The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-08-24

the women wondered about. They'd no
longer speculate as to how much she
knew. She'd still be there, in Oxford
Gardens, and have a social position
as good as any Of them. And she'd be a
divorced woman-a woman of the
world! A woman who had proved to
every n that she was capable of mar
rying not n but two husbands!
She played with the idea, tapping it
in her mind. Shed have to decide right
away. Roger Elm was getting i'm
patient, beginning to ask If she were in
earnest. He talked about a divorce and
the time it took to get He def
initely wanted marriage. And being a!
doctor with a new practice, even with
his most excellent reputation, he de-
cidedly did not want a scandal.
She watched George. He hardly
seemed aware Of the doctors atten-
lions. He couldn't help noticing, sure
ly! Roberta didn't have to make up
fake engagements now. There were
always plenty of real ones. She had
to hurry home from tea-had to be
careful not to talk too much about
Roger at parties.
George wasn't jealous! George did
MT care! She watched him. She knew.
She wondered what he would say when
she told him that DR.. Elm wanted to
marry her. She felt she would hardly
be able to mask the triumphant smile
that would be on her face when she
said she wanted a divorce-and told her
reason.
smile. For it was actually George who
rYo rfnG tho liynNv0n UTHO H1l -v~~ko
it all the time!
And then Roberta knew. She didn't
want to divorce George. She didn't
want to marry DR.. Elm. She loved
George. She had always loved him.
She didn't love any mt else. Why,
she wa going with DR.. Elm only to fool
George, and, in a way, to fool herself.
Why, If she got a divorce, it would be
to spite George, to SHOW him." to get
even with Lois Fairfield. In a way,
to justify herself. Now why under
heaven should she divorce the husband
she cared for, leave a home she loved
more than any other home to spite"
two ~people-whom she wouldn't be spit
ing in any way. Why should she play
into their hands-give George to Lois
Fairfield? 1t wouldn't be fair to marry
Roger Elm when she didn't love him.
He was decent, fine, honorable. But
that wasn't the reason she wasn't 60
ing to marry him. It wasn't the thing
she wanted to dol!
She told Roger Elm, as gently as
she could, that she had thought it over,
that she believed marriage was a part
nership, a contract, that she wasn't
being fair in walking out on a bargain
she had made.
But your husband" DR.. Elm pro-
tested. II thought that he ="
II know" Roberta smiled sadly. She
knew she was acting. It wasn't sad
to give up Roger Elm. It had salved
her pride, being able to attract him.
Putting him out Of her life was, in a
way, pleasant. It sort of gave her back
to herself, made George-and getting
George back again-seem a little nearer.
DR.. Elm was awfully nice about
things. He became a little sadder. O
little more quiet. Maybe he really car
ed. Maybe he was acting too. In a
few weeks he became a part of the
crowd again, a pleasant rather shy mar
who sat pretty much in a corner If
some who wanted an unattached
man didn't capture him.
What was there to do now? Roberta
had tried all of the things people wrote
or talked about. And she hadn't won
back her husband at all! George still
stayed away in the evenings, making all
sort Of excuses. He still left the office
early and arrived home late for din
ner. He was still casually polite, heart
rendingly Indifferent. She still slept
in the guest room. And Lois Fairfield
was still pretty and sly and condescend-
ing.
George didn't ask for a divorce. And
she had the feeling that he was not the
sort OF man who gave up a home and
business connections for an elopement.
The wave Of every day living caught
Roberta up again. And she began to
worry just a little less about Lois Fair
field. The thought Of George and Lois
together still made her heart act Pc
culiarly, made her a little Ill, but she no
longer had to say to herself, STEADY
now" when Of her friends said any,
thing.
George probably wanted her to do
something definite. Lois undoubtedly
did. The women in the crowd, who
came with tales, who had been so eager
for bits Of news when DR.. Elm was at
tentive, wanted her to do something.
They all wanted the divorce. All but
Roberta herself!
All of her methods for getting George
back had failed. But, in a way, she
still had George. More than Lois had
him! And she had proved to herself
that she could have married another
man if she had wanted to.
She was George McKessen's wife.
Every one respected her because Of that.
She had a nice home. The things she
wanted out of life. All but that inner
something that "a George. That had
gone. Why give everything else away,
too, and gain nothing in return?
Selfish? What if she were? Why
should she sacrifice herself for Lois
Fairfield? She told herself that if
GeorGe actllallx aSl.ad for q diloraa