Show kathleen norris gayb when the lonel lonely wife flirts bell ell features feature I 1 7 P this man ts a married has a wife and two daughters in so some rno eastern state lie ile ts Is about 32 and very attractive by KATHLEEN NORRIS N MY desk today is a ON 0 letter from a girl in seattle wash whose problem is poised between loyalty to the father who is away in the service and the wife he left behind him my own mother died when I 1 was nine writes joann jo ann davis two years later my father married a lovely gentle wom woman an who had been my mothers friend she was a true mother to me and until her sudden death in a motor accident two years ago my father and I 1 were happy six months after the accident he married a third wife whom I 1 will call betty my father is 44 bett betty Y 28 1 I am 19 dad met betty on a trip to chicago they had known each other but three weeks when they were married I 1 had never seen her jintil until she came to the house ia to be my new mot mother herI iem I em a aid and it was a great relief to have betty there managing things planning good meals and keeping my adored father happy I 1 have grown very it is not to like her she is so helpful cheerful enthusiastic and affectionate the trouble I 1 Is s pad who Is a lieutenant in the army was or dered away overseas overie as about seven months ago and immediately after he left A change came over my young ayoung stepmother she began to go out with various men dancing and dining and of course drinking somewhat gome what and often not home until early morning hours since we were just two women this I 1 so important tor for I 1 manage my own breakfast and lunch at the hospital but what seems to me important Is s that there to is now one man with whom betty Is falling ailing in love ile he Is constantly here he is a naval officer on duty near here all the others have dropped away betty has been absent from home all night more than once in the last month and she laughs and flushes when I 1 make any comment on the affair ile he Is in very attractive 1 this man Is married hat has a wife and two daughters in some eastern state he is about 32 and very attractive the other day he walked to the piano and turned my fathers portrait face down saying jokingly 1 I dont think I 1 use like this thin man betty I 1 was at the other end of the room telephoning to a friend but I 1 heard it and saw it betty stood the portrait up and it still stands but it shows how he feels what I 1 want to know is whether it is my duty to write my father fit bf this state of affairs it la Is very hard to write it him I 1 m at au all and not mention paul yet I 1 dont know what he could do about it and it seems beems terrible to tell teh tales on betty ive 6 gone as far as to say to her that I 1 hoped paul dimming her memory of a much finer man and for a moment she was serious then her usual laughter broke out and her only answer answer wets was joann jo vo ann life ife Is fun faunl I 1 I 1 life always alway fun and it be this letter concludes bv dilou olt Is my duty to fell iny 1 I feel as it if I 1 just look on nt at this affair any longer but I 1 dont know what I 1 can an do my dear worried wonted little joann jo ann I 1 say in answer I 1 think you have gone as for far as you need go in giving the flirtatious betty a hint that she Is letting the handsome officer infringe upon your fathers rights I 1 write him I 1 think that would be a great mistake written words worda are arc hard and unmanageable things to write these words to your father would be to crush the happiest and most confident belief he has your loyalty to him involves only your own conduct not bettys keep as friendly and unsuspicious as you can plenty of other tongues will be ready to inform your father of what Is going on it if anything really serious to is going on let your voice always be one of affection for betty and trust in her Leave Leavel Betty letty isolated it would be a good thing if you could go away for awhile visit an aunt combine resources with some girl friend or take a room in tho the hospital itself nothing will straighten betty out so BO fast as to feel that the she Is completely on her own nothing will warn her admirer more eloquently than to feel that the decks are cleared and that he and she must either end their affair or face possibly serious consequences most men with nice wives far away and baby daughters have no permanent intentions in regard to a love affair but its a good rule for u us all mothers and mothers in law neighbors spies gossips children not to write suspicions to our servicemen A casual criticism lightly penned in a pleasant morning room with peaceful skies overhead may gather momentum as it goes overseas and land with the effect of a block buster on a lonely heart therell be a lot of explaining and straight ening out to 20 do when your dad comes home leave it to betty |