Evening star., 1932-03-20


~ ~ and contemplated herself The
late afternoon sun through the
" V West window shone full in her
face, bringing out every delicate
curve every bit of color, from the creamy
whiteness of her forehead to the rich redness
of her bowed lips, the whole lovely picture
accentuated by the jet black and slightly waved
hair piled with careful carelessness upon her
head.
"Pretty!" she said softly. "Thirty-six and
still pretty" But though the words were
reassuring, a fear akin to panic gripped her
heart. Was she losing her husbands love?
Had she already lost it? Was 36 old in his
eyes? Something was wrong-terribly wrong
that she knew The proof was the letter there
on the table She made gesture as if to pick
it up, but instead allowed her hand to drop to
her side. She had found it that morning
and read it. What good would it do her to read
the hateful message again? Every word on the
family perfumed paper was scared In her
memory. A moment longer she stood there,
then turned and walked into the spacious liv-
ing room Her shoulders dropped, as If she
were tired.
Marcella sank into a chair by the fireplace,
but she could not look at the Goals that glowed
so redly there for in them she saw only the
face of David her husband.
Her mind went over their IL years OF mar
ried life Wherein had she failed? She had
been a good wife to him, good mother to his
children. She had shared his defeats as well
as his triumphs. helping him along the way
with her quiet assurance, her faith In his
ability She had entertained for him, made
friends for him. set up a house that was the
envy of other Brockton matrons.
CHE sighed. If only David hadn't been SO
> successful They had been happy back in
Des Moines. It had been fun to grow as
David called it, but why had it been necessary
to grow in the direction of New York? All
their troubles dated from the time David had
been transferred to the home Office here. The
salary had been beyond their most extravagant
dreams; the home they had built in Brockton;
the brilliant hardness Of their new life had
left their heads in a whirl.
Marcella had come back to earth after that
first wild, hilarious Winter of parties, dances
and Broadway excursions. She thought David
had recovered his sense of balance, too. but
apparently he had not. Even now despite the
damning evidence of that letter, she felt there
must be some mistake. 1t couldn't be her
David.
The letter had been lying on the carpet in
the hall where she had found it this morning.
Idly she had picked it up; scanned it. The
first few lines had left her bewdered, and as
she had read on, she had felt as if she were
going to faint Those hateful words: 'Davy,
darling" "Our perfect understanding" True
love at last" Marcella WINGED she
thought of this other woman-young, un-
doubtedy-who was taking David from her.
clock tinkled S. 1t was time David was
home Harriet and the children would
be home, she reflected. They had been walk
ing more than an hour now. But where was
David? He was rarely late. To romp with
the children before they had their supper
part of the days routine-as regular as going
to business. Could it be that the affair of the
letter she had stumbled upon had gone further
than she thought? Was that the reason?
AS if in answer to her thoughts there was a
Scamper of tiny feet on the front steps. The
door banged open and she heard their shouts
and laughter. Then they came tumbling into
the room.
Her children, who brought her much pain
and joy but so much more joy than pain!
Anna Lee 10 years DID, Grace, 7, and her little
man. Gregg 4. They crowded around her
and kissed her, sublinely disregarding the
effect on her light afternoon frock. As she bent
over Gregg gave her his special bear hug as
David had taught him to do. Marcella caught
her breath How she loved them all! But
what would life be worth to any of them
without David? The children, she realized then
for the first time could never take the place
of him
Harriet the nursemaid took them away, at
last for their supper Marcela's heart beat
faster she sat there alone. David had prob
ably missed the letter during the day.
probably knew he must have dropped it at
home. Would he decide, then, to come to a