Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1927-12-23
THE
UNLOVED
WIFE
"a by D. J. walsh.I

u v u 10 tle post ONCE Tor tne Ihall
and had stepped into one or
two stores to do some necessary shop
ping. She had met several persons
whom she liked and knew and had
paused for a word or two. But now
she was going home, and home did
not mean as much to her as 1t for.
merly had, because Margaret was
drinking the bitterest cup which fate
raises to the lips of wifehoOd; she had
begun to suspect that her husband no
longer loved her as he had once done.
She had tried to blind her eyes to all
the evidence in the case, but at last 1t
had been made all too plain; she could
no longer conceal the fact from herself
and she suspected her friends could
see as plainly as she that she was fast
becoming an unloved wife. A great
pity for herself welled up in her heart
and tears smarted her eyes as the
shame of 1t came to her. What should
she do; would 1t be right to go on
living with John when she was GER
tain that he was perfectly Indifferent
to her?
Upon reaching home Margaret en-
tered the house-she hardly thought
of it as home now-and throwing
aside her hat sank down upon the big
davenport. She must try to think 1t
all QUITO plan, If possible, some
course of action that would bring some
sort of peace to her mind.
She and John had been married al
most two years. He had been an ideal
lover and husband up to within few
weeks, when suddenly he had seemed
to change. He no longer proposed 60
ing to places and had no little surprise
for her when he came home at night
from the office. He always kissed her,
1t is true, when he came In and still
seemed to enjoy the food she pre-
pared for him, but he did not praise
ii as often as he had. He did not
seem quite as gay either when he
came in. And after the evening meal
he would sink into a big easy chair,
adjust the floor lamp at an angle to
suit him and bury himself either In
a newspaper or book. Now that was
another thing that gave proof that
John did not care for her. He knew
well enough that she hated to have
him move that floor lamp. At first
he had laughingly given in when she
protested and called her his fussy little
hOusekeeper, but now, without q word,
he would calmly move the lamp and
say nothing about It, Now, Margaret
did not mind staying at home occa-
sionally, but lately night after night
John settled himself for the evening"
and If she protested or suggested go
Ing out he would say he would much
rather stay at home, and, finally, one
night he told her IL she found him
dull to run along alone.
run along alonel What wife"
thought Margaret bitterly, "lf she had
a proper pride, would air the fact to
her friends that her husband no
longer found Joy in her society?' And
then a horrible thought struck her
"Of course that was 1t. John was
either ashamed to be seen with her or
there was another woman - The
thought fairly brought her to her feet
She began pacing the long living room
and then her eyes CHANGED to fall upon
the mail she had brought from the
post Office. When the postmaster had
handed 1t to her he had bundled It In
newspaper. At first Margaret had
been too busy and too agitated even
to think of mail, and when she came
home she had thrown 1t upon the
davenport at her side. In sprlnglng
up just now she had scattered the
) mail all over the rug and now right
there In plain view lay big, creamy
envelope. "Ah!" she thought. She
grabbed up the letter with the feeling
that at last "she" had written. She
tore open the envelope with shaking
fingers without glanclng at the ad.
dress. She was startled when she
read:
dearest: / will arrive on the 2:40
this afternoon I am taking this op
portunlty of spending a few days near
you. am on my way East and can
not go through Spencer without see
ing you. Now, honey"-"honey in
deed!" thought Margaret--"don't let
me spoil any OF your plans, but just
let me have every moment Of your
precious time you can manage to steal
away from your" Here the page
turned, but the little red specks were
floating so thick and fast before her
eyes that Margaret could not go on
for a moment and then she read
steal away from your home. know
you are as much In love as ever, one
with your constant nature could not
for myself. SO good-by until 2:40 this
afternoon. With love, hugs and kisses.
From your cousin FANNY"
Cousin Fanny And then Margaret
picked up the discarded envelope and
saw that 1t was directed to her and
1t was without doubt from her very
own frivolous cousin Fanny. She had
not seen Cousin Fanny since she and
John were married and this was the
first time she had heard from her in
months and months. The relief and
disappointment combined turned her
almost faint. Well, she would just
have to put aside her problem and do
what she could to make Cousin Fanny
enjoy the few days she would be In
the house. 1t would never do for Mar
garet to let this romantic creature
know that John no longer loved her.
Perish the thought. She must put on
a brave front