Montgomery County sentinel., 1927-08-26

~ head with JERK. Oh lho
n other side of the rack OF blue
dresses she was examining two
women were engaged in low-toned con-
yersatIon. Adelina recognized the
voices as belonging to Carrie Suifern
and Mrs. Sheldon, two Of her nearest
neIghbors. Her first impulse was TO
make her presence known to the two
women. but Just as she started around
the rack she heard Mrs Sheldon say
In her snappy way:
"Well, for my part, think Adeiinda
Ferrier is fool trying to dress so
young. She don't fool any one but
herself, and II I were In her place
wouldn't want to look young. To me
she is perfectly ridiculous"
"But really. you know" Carrie sur
fern defended, "she isn't really old
and she is a perfect dear; 1t Is only
that she is so awfully fat"
lawfully fatl" Mrs. Sheldon snorted.
"She's a horse, and when she puts on
fancy colors and crimps her hair, why
think she is a scream. Do you know.
for one am sorry for Perceval Fer
rier; I bet he wishes he had married
Rita French. Why. she Is regular
flapper and see how well she looks
in her clothes"
"Yes. Rita does look well In any
thing she wears and she doesn't have
much to spend, either Adellnda
spends fortune on her clothes. She
says herself that Perceval gives her
a generous dress allowance.
swell. II you were a man and had
to live with a woman as fat as Ade.
linda wouldn't you want her to look
attractive? I actually feel like blush
ing, sometimes, for Perceval. Poor
mani It must be an awful trial for
him-him--" But Mrs. Sheldon was
interrupted by a saleswoman coming
forward to say that she was now at
liberty and the two women followed
her, leaving Adellnda pale and strick-
en- behind the rack Of blue dresses.
The blood surged In her head and for
a moment she thought she was going
to faint. She sank Imply upon a
nearby settee and buried her face
In her hands.
"Oh," she thought, "could 1t be true
what those women had said Of her
Did Perceval have cause to feel
ashamed of her, and was she the
mOnstrOsity thSy had made her out to
beT And then, a stlnglng little
thought came which was to abide until
II succeeded for a time In driving all
Joy and happiness out Of her life. For
the first time In all the Is years OF
her married life Adelinda felt the
piercing little stabs of jealousy. She
began to doubt her husbands love.
Adellnda was mercifully overlooked
by the saleswoman and after a time
she was able to regain her poise sufli.
GENTLY to take her departure. She
astonlshed herself, being able to nod
to Carrie Suffern, who was standing
at the glove counter with Mrs. Shell
don beside her. Adelinda was thank
full to observe that Mrs. SheldOn's
back was turned In such a way that
she did not have to be included In the
nod of recognition. That. she felt
would have been the last straw, bul
she was conscious, however, that the
two women turned and looked after
her speculatively. Adellnda felt hu
inflated, and oil the way home In the
taxi her mind was busy planning
what course of action she should pur
sue In the light of the recent revela
tion.
At noon, when Pereeval came home
to lunch, he observed Adelinda's pal
lor and good naturedly asked II she
didn't think she had been staying II
too much. He took a new $50 bill
out Of his pocket and threw 1t acros,
the table and suggested that she g
down town. Davern's, the leading
millinery shop. had a new display o
hats, and Perceval thought II woult
be good Idea for Adelinda to bu!
her a new hat Get something brigh
and pretty, Linda" he said. But tn,
suggestion Of new hat did not re
store the Joy to Adelinda's face. Ant
Perceval worried all the way bacl
to work.
"A new hat |" Adelinda though
mlserably. Just as II new ha
would mend my broken heart" an
the very fact that her husband ha
suggested new hat bright an
pretty" only made the hurt NOR
acute. would he," Adelinda moanet
"have m,hde the same suggestion
Rita had been his wifef Rita Frenc
with her fiapper figure"-but by thi
time Adellnda was too miserable t
dwell further on the painful subject
But of one thing she was resolved
she would not eat another squar
meal until she, too. had figure a
sylph-like as Rlta's.
The days that followed Adelind
was never to forget as long as sh
lived The cravings Of hunger vie
with the pangs of jealousy. She too
to watching Perceval and with eye
sharpened by suspicion discovere
that he was keeping something whic
seemed important from her. and afte
two weeks of this misery she foun
that she had no further desire to ea
she had no appetite. She began I
lose weight so rapidly and look S
positively III that Perceyal begge
her to see a doctor. But Adelind
stubbornly refused until one day sh
tainted and then her husband too
matters into his own hands and ser
a hurry call for doctor.
When the doctor came he locke
grave and when NJ lrt'.fh he t.riiar,e
he said lr would Srud lr.np