Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-12-11
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A Story of Persistent B
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By Fannie Hurst

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THE fact that he was married to
Gladys Cowper was to7remain q.
Il phenomenon to John Bayiey.
That the lovely Gladys should
ever have found In him sufficient at
tributes to claim not only her interest
but her love, was something that even
In the second and third year following
their marriage, was to remain q mir
acle In the eyes Of John.
First of all. Gladys. above every
thing, was so alive. She radiated a
vitality that seemed to demand 20
much more than the sedentary life In
a cottage which the young clerk In
a large wholesale floral and tree nur-
sery was able to provide her.
Gladys. before her marriage. had
been the center Of group of youths
eager to provide her with more than
John could She had lived her girl
hood so recklessly In the spirit Of
dance, "rivolity and adorable nom
sense!
1t gave man pause to have come
into the vast Inheritance Of crea-
ture of this irresistible loye-of-life. II
gave him pause and more than that,
it gave him the urge Of high am
bitlOn.
A man had to justify his good for
k1rn tn hox N rxyfHo lLn
More than that. II man wanted to
hold her, he had to earn the right.
John realized all this.
II gave him a sense Of pride and at
the same time filled him with sense
of torment.
What II the turn in the tide Of his
affairs was not to come In time!
Gladys was so young, so unconscious
ly keyed to attract all who came with
in her orb. Even on the streets. heads
swung after as she passed. In a group
she predominated. A young husband
had to look to his p's and as.
Not that Gladys herself ever gave
off the slightest awareness Of the ex-
tent to which she kept her husband
pitched to tiptoe. The first years were
just happy. love-in-a-cottage; an
adOred wife and an adorable, good
looking young husband who could be
serious one moment and play-bOy the
next. True, resources were low. The
position of clerk in the tree nursery
was not remunerative and Gladys was
filled with little wishes that tugged
ut Johns heart
Darling. do you think well ever be
able TO afford just secondhand little
coupe? Wouldn't II be too heavenly
having one to rush around int"
"Oh, John. fancy being able to buy
the mink coat in that window. Hon.
cstly, If had just an imitation one.
I'd curl up like sardelle and die Of
happiness"
"Oh. honey, would love a duck
Of q bungalow like that! Do you
think well ever be able to afford one
half as nicer"
John did think, great deal. There
was. Of course, much to be said in be-
half of his work at the nursery. The
Offices, within walking distance Of their
tiny suburban cottage, were set in the
midst of acres Of growing roses. aisles
Of spicy carnations, glowing riots OF
fuchsias, marigold, phlox, gladlolas and
madonna lilies. From the window be-
side his desk. far as the eye could
reach, there beloved the shining, ten
der green of young leaves and the wind
swept waves Of color. II kept man
little drunk with just the sense Of
rising sap and growing vegetation. It
kept him somehow young, and In a
strange ashamed way. reverential to-
ward the beauty Of the world about
him.
All very well and good from Johns
angle. Pleasant unhurried work. The
delightful proximity Of his small home
and lovely wife. The days that ended
peacefully with Gladys waiting for
him at the end Of the floral pergola
that led from his offices to the high
road. All very well and good. Buft
It got a man nowhere. One hundred
and fifty dollars month earned In
the heart of garden. got mans wife
nowhere.
Not that Gladys complained. OF
course they talked and planned for
future, but there was something fright
enlngly indetermlnate about that fu-
ture. AT best he, John. could only
hope for an increase of from fifty to
seventy-flve dollars a month. Unless.
Of course. the unforeseen happened. and
he managed to wangle his way into
the firm. That, however, was unlikely.
Only calamity or catastrophe could
bring that about. and there were two
husky young sons between him and the
ultimate dream Of membership in the
f1rm.
Be that as It may, It must be said
for Gladys that while she hankered
fer so many OF the good things de-
MED her. there was not In her att.
tude either rancOr or bitterness. Just
a usefulness. and 1t was that wistful-
ness which. sOmewhOw, broke Johns
heart. and at the same time filIed him
with fear.
There WIS country club set In the
suburb where the BayIeys had set up
their home. While not part OF 1t.
Gladys had opportunity to observe.
from the remote vantage Of sldeiines.
the gay-spIrlted existence " the polo
playing. hunting. go'flng. dnnclng and