The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1940-04-11

seemed to be m bad dream, for
the thing had come upon me like
thunderbolt, and the past was all
spoiled as well as the future.
arthur, as completely oblivious
of any feeling of mine as he had
been of ordinary decency and duty,
asked me if I would have the girl
at the house now and then, so
there would be no talk This, I
told him, was physical as well as
moral impossibility. I simply
couldn't do it. On this point we
had our first serious quarrel.
''Since then I have not spoken to
Arthur directly. But for the chill
dren's sake a certain amount Of
civility must go on. Arthur con-
tinues to show nothing but COM
pIacency and high spirits. He tells
me that if he and the girl had re-
sisted temptation-or love, as he
calls it-then all three of us would
be unhappy. As it is, am the only
miserable one, and they don't ex-
pect me to understand The girl
came to see me, and was fearful
and explanatory and heroic. I don't
think I spoke at all In the 10 min
utes I endured her company.
ARTHUR would be dropped from
the faculty if this were known. His
fine old father, president emeritus
Of another university, would die Of
grief. And how would my children
be bettered by the shame of their
father? But I can't go on as things
are. These few weeks have shown
me that. Tell me what to do"
Advice to Marjorie.
Marjorie, the first thing to do is
get out, and take the children with
you. But not with any bitterness
or threats. Say to your few close
friends that you are taking the baby
to the mountains. Or that the small
daughter had two chest colds last
year and you think it wise to try
the shore. Not far from you there
are lakeside summer cabins which
rent In winter for as little as $40
a month. Find one and move.
This will have a triple advantage.
It will get you away from the i'm
mediate contemplation of an insult
ferable state of affairs. It will
scare the complacent philandering
Arthur out of his wits; he will be
lonely, disorganized and possibly
brought to a realization of what
wealth he had, and has done all he
could to destroy. And lastly, it will
terrify the girl. She may suddenly
awaken to the truth that she has
given everything for nothing, and
is in a fair way to lose position
and reputation.
When Arthur comes to his senses,
or rather, having obviously very
little sense, when he appreciates
that he has made an expensive and
foolish mistake, then come back,
forgive him, and resume the outer
shell of the old happy, loving life.
You may never want to share his
room or his affection again; he
could hardly expect that. But for
the rest, take the blow that fortune
has dealt you, as every woman
must In one way or another, pick
UP the pieces, and face the future
stronger IN your own soul, If sad
der in your heart.
Don't remind him Of it. As his
children grow to fine strong honor
able mahood and womanhood, he'll
remind himself, often enough, If he
has any code or character at all.
He'll explain, apologize, excuse.
He'll want to talk about it. Punish
him by ignoring it as the weakness
of an inferior being, and In the end
you can do nothing but win. Could
you make this absence a long visit
to the grandfather? That might
give him the greatest happiness and
effect the same cure-at any rate,
you do the thing you think viii help
you to build UP your own confidence.