Evening star., 1932-01-15
Spite Wife A,. % ,:,...:;

pleasant.
Judys heart sank. stan was ia ans
of his black moods. Better walt ..,
She started 1t again, later that night,
as they prepared for bed. She sat In
her negligee, buffing her nails and Co
verify watching Stan as he restlessly
paced the room, taking final pun at
his cigarette before casting It out into
the night. Judy was angry because her
heart was pounding fearfully. After
all, she'd done nothing so dreadful!
1t was only what the rest OF them had
done time after time.
stan, you know what I was saying
before dinner-about that bridge game
today. Well, I lost. And / didn't
have enough money. had to borrow
from your sister Amy. -"
Stan was regarding her unpleasantly
through the up-curling smoke
How much?"
She told him and he swore softly.
His face flushed and he flung the cigar
| cite into the dark garden with unnec-
essary violence.
D it all. Judy; you must have
been crazy!"
Judy flushed and held the buffer as
though 1T were weapon. Gould I
help II because I lost!"
But how in the world did you lose
SO muchG If you don't know the game.
Il do know the gamep' An edge of
temper to her voice. II didn't know
they played for such stakes"
What did you think they played
! for? Crocheted tea towels?"
II certainly never thought they play
| ai likn Y,r0feSSipna rpblaretn
Stan made q little movement Of dis
dain, "Oh, can the small-town stuff.
Judy! They were simply more clever
players than you. You were out
classed."
Judy's honesty made her admit Sc
cretly that Stan was right, but her
cheeks flushed. i seem to be outclass-
ed on many points," she said in
voice which she tried desperately to
keep steady.
His silence hurt her more than any
words he might have spoken. Judy felt
hurt pride rising within her; and on
its wake came the instant hot jealousy
of Eunice, which never slept
Il suppose you think I seem stupid
in comparison with others. With Eu-
nice Wilson. for instance"
'Oh, good Lord!" Stan said savage
ly. "Ae we to have that again!"
He might better have struck her. A
devil OF jealousy lashed Judy on-reck-
lessly, blindly
Yes, we're to have that again Why
not! Why shouldn't you! If I have
her thrust down my throat every day
OF the week People looking
watching you and her pitying mel
eyes!"
Judy suddenly seemed to hear her
own words, harsh and violent. She
caught her breath in sob. Stood
there. aghast, fighting back her tears.
STAINS face was a mask of fury. He
picked up another cigarette, lit 1t with
shaking fingers, and she knew he could
barely hold his temper in leash. II
don't know what you're driving att
oh, yes. you dol" Judy was filled
with the desire to hurt him--yet 1t was
the image of Eunice she was striking
at through him. Eunice, beautiful
disdainfully aware of her own beauty
her wealth and position. "Oh,
yes, you do! But it's only lately I've
known, tool She hates me--becauss
I'm your wife. She wants her millions
that she married, but she wants to keep
you, too, and she's resentful because
you've married me. /. Shes trying
to make me look like a fool. To
get me in wrong with you-"
STAINS face was livid with anger.
You're acting like something very
fifth-rate! have something else to do
besides stage 5cene to please you"
He snapped off the light and got into
bed.
For moment Judy stood motionless
in the dark, rage and despair battling
within her.
Then suddenly the sustaining anger
ebbed from her, leaving her white and
shaken and very alone. Disaster grip
ped her. Oh. what mess shed nads
OF 1t! Why had she said those things!
She hadn't meant to. But she'd been
full of them since that day at the golf
links when Eunice had SO easily taken
Stan from her. And today-that had
put her over the top. 1t was true :.
but you can't always tell the truth to
people-to husband.
Sick at heart, she walked to the win
dow and stood against the open frame
looking down into the garden.
Out Of the darkness rose the smell
OF fresh growing things and wet black
earth. 1t made her think of the gar
den at home how the smell had
stolen in the window of her bedroom.
Sweet, tranquil nights they seemed
now to have happened to some other
girl in some other life time. 80.
Oh, why had she said those thingsp
Something very 'f1fth-rate," Stan
had said. She was faint with self dis
gust. He was right. :. She had been
a harpy-nagging him-showing ugly
jealousy. Oh, that quick temper Of
hers. . . If she only hadn't done II,
She closed her eyes, raising her face
to the night wind, feeling it soft and
caressing on her hot cheeks.
STAINS icy voice sounded from the
ferot 80
any better to stand there and sulk. :"
Judy turned, groped her way to the
bed through the dazzling blackness,
feeling tears sting her eyes. I'm not
sulking her voice was smothered
I'm just-oh, sick at heart. I'm
Just-sorry, though I suppose you don't
care If am. :. didn't meant to say
all that. But it--just came out.
Please-oh, darling, please don't rub
it inl Let's-let's be friends"
Her frantic hands had found him
Feeling over his face, about his un4
yielding shoulders. She was clutching
him close, holding her tear-wet facs
close against his face, murmuring little
endearments. II can't stand 1t when
we quarrel, darling. Please don't let's
quarrel"
'I didn't start tt" Stan answered
stif1y. Sulkily.
! know, know. But, Oh, things
are so difficult, Stan. You don't know.
It's your home. It's different for me
all Uphill. darling. Just like trying
10 run uphill. E. Oh. but never mind
:. Let's forget 1t. There's Just YOU
and MEETINGS are bound TO come
out all right If we love each other
enough. Hold me tight-tight! Every
things all right now, isn't it7 Wen
never quarrel again"
Judy trampled pride under foot
Anything-anything to have things all
right between them again. She loved
Stan so. Something of sweet de-
spair, when he finally reiented, his lips
1lnding her lips in the dark. Surely
he couldn't kiss her like that If he
loved Eunice wilson, She wound her
arms about him ShA cr11Shed her fana