Show Kathleen Norris Says Say One More lore Freak Freal Love Affair Bell Syndicate wim Features l P 1 1 i 1 l i r r 1 t r r 7 1 had bad to be quiet for months of convalescence My lily stepfather was with b me much of the tine time By KATHLEEN NORRIS fl T AM seventeen I want to I I marry my stepfather JL My mother is entirely willing Do you think this could be a successful marriage marriage marriage mar mar- This is the question in a letter letter letter let let- ter from a St. St Louis girl She goes on to describe this I strange and unnatural situa situa- tion My mother divorced my father when I was 12 and she 34 says her letter My stepfather was then 27 For a time I disliked him heartily heartily heartily heart heart- ily and it was only during a long illness that I came to know him as ashe ashe ashe he really is is My trouble was wa a form of arthritis with heart complications complications I had to be very quiet for months of convalescence John naturally was with me much of the time tune He read to me we worked out Dut puzzles listened to music discussed discussed discussed dis dis- dis- dis cussed the days day's news Mother was and is night superintendent in a aI I large hospital which meant that my evenings would have been solitary I indeed except for John His work I a jewelry salesman in his fathers father's employ permitted him to be free In morning hours when mother was asleep and he and the nurse who came in daily managed the house between them Some weeks ago my mother confided confided confided con con- to me that she felt feU her marriage marriage marriage mar mar- not a success that John was not only tco too young in years but was mentally immature This is not true but he has a boyish irresponsible irresponsible irresponsible sible way of taking life infinitely delightful delightful delightful de de- de- de to me but much too youth youth- youthful youthful ful tul for mother Mother Would Divorce Him nim Now we three have talked the situation over and we agree that everyone would be happier if it mother moth moth- er and John were quietly divorced and he and I 1 happily married But there are elements th that t make it hard Johns John's earnings are very small but as mother owns this house makes a fair income and as Johns John's mother contributes something something something some some- thing every month we have been very comfortable But now she Is burdened with I all my nurse and doctor bills bilIs which I will take a long time to clear And Johns John's father and mother to whom we suggested this arrangement are horrified and tell him that they will never have anything to do with him again if it he marries me It seems they have very strong religious prejudices but it does seem hard to tc afflict us with them I am anxiously anxious anxious- ly awaiting your opinion of all this for your approval will help us all My dear Elinor I say in answer my approval or disapproval of this state of affairs cannot possibly have much effect on them You and your mother and stepfather have already moved so far out of any course thatis that thatIs Is even imaginable to me that what I might have to say would be applicable applicable able only to other mothers of little girls who are contemplating a second second sec sec- see see- ond and marriage with attractive very young men and to susceptible 17 year-olds year who are exposed by the strange stupidity of the said mothers mothers mothers moth moth- ers to what propinquity will do between between between be be- tween a convalescent impressionable impression impression- able girl and a young man only haLt half held in marriage by a much older woman John apparently neglecting his job to putter contentedly about the I house accepting money from his bis mother accepting support from your own working hard-working mother built builtH I I r 1 I m H He has bas boyish Irresponsible ways FOOLISH INFATUATION Elinor who is 17 wants to marry her stepfather who is 32 Her mother is willing to divorce John as she feels her marriage was a mistake John Johnis is a jewelry salesman whose earnings are small He depends on his pare parents tIts for part parI of his income Elinor's infatuation began while she was sick During a along along along long convalescence John was constantly at her bedside reading reading reading read read- ing working puzzles and tuning tun trw tuning ing in radio programs for her This attention plus his youthful youth youth- f ful ul ways drew the impressionable impression impression- able girl to him Gradually they jell fell in love Johns John's parents are opposed to the new flew marriage largely on religious grounds Their financial assistance would be important to the success of this new union so their opinions cannot be lightly disregarded Elinor wants Miss Norris to approve her plans hoping thus to influence Johns John's parents parents parents par par- in itt her favor Miss Norris counsels Elinor to get away from home and forget this weak unstable who irresponsible irresponsible ir ir- ir- ir young man matI seems so responsible financially and emotionally Find a man nearer your age who is willing Wil to be beall beall beall all yours and stand on his own feet feel Miss Norris advises I I up while you were shut in your sickroom sickroom sick sick- sickroom room that sort of intimacy and dependence dependence dependence de de- de- de that a girl your age might quite naturally take for love He sounds a weak and contemptible character but your mother doesn't sound weak and contemptible and her compliance with your wishes is the one thing in this muddle that amazes me Can she possibly anticIpate anticipate anticipate antici anticI- pate any dignity or happiness in such a future for you John Would Have Two Wives Since the whole thing Is unthinkable unthinkable unthinkable able I am almost ready to believe that your Idea would be to go on living as Johns John's wife under your mothers mother's roof hoof Otherwise robbed of his job and his mothers mother's monthly check you would have no means of any kind Your mother would still be struggling to pay of off the expenses of your illness you acting as housekeeper housekeeper housekeeper house house- keeper and cook for the three of you and John complacently accepting accepting accepting accept accept- ing the support and kindly administrations administrations administrations adminis adminis- of both his wives We had a case here in California some years ago of a woman who married a man named Smith divorced divorced di di- divorced di- di him for a man named Brown divorced Brown to remarry Smith and when last heard from was divorcing Smith whether or not with plans for Brown I dont don't know But this tangle of yours is even less natural and more sinis sinis- sinister ter If I gave advice at all it would be that you leave home at once Let John and your mother be reconciled reconciled rec ree or divorced but have no part in It Go somewhere far away to college or to your own father in Johannesburg His His s farm tarro sounds Interesting ng enough for a long visit Try to meet a real man all your own and forget torget this sickroom fancy that no more resembles real love Jove than a livid yellow orchid hanging in a hothouse resembles apple apple blos blossoms blos- blos against a Q green field in April |