Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-04
This Strange
Adventure
By Mary Roberts Rinehart
copysht


Happy We weren't put here to be
happy. This new. generation that is
coming along, shouting its right to ne
happy-it makes me sick. We're put
here to do our duty, to take and carry
on certain obligations, not to discard
them. People come in here and talk
to me about getting divorces! Divorce!
What did that ever cure? II human
being fails in one marriage, he'll fail
in another. And marriage isn't only
civil contract; it's a religious one. It's
covenant with God"
She went away confused. With that
terrible ability of hers to see both sides
Of a question, she knew that he was
right. But he was wrong too: ne was
both right and wrong. ON God, give
me some help. Show me what to do"
She walked along. tulle hat, ermine tip
pet, toes correctly turned out, her train
lifted above the dust. Now and then
she bowed to somebody she knew. Men
took off their hats with sweeping ges-
lures. That's Mrs Wesley Dexter. Was
Colfax. Fine old family. DeXter's
a coming man. Brother-in-law Is
wilkins. Yes. the bicycle chap. Big
man. wilkins: head of the new Board
of Trade. Coming man too. Let me
die, dear God, or else show me what
to do. can't go on, and I can't get
out"
Two days later Sarah sent for her,
received her alone in the great front
parlor with the peacock lambrequin.
Apropos she was as she sat there, the
inflexible one. And she began without
preamble.
IT have no reason to love Wesley
Dexter, Marcella. But 1 have reason to
expect certain things from you. Mr..
Macdonald tells me you have been to
see him."
IT didn't know where else to CO." said
Missile simply.
Does that mean that you are think
ing of leaving your huSband?"
II don't seem able to think. Yes.
would leave him if I could"
Mrs. ColfaX glanced at the door.
There is one word that 1 have never
permitted in this house. That is 'di-
vorce' have never spoken to a di-
vorced woman, and / never shall.
would not except my own granddaugh-
ter. It would grieve me, but you must
understand that, Marcella."
But after that ukase she was softer.
Not gentle; she could never be that.
But she sat back, twisting the worn
gold band on her left hand.
II was not too happy in the early
days of my own marriage. / had my
rebellionS. All young wives do. But
lived to be glad that no one but myself
had ever known it."
She could be glad! Hard. autocratic
old William. Cecily, Lambert, Adelaide,
and against all of them it was enough
to have the consciousness of duty done.
1t was sublime. 1t was Spartan.
She sent Missile back in the carriage.
It was very shabby now; it needed
paint, and old Ishmael needed q new
livery. The horses, too, were growing
old; they looked bony, like Sarah her.
self; their feet slid on the newly-paved
streets. They moved slowly, cautiously
like old men at twilight.
MisSie was very tired. She leaned
back and closed her eyes. When she
went home she wrote Kirby her first
letter.
"I have been thinking things over
Maybe I am weak. Maybe you viii
think am ridiculous. But think this
you and myself. think God comes
| in, too. I promised Him something
and now I am asking to take back thai
promise. I love you. I know shall
always love you. did not believe thai
any one could care as I care. I think
maybe I have made you my God, anc
that is wrong. Indeed, it is all wrong
When I think of all the people who
| would be hurt"
There was more of it. She shec
bitter tears over it and had to recopy it
But she never sent it. That night
she tainted at dinner, and the next day
she learned that she was to have 9
child-Wesley's child.
Continued in tomorrow's Starr