The Glenwood post., 1924-04-24

anu ne lVVeS me. On, yes, ne 0O0S
he loves me truly. There have
always been women in Alonzos lifei
This one happens to be clever artist.
Alonzo employs her as a decorator. I
even know her name. She's Flora
Balzanni. You know Balzanni, the
opera singer? She's his divorced wife,
and Is quite promiscuous. Alonzo has
been-well, attentive to her for moro
than year. OF course, he has no
wouldn't have him suspect I've learned
for anything in the world. You see,
he wouldn't want to hurt me, and he
would think that If knew, would be
offended. But have no more feeling
Of Jealousy for this passing fancy of
his than would have for good cigar
he enjoys after dinner. Oh, I
know my Views are anything but con-
ventional. I am shocking you; Alice
interrupted herself, smiling a rather
hard, cold little smile. 'T 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
l concern myself with what he does
outside his homer Frankly, would
rather have him unfaithful to me in
an occasional way, as he is than have
him drink himself into besottedness,
as many man does, and bring home
to me throbbing head, nasty tenn.
per, and rancid breath. Alonzo sat
tStQQ q thon o6a to1~ R,>l
nils his part Of life's companion with
me. 1 am thoroughly content; what
else mattersT
Her own apartment smelled close to
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
than any other woman's. She made
him pan Of hot biscuits, of which she
knew he was particularly fond.
At six o'clock, she heard him come
In She heard his creaklng steps to
the closet where he always hung his
hat and coat; she heard him creak his
way back to the front room where she
knew he had thrown himself down ON
the sofa, and was reading the evening
paper with feet cooked over one hard,
upholstered arm. He had no word of
greeting for her; he would have none
dark and sullen silence would enwrap
him for days to come.
She put the food on the table at the
half-hour, and called him to dinner.
He did not stop to wash his face or
hands or comb his hair; he came Just
as he was, sullenly. silently. and
hunched his chair up to his place
Suddenly something snapped in her
She screamed; she screamed piercing
ly; one wild. sharp shrek. She buried
her face in her hands, forcing the
fingers deep into her eyeballs. Then
she began to sob, brokenly, passionate
ly, all the grief pent up In her burnt.
ing out In an agony of weeping.
In ID years, Tom Valentine had
never seen his wife cry. He was
startled now-alarmed and shocked
He watched her In panied uneasiness
for some minutes. cropping about in his
mind for some way to check the flood
Of sobbing that beat upon his ears
1t had been long. long time since he
had laid hand upon her in affection
yet now he was moved by the violence
Of her grief, and the unfamiliar i'm
pulse came to him. He laid down his
knife and fork and stared at her stol.
idly. frowning deeply. He thought OF
getting up and patting her shoulder; /;
he tried to think Of something to say,
and in his perplexity began to talk at
random. he did not know how to be
gentle; he had forgotten how to be
tender. The iron bonds Of habit were
| too well forged about him. He had al.
ways treated his wife With contumely
and now when he strove to reach her
troubled spirit with gentle words, he
found himself only mouthing justin.
cation Of his actions that morning.
Lucy could not suspect that behind the
harsh voice, and slow, clumsy words,
there stirred within him the first con.
cern for her he had known In years
Only the dogged relteration of the
facts about the cream reached her
consciousness. Her sobbing fell silent,
but she still pressed her palms to her
cheeks. her fingers to her eyes. Pres.
emily she was aware he had forsakeu
the topic Of the cream; now It was Of
his virtues he discoursed.
e.. I let you live your own life /;
you go and come as you please; you
have your own friends. I never ask
you how or why you spend the money
every month, and never let the first
20 by without depositing your check
In the bank! ] never question what
you do with yourself all day; all ask
of you Ia to run the house and keep
things nice. don't see how
you've got much fault to find with me.
don't drink or gamble or smoke;