Show i ANDRA THE IE JEALOUS By Jane Phelps I. I CHAPTER 97 Everett Has a Talk With Sandra I was not permanently Injured although al- al although though some of ot the burns hurns had been painful Fortunately tely the flames had hadnot hadnot n not t had had time to reach my face tac before Mrs Gray smothered them in the rug ug Often otten I have shuddered at the thought thought bought that but for her quickness her presence of ot mind my my curiosity wo would ld have caused my death death death-a a horrible hor- hor ible one Everett was very tender very very lovIng lov- lov Ing ng yet unusually serious in 1 the days that followed my accident Not once nee had he mentioned the attic or how I 1 received the burns until I was able to gets get au around and again and the had B ceased c sed But then t. t en he said I f Now Sandra I I want to know Just why why- you thought it necessary necessary- to read letters not intended for your e eyes eves es I know because of ot finding them beside the trunk that that was your errand to the attic 1 I could find out I I wanted to see if It something something about about her I replied lamely Why Because you loved her tier so much much much- and do yet I burst out weeping I had held the thought In Jn my heart so long had grieved over my ray failure to win my husband husband husband-as as I th thought Leola had won him that once I 1 gave the thought expression I 1 I pouted poured d out my V very ry heart to him In Ina a storm of words which fairly fairl tumbled over ver each other Not once did Everett interrupt me not once did he move until almost exhausted by my emotion and sobbing bitterly r J slipped for bre breath th T Then en I J il t t tell teU didn't you Poor Sandra why me all this long ago f T I 1 couldn't i. i Because Because I because I stammered between sobs i I 1 better r you thought still loved still I her loved Everybody sal s said than you do me so so such uch a aBut athing You mean people told you thing sternly I not Well exactly But ever ver so i said it so many have told me or me-or or heard loved her s so you that heard that you her her her and and let her never interfered with ender letender and to-and- and do she wanted to to- to she as-she just as everything e I 1 knew my re reply f Iy was was' wasI almost foolishly childish but 1 I was sobe so so sure Everett was going to be cross cross with me I couldn't collect m my thoughts thought's at all You let her go places places and ana have company have and and sit sit up p and making d go making I I went on out with you you you I things worse Poor little girl Has it been so only only terrible Im I'm sorry Sandra Sandra Sandra-my my wish was to make our home thought one o of happiness not of dissension I thought after atter my explanation when we were first married that yo yoi you would be rea rea- counted without considering considering considering con con- But I how very young young you ou were and and I I left gossip out altogether And wouldn't let me take tale takedown you down and and her down her picture No Sandra that would have been very childish Leola never harmed I you She had been gone gon long before lovely picture picture picture pic pic- I II I met net you That Is a a. very ture of her most of my friends were ere her friends also also It would cause much comment if It f I had allowed you to be I foolish enough to remove her picture He waited a moment then as I made madeno no reply he asked Was that the first time you had been in the attl attic i No o. o Then once more I made mad f full fun confession I told of finding Leolas Leola's s lovely clothes packed away of my failure to open the black black trunk of of ot I finding the keys l eys in In his his' chiffonier drawer and arid then I stopped suddenly as I remembered the the letters I had taken and the two I had Tread read What else Tell me me me lall now now Sandra u uI before before- before before- I took s some me letters letters- once letters once J they are re in my room room i ti i t tOnly You read them On Only y two two they they made rn m me feel so badly I couldn't read any any anymore more more me Bring them to me I went upstairs to my room and got the Ie letters I had now no no thought or wish to read more of them My terrible accident in In which I not only might have been burned to death but might also have destroyed our home had effectually quelled all curiosity curl curi I might have have have-at at least for the time I r gave them to Everett without without a word He laid them on the table Then before I realized it with a cry cry I r was sobbing out a all l my love lov for him my terrible jealousy of the dead wife my resentment at being called No Z 2 2 while he listened without I trying to comfort me They said you only married me because because because be be- I. I cause I was young and you wanted a family that family that you had no love t to give me because it was all ail a l given to Leola and and You ou have beU believed ved that that all all of at It He was very serious s but I was so excited I 1 really did not mind so I replied honestly Yes Everett and I r made up my mind we wouldn't have any family family- or anything To be continued co continued |