Evening star., 1928-12-18

ONE MAN s
WIFE
BY
BARBARA.
WEBB
Copyright. 1928. by Public Ledoer.)

opportunity to better yourself. He is a
blind, stupid, selfish man."
Yvonne did not speak. Her face was
full of horror Il think you are mad,
my friend" she said finally. speaking in
French. IT see now how wicked / have
been. shall never go again to that
studio. I shall not leave my house.
will stay there, where belong. will be
a good wife again to Richard, who
have been so wicked that you can dare
to speak to me of leaving my husband. y
She ran excitedly to the closet, tore
down from the hooks her peasant dress,
and in few moments had resumed the
costume Richard had commanded her
to wear. At the door she turned to Mrs.
Ogden, who still sat smoking quietly in
her chair
do not think me ungrateful," she
cried. But you do not understand. /
love Richard more than life or death
1t is unspeakable that any one should
think of my leaving him-so long as he
is willing for me to stay with him." She
burst into tears.
"All right, Yvonne, dear. You feel
this way now. Wait until you have
spent many more weary days, all the
same. Come to me then. I am not
angry love you as I always have, and
pity you more deeply than ever for
your mistaken sacrifice. Remember, /
am always your friend. Come to me
when you need me-"
Yvonne ran back to Mrs. Ogden's
chair She kissed her friend. dried her
tears and then left quietly with no
further word.
She let herself into the house and
ran to her room. There she fell on her
knees. The sign had come. God was
displeaSed. That any one should think
she could leave Richard. This came of
deceit She asked forgiveness, she wept
until she was worn out. Then she took
her resolve. She would be what Rich
ard wished her to be. That, and moth
ing more.
Perhaps he no longer noticed her be-
cause she no longer made efforts TO
please him. She would study his every
want She would fail him in nothing.
In a passion of self-renunciation she
vowed never even to think of her dane
ing again.
That night after dinner she said
tinlidly to him: Richard, is there any
I am neat and strong, perhaps I could
AiCAP yVu WAOA1 yOAA NAAPoNAAAS GIN oSA y
ing"
Thanks, Yvonne," Richard said
dryly. You'd be a hindrance rather
than a help. This isn't woman's work
I'm doing. Stick to your own trade, my
dear. You are an excellent housekeeper,
but you'd be rather mess at science,
I'm afraid"
He looked at her more closely than
usual. There were shadows under her
eyes, She looked thinner.
"You don't look well. Yvonne," he
said. Perhaps you are doing too much
with this house to care for and the
French class you are teaching"
''T have given that up," Yvonne said
briefly. ut bored me. The house does
not tire me. I love working for you.
only asked to help you because wish
to do more for you."
Richard felt little puzzled. He had
not forgotten Yvonnes question of the
evening before. What had happened TO
her? He took her in his arms and felt
her tremble at the unwonted caress.
What is it. Yvonne? Are you we'll?
You are not like your usual sunny self :"
Yvonne pressed against him. Il am
WE'LL she said.
A strange thought occurred to Rich
ard. Perhaps they were to have a child.
and this was the cause of Yyonne's
Tell me. Yvonne, are we to have
child?"
Yvonne shook her head. "That is still
denied u.s." she said. tI long for
child, 1t would keep me busy, happy.
And it would be your child, Richard. i
should love 1t so.'
There's plenty of time for babies.
Yyonne," Richard said. "You go to sleep
early tonight and get lot of rest the
next few days. You're feeling a little
seedy. It make you moody"
Yvonne went meekly to bed. Her
heart beat fast with Joy. She had made
Richard notice her. He had been kinder
than he had been in days. The right
way was to stay at home, to take care
OF him, to love him with all her heart.
But Richard had gone back into his
shell. Yvonne scrubbed and cleaned
and cooked and sewed feverishly
throughout the next week. She fought
the temptation to go to the little room
to practice. She closed her piano. She
turned magazines face downward and
covered them with a cloth that she
might not be tempted to read. She
fought all the demons of loneliness that
aSsaiied her, now that time hung again
so heavily on her hands
And then, just as she had attained
little contentment again, Richard an
nounced suddenly that he was going
away.
For how long?" asked Yvonne.
For three months" he answered
avoiding her hurt and questioning eyes.