The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-11
The ReUOL
 Of Susan Hyde
CHATTER s5
By Carolyn Beecher

lA 4 t t < . TWAS really almost stunned at Man. viIle's retort when l asked him not
 to give gossips the chance to talk about him and Ruth Markham. He had been 50 pleasant all the evening, had laughed heartily over my descrip- tion of Mrs. Clayton's curiosity about the caterer, that was wholly unpre- pared for his outburst.
 There must be more in it than l really thought" said to myself as few moments afterward l climbed the stairs, tears blinding me. had ex- cused myself almost immediately, say ing was tired and would go to bed. Manyille made no reply, had not ap- peared to know l had spoken.
 What use all my attempts to make something of our life together if Man vile were 50 in love with another wo- man that he would resent. any refer ence to her as heAhad to my request that he be more careful of his conduct pc. cause of gossip. had said nothing or my own feelings, nothing of my 1eai- ousy, yet he had sworn at me. l think now his oath, so unlike his usual language. had more effect upon me than anything he could have said.
 As I asked myself these questions l became aware of my tears. My hands were shaking and shivered as II witn cold. My mind leaped to the fact that try as 1 would Manville did not belong to me, was not really mine because or Ruth Markham. He had known her q long time, long before we were mar ried. I imagined her the sort of wo- man I had read about, a gOuIish sort vho ulayed upn the affections of men, enticine them away from wife or any one who happened to be in the way.
 Then I set my teeth hard together. I had started to make my life what II should be, what 1t was only falr ! should enjoy. would do It. Not eyen Ruth Markham should spoil 1t, ynot even ahe should take Manville from me. How I was to prevent it did not know nor did I then think, but nrevent it I would. Not for this had i reyolted agains tthe miserable 1nanl- tion of the years l had been married i; moi for this had worked and strug- aled to take my place by my husbands side in a manner of which he would be uroud not for this had ] turned aside I,awson Mckee with hisf honest boylsh love. This last thought startled me and brought me to normally sensible condition more quickly than anything else could have done.
 I wasn't regretting Lawson: That thought was a pose, liked nlm, ne was young,, interesting, companionaDle. Rut did not, never had, loved nm. Go if was foolish to imagine myself martyr because of the giving up of something I did not want. gave little hysterieal laugh as ] came to tnls conclusion. My self-pity would nave to turn to something else than pnan- tom lost love if it were to thrive.
 But this conclusion did not alter my intention one whit.
 .You are not the meek little booby you were a while ago, Susan Hyde, said aloud. You have proved that you can do things you were supposed incapable of doing. You have won your rightful place in your husDand house. It is up to you to wln IL ln his heart.
 ing to God for strength and tact strength to carry gn, tact so that ! would lose no point Tn thls race tOI my huebands whole heart, his entire iaya could not, would not, be satis- fled with less. :.
 
 takes p' Again l spoke aloud.
 sWho are you talking to, SusanT l had not heard Manville come up' so ensrossed in my thoughts was l.
 s.Myself," I laughed bit nervously' not knowing how much he had heard.
 "Why didn't you stay down and talk to me instead of coming up here 10 visit yourself? Like your own com nanv better?'' His tone was whimsi- cal. He already had forgotten his brutal speech. It was his right, his nriyilege to talk as he would to me. He had done so, then at once put It from his mind.
 What a lovely night" l changed the snbiect. Come here and look out the window. See the feathery clouds rac;ng across the moon, hiding it then all suddenly leaving 1t fully exposed. Aren't they like the little things m our liyes2 They obscure the one Dlg iact st times, but when they have brushed us over they leave us in the broad light to the big, the worthwhile things
 ssYou are fanciful tonight.
 4sPerhaps I often think such things ,-hen I look at the moon. See how hright it is now. Do not let us turn on inc lights, then we can leave the Si;rS mn There is plenty of light Tn which to prepare for bed" l did not S.ish him to see the traces of tears on my face. .a s.a
 (To Be Continued)