyed. 1t was no time ia
see visitors.
Mary was at the door!
"Oh, come in. dear" said Net.
tie, forcing a smile to her lips.
Mary came in. 1t was strange
sitting opposite Mary in the par.
Tor, as they had so often sat
looking at her and thinking Of the
deadly blow she meant to deal her
II just ran over, DEAR" said
Mary. 81 was feeling kind of lone
some. Calls away at the office SO
much in the evenings now, you
know"
Nettie nodded. Many Of those
evenings they two had spent In
that very room, telling each othe,
Of their love.
"You know, Nettie," said Mary
"of course Cal and I have rubbed
along together in a sort of way
But somehow I've never really fell
that l owned him. Nettie, l wish
we wives knew the recipe for keep
ing mans love-"
Nettie forced herself to smile
again. THAT'S an old WISH" shs
said.
Il suppose so," said Mary wist
fully. But at any rate even Il
Cal doesn't love me much, View,
got along together, and l can al
ways trust Cal. I'm never afrail
Of his running after other women.
THAT'S comforting" said Nettie
"And then-Oh, my dear, I want
ed you to be the first to know m.
secret. You know we've been mar
ried so many years, but at last
She whispered it in Nettie's ear.
And Nettie listening, felt he
heart turning to stone.
We've both of us always want
ed child so much, and now a
last-why, 1t seems too good to b,
true" said Mary. "And it vii
make us both so happy. 1t will
bind us together"
"Yes." said Nettie mechanically
"Well, 1 wanted you to be tn
first to know" said Mary, rising
"Good-by, DEAR" She kissed he
fondly.
Nettie watched her from tn
front door until she was lost t.
view in the darkness. Did Mar
guess? she wondered. But that sh
would never know. Those are tn
little things that women cannot di
vine about each other.
Suddenly she ran upstairs. Wit
sob she began tumbling the thing
out Of the suitcase. She wouldn'
need them now.
20. 1924. Western Newspaper Union.)