The Coolidge examiner., 1932-05-27
U THEN Thomas Arden brought
A home the notnrions Minnie

w home the notorious Minnie
Dupont as bride to the
square stone house he had occupied
as bachelor, he must have done so
with his eyes fully open to possi-
BILE consequences.
The consequences were of course
that nobody called. Within three
months after the marriage, the area
of silence and isolation around the
Thomas Ardens was like vast park
affording them more privacy than
they knew what to do with.
Minnie was not accepted. The cir
cles In which Tom had moved as a
popular bachelor might have van
ished in thin air so far as his fur
ther participation in them was con-
cerned. Not that they had actually
vanished. The prosperous town in
which Tom had prospered simply
turned a cold shoulder upon the ad-
vent of Minnie into Toms life, and
resented what was regarded as out
rage.
Minnie had what is known as an
unsavory reputation.
Eligible Tom Arden's marriage TO
her came as the proverbial clap of
thunder. The community gaSped,
gossiped, turned its back. The play
ful, good-humored, good-natured, alb
solutely dauntless qualities which
had first attracted Tom to Minnie,
now stood their test. Minnie saw
to it that, one way or another, Toms
home was a source of constant de-
light TO him. Her laughter rang In
1t, her deft handiwork transformed
ii, her skillful cookery made its
table an epicurean's delight, and her
bold effulgent beauty thrived in 1t.
If, In the long watches of the day,
there descended upon Minnie, whose
spirits loved to soar, long fits of
irreconcilable depression, Tom did
not know 1t. The woman whose life
had been filled with activities and
gayeties from one day TO the other
accepted this strange new lot with
out reference TO 1t, without whim-
per, without complaint.
Sometimes blatant things happened
that brought color to her face and
caused her avalanehes of secret
tears. The Ravenels, who lived
next door, a family of social pres
tige and no wealth, had ever since
the arrival of the bride consistently
kept the blinds of all the windows
which faced the Arden house drawn
TO their limits.
Before his marriage II had been
Toms habit TO shout across the lawn
TO the Ravenels from his own side
windows. Minnie knew that, be-
cause time and time again Tom used
TO describe to her his habit of wav-
Ing goodnight TO the four-year-old
Dotty Ravenel. who was his pet.
Not once. since their arrival from
the honeymoon. had Minnie so much
as clapped eyes upon Dot. The Raw
enels, along with the rest of the
community, turned a cold shoulder,
but In the case of the neXt-door
neighbors the shoulder was most OBJ
yious.
The skill with which Minnie domi-
mated the difficult situation was ex-
traordinary. There came a time
when Tom began TO make references
with anger TO their behavior. Not
on his own account. As a matter of
fact, Tom was happier than he
had ever dreamed he could be. But
his heart hurt angrily for Minnie.
''Your little finger is worth more
than the whole gang of Them was
his frequent way of summing up the
situation. "I'll take my business
away from every man in this town
whose wife snubs u.s."
81 wouldn't do that, dear. What
does it matter? Now, this is what
| would do; I'd go my way and
not harbor resentment. Life is
short and hard enough at best. For
give"
What could you do about WON
an like that Couldn't sour her.
Couldn't get her to admit heart
hurt or a snub.
"Next time | see Lucy Ravenel
on the street, I'm going to walk up
to her and tell her where she gets
Off"
II wouldn't do that. This is what
1 would do. I'd ignore it and see if
In time she doesn't sort of come
around to realization of how petty
ii all is.
Bless her. Didn't need brick
house to fall on Tom, as he put 1t
to himself, TO make him understand
that inside she was hurting and
aching and bluer than her beautiful
eyes. Minnie, who had been born
and reared in a notorious environ
ment, was accustomed to attention.
Minnie cried, sometimes a great
deal. Alone. But then there was
| always the redeeming miracle of
Tom. The miracle of the man who
had suddenly brought into her life