New Britain herald., 1926-05-25
HER MAN .: .:..:: :;:: :; ::: ;::'': ;':;. @~ @@S~&@A~3@ @2 ~@ @a &~@" @@@@2 "The Wife"
 
ghted by Broadway Cy)


in love with any woman. She had
 always thought that most of the love
 was on her side.
 But now he seemed to hate to let
 her out of his sight. He would lie
 for hours with his head in her lap
 while she read to him and strokcd
 his hair with her fingers.
 When they went on walks he would stop suddenly and take her in
 his arms crushing her to him until she ached His hand would find hers under the table cloth when they sat waiting for their meals in the quaint little dining room of the inn. Deep silences would come between them silences that thundered their love to each other.
 | q must be dreaming-Tm so hap pyw Sylvia would think to herself, sometimes, when she was alone. And she would raise her left hand to See 1 if she really had wedding ring to make sure that she was really l Ranny's wife.
 At the end of the first week letter came from Aunt Agony.
 My dear child" she wrote, T l think you have made q terrible mis- take. But if you really care for Ran dan Phelps (although I don't see how you can, after the way he has treated you) And I hope you will always be happy. However, if any thing does come up, just remember that your aunt has always taken care of you and always will, If the 0eed arises-and a friend in need is friend indeed "Affectionately, your aunt, AGNES STARR"
 Sylvia hid the letter from Fanny, but he found 1t one morning when he was rummaging in her things, hunting for nail file. Well, the old girl thinks a lot of me, doesn't she," he observed, scratching his blonde head in q shamed sort of way. Sylvia flew to him and kissed him. She tore the letter in 8 dozen pieces and threw it into the wastebasket. "She doesn't know you, or she wouldn't write things like that she cried, Loyalty. She thinks that because you're so good-looking you must be bad. She says there never was a good-looking man who Knew how to behave himself- We'll show her thing or two, won't we?" Fanny asked, bis face buried in the warm perfume of Syl- via's hair. "We won't look at an- other woman, ever, will we?' His bride shook her head. You won't really, will you, Fanny? I'm so jealous" she confessed, and her eyes were filled with a desperate ap- neal You don't know how jealous I am of you, Darling" "Darling yourself" Fanny an swered, and patted her shoulder ana looked at her as if she were the most delightful thing in the world. ! And she was. those first heavenly days. Happiness had made her blos- som and flower with q new loVeH- ness. much as sunshine makes rosebud bloom.
 q hate to think of going back bome" she said one day when they were sitting side by side on an old fence, to rest, after a long walk un- der the hot May sky "I hate to think of giving you lip to other people-I hate to think of sharing YOU with your men friends, and your father and your mother
 He put his hand into his inside coat pocket and drew out an enve- lope.
 That reminds me-" he said, T had letter from mother today" I% He handed it to her.
 q had one from Fay Shirley too" he added, in a queer tone.
 Sylvia stared at him, her deep violet eyes wide with surprise. You did," she cried, Tets see ! it."
 He looked at her, smiling, and slowly shook his head.
 Well, why not?" Sylvia asked, and he shrugged his shoulders, goodnaturedly
 My letter." he explained. Tt was sent to me, my dear" But so was the one from your mother" she threw back at him.
 Yes, but l wanted you to soc that one," he answered.
 sylvias chin shook, and she flush ed.
 And you don't want me to see the one from Fay? There's somc- thing in 1t that you can't show me?" she asked.
 Once more he shrugged his hand some shoulders in that amused way, 1 and laughed.
 "No, there's nothing in it that you couldn't see. But I want you to know ried life that my letters belong to me-and that you're not to open l them or look at them unless I show them to you" he said. "One of the great troubles with married life is that very often neither the husband nor the wife has any more privacy than a goldfish"
 | She stood perfectly still for mo- ment, blinking back the hot tears that rose to her eyes Through them she could see the shimmering blue and gold and green of the landscape, and she wondered how the world could look so beautiful and peaceful when life could be so cruel and sharp-sometimes.
 But Ranny" she said 10 him when she could control her voice, T don't understand you. You talk as if marriage were a sort of war fare--as if the husband and wife were enemies-hiding their secrets from each other. It's friendship, isn't it. first of all 2"
 He shook his head 'No--there are no friendships between men and women," he answered her There's only love--or indifference"