The Washington times., 1926-07-10
Disaster Likely
to Follow
Game"
By Beatrice Fairfax
Who Occupies q Unique Position
in the Writing World as an
Authority on Love and
Marriage.

Authority on Love ana
Marriage.
lid you ever play the old
~ fashioned game Of gossip
when you were a child? It's an
amusing test of the accuracy OF
hearsay information.
The first player whispers a re-
mark to the player next him, who
IN turn whispers it, as he under
stands 1t, to his neighbor.
When the entire circle have re.
ceived and passed on the bit OF
news in this way, it would not De
recognized by the player VINO
started the game.
Just yesterday l heard OF
case where idle gossip has broken
up. a home and threatens to bring
about divorce.
Tom and May have been mar.
ried many years. Tom has always
been popular in church and lodge
and club circles in the small su.
bufban town where Tom and
May make their home.
May 10 a quiet mouse OF a
woman, absorbed in her home.
Despite differences in tempera.
ment she and Tom have always
gotten on we'll because they loved
and trusted each other.
Last summer after choir practice
Tom used to see a certain pretty
little widow to her home because
she lived in a lonely neighhor-
hood. May knew this and ap-
proved. When she and Tom went
driving, Tom often suggested that
they call for Stella, as shall
call the little widow.
Presently rumors began to cri>
culate about town. Tom, 1t seemed,
was calling on Stella. He drove
her to her office mornings. Cos
sippy neighbors were not slow to
inform May.
''I really think you ought to
know" is the way they usually
began the conversation. May be-
came alarmed and lost her head.
She decided to watch her hus-
band.
Where were you tonight" she
asked Tom one evening on his re-
turn home at about IL.
AT the club" yawned Tom.
That's lie," retorted the usu.
ally placid May. i've telephoiled
the club and you were not there"
VERY well, replied Tom. IF
you are q spy go as far as you
like. I'll not tell you where I've
BEEN"
It seems Tom had dropped in
at the club then decided to see
q movie. There he happened to
meet Stella and her chiIm. After.
ward he treated the two to soda
and put them on their trolley,
then came straight home. A kind
neighbor of Mays had called -
tell her she saw her husband and
Stella together at the movie.
1--WE heard all about your az.
fair with Stella sobbed May.
'@You can choose between her
and me-"
To this Tom replied that he
couldn't choose because there
was nothing to give up so far as
Stella was concerned. She was
only q casual friend.
The next evening he returned
20 an empty house. May had
gone to her sister in Florida.
Months have passed. The two
are still separated.
Stella has moved ito a distant
city and has disappeared from
the scene.
May regrets her haSty deser-
ton Of her husband. He on the
other hand, nursing wounded
pride, refuses to take his wife
back.
you believed idle gossip and
refused to trust me-" Tom stub
bornly and unforgivingly insists.
So these two who really love
each other are drifting ever fur
Their apart.
Why is it that when a woman
faces a serious love problem, she
generally loses her head and does
the most tactless, useless, fatal
thing. when just a little clear
minded common sense and kind
ness would see her through to
victory and strengthen the love
that is so precious to her?
Love that Is worthy OF the
name refuses to listen to gossip
and so insures happiness and sue
cess. Gossip has just as much
power to hurt our friendships and
love as we give ii power, by in
dulging in it and listening to its
petty personalities.
II you value friendship and love
don't tell personal tales Of your
friends and loved ones,
Never believe a report against
a friend until the friend himself
proves it to you. And then judge
mercifully.
When a friend or sweetheart
betrays your confidence to others,
be slow to condemn, for we all
make mistakes. But beware OF
giving that friend another chance
to gossip about you. Keep your
business and your secrets to your
self. -.---