The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-17
Made Her Escape From Years Of
 Slavery z
By WINNIFRED.COOLEY

By WINNIFRED-COOL CUPPOSE she had married him, in D those wild, glad days, when he
 was her hero, sher god, her man. who-could-do-no-wf6hg? Then sup pose she had awakehei too late, to his cruelty and selfishness? Either a life of misery and sacrifice or else, an- other wrecked home.
 For five years he ruined her life. She did not realize it, for at first she adored him. They were stage people and engaged to be married, but were prevented for various reasons. He was all impatience and devotion.
 Then. one terrible day, she learned accidentally from some hotel acquaint- ance that he was living there with a wife! She was prostrated by the shock. When she accused him, he ad- mitted a recent marriage, but told some tale about the Mcommon woman" getting him drrnk and arranging to capture him.
 Florence went on with her work, but the spirit and joy were gone. Her health suffered for years, and she was indifferent to men and social pleasures and aspiration in her work. People wondered that she fell off in looks and never seemed to care for human interests. Although she despised him, she never ceased to grieve for him.
 Then she heard he was killed in the war.
 Tragedy then merged into tender ness. The old scores were wiped out, for she pictured him as a hero and a great martyr, as were so many fine men.
 One day, she came to New York and ! met him face to face on Broadway The shock of seeing the beloved well and strong, after fancying him dead for a long, long time, brought back the great passion of her life, with a rush. He, too. was deeply moved, al made love to her with abandon.
 He explained" the old infidelity, and insisted that he was separated from his wife and suing for divorce It was just a matter of brief time and some legal red tape until he was free.
 For some months. she lived in a blissful dream, and yet, it was not the bliss of the youthful days. Despite her efforts she could net trust him. He seemed sincere, but the serpent had entered her Eden, and she analysed her emotions and wondered if it would be safe to marry him. ss
 Her ambition returned with renewed zest, and she grew pretty and reincar- mated her lost beauty. Success came to her and he seemed delighted. Yet, always the terrible fear clutched her heart. Perhaps he valued her now, because she seemed to bid fair to be a star, and he was glad to be associated with popular figure in the theatrical
 Sometimes she felt. willing to re- nounce it all, and be just a wife Again. she felt that the. time. of trust had passed, and that even if she mar ried him she never would have that self-effacement which hot first love so often dictates. She knew that it is fatal to doubt when we love.
 Then she thought of test. She told him she had lost her position, that the managers had broken the contract, de- claring that she had failed to make good and that she was obliged to go through a long, narrowing lawsuit or give up and feel down and out.
 Of course, he murmured convention al sympathy, but at once he cooled. 1t chanced that he went out of town rand did not know that her radiance was undimmed. His letters ceased. She at last woke up, and knew him for what he was, a .snob and a cad.
 And on top of all she discovered that he was not getting divorce, but was living with his wife. He could offer her no lawful love.
 It seemed as if a terrible nightmare lifted from her soul. A weight that had ehoked her and sstrangled all her initiative, ambition, strength and