Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-08

Nu slowly home She had been
WI to the post office for the
Il a mail and had stepped into
one or two stores to do some
necessary shopping. She had met sew
eral people whom she liked and knew
and had paused for word or two.
But now she was going home, and
home did not mean as much to her as
1t formerly 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 her.
self and she suspected her friends
could see as plainly as she that she
was fast becoming an unloved vile.
"A great pity for herself welled up in
her heart and tears smarted her eyes
as the shame of it came to her. What
should she do? Would it De right to
go on living with John when she was
certain that he was perfectly indif-
ferent 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 it
all QUITO plan, il possible, some
course of action that would bring some
sort of peace to her mind.
She and John had been married
almost 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 pro-
posed going to places and had no lit
tie surprises fop her when he came
home at night from the office. He
always kissed her, it is true, when he
came in and still seemed to enjoy the
food she prepared for him, but he
did not praise it as often as he had.
He did not seem quite as gay, either,
when he came in. And after the eve-
ming meal he would sink into big
easy chair adjust the floor lamp at
an angle to suit him and bury him.
self 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 word, he would calmly move
the lamp and say nothing about it.
Now, Margaret did not mind staying
at home occasionally, but lately night
after night John settled himself for
the evening and if she protested or
suggested going out he would say he
would much rather stay at home. and.
finally, one night he told her if she
found home dull to run along alone.
run along alone! What wife"
thought Margaret bitterly, eff 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 it. 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 post
master had handed 1t to her he had
bundled it in the daily newspaper.
At first Margaret had been too busy
and too agitated even to think of mail,
and when she came home she had
thrown it upon the davenport at her
side. In springing up just now she
had scattered the mail all over the
rug and now right there in plain view
lay a big. creamy envelope. "Ahw
she thought. She grabbed up the let
ter with the feeling that at last ''she"
had written. She tore open the en-
veiope with shaking fingers without |
glancing at the address. She was |
startled when she read:
Dearest: will arrive on the 2:40 |
this afternoon. / am taking this op-
portunity of spending few days near |
you. I 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