The day book. [volume], January 24, 1916, NOON EDITION, Image 22

About The day book. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
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CONFESSIONS OF A WIFE
JUST A LITTLE ANALYSIS
As I was thinking about the gossip
of these alleged friends of Mrs.
Holmes and determined in my own
mind that Eliene, Mrs. Holmes and I
would teach them, as well as her
husband, a much-needed lesson, the
men from the stag party came in.
It was laughable, little book, to see
us all "perk up." Prom Eliene to Mrs.
Holmes we all put on what we con
sidered our prettiest smiles and be
gan to take new interest in the party,
and it was very interesting to see
how differently the men viewed us.
Harry looked as though he wished
we were all away but Eliene. His
eyes sought hers as soon as he en
tered the room, and my heart ached
when I realized that the smile she
gave him was one only of maternal
affection.
In an instant I understood that
Eliene's illusions had faded, just as
mine had done, and she h.ad never
been able to bring them back. The
thought filled me with despair. I
was sure also from Harry's look that
he vaguely missed something from
her love and was not able to find it
again. She knew his weaknesses,
his faults and his foibles, and her
feeling for him was in a way the
same that she gave Budge and
Toddy.
I wonder, little book, if I will ever
reach such a place in my life when
the maternal swallows up all the
other emotions.
Up to the present I only can feel
a contempt for Dick that he should
be so blind as to have passed by the
best for a few flickering fancies.
If I should confess this to anybody
but you, little book, I would probably
be set down in that person's mind
as very conceited, but I don't mean
that my love is the best that Dick
could have. What I mean is that the
love and trust of any true wife is the
best thing a husband can have.
Between you and me, little book,
although I have told Dick that I am
going to accept the attentions of any
man that appeals to me, I don't be
lieve I can do it I could not really
destroy that faith and trust in me
which I have almost come to think
is more precious to me than his love.
You see, I don't believe he has ever
given that same faith and trust to
any one else. It is the one thing that
I have not had to divide with some
other woman.
You see, little book, you certainly
are the confidant of my soul. I start
in to chronicle an event and before I
have really told you about it I go into
all the whys and wherefores "of my
mind which led up to the action and
the effect it had in my heart.
I think I have been writing all this
because when the men came in and I
saw Harry's eyes first search for
Eliene I then became aware that
Dick was not looking for any one,
not even me that he only seemed
tired and bored beyond endurance.
Jim smiled at me and the laugh
ing brown eyes of Mr. Holmes lin
gered a moment longer than was
necessary on my face, although I had
not yet been introduced to him.
Do you know, Tittle book, that for
a moment there came to me the
thought of "the most interesting
man" and I wished he were there. I
wanted to get away from myself, my
own thoughts. I wanted to see if I
still held an attraction for other men.
Of course, dear old Jim always likes
to be with me, always likes to dance
with me, but flirting with Jim is like
flirting with one's relations, perhaps
one might say like flirting with one's
brother-in-law.
I heard one of the men at Eliene's
party citing a case of that sort And
to me that seemed the unpardonable
sin. Perhaps it is because another
woman's hurt on my heart still
aches that makes me feel now to hurt
' -r -?vw" 7 .