Show kathleen norris says revenge Is sweet but expensive bull bell syndicate features estres 11 41 when we w were married I 1 had known bob almost a year but it was a year of dancing and rid dates no serious thought ever bothered us by KATHLEEN NORRIS 11 ll TE WERE married in WE W october two years ago writes betty pearson from oklahoma we had four happy months in a little place near camp in florida then bobby went off to guadalcanal Guadal canal immediately afterward I 1 could write him that there was to be a baby I 1 was wretchedly sick but very happy and excited about it although I 1 have no parents or home and was h holding a defense plant job bobbye bobbys Bob bys reception of my news shook the ground under my feet and for days I 1 was miserable and crying he hated the idea of a child he want it there must be something I 1 could do to get rid of it I 1 awfully smart to have gotten myself into this fix it meant the end of our dancing and fun in sh short c rt he be said everything that could nake make me mad and break my heart the letter stunned me but I 1 wrote briefly and coldly that nothing on earth would persuade me to tb des destroy t roy my hopes of motherhood and that the first minute he got home he could get a divorce it if he wanted one then there was a long t silence but last christmas he sent me a shawl and a tiny red embroidered broi brol dered cap but no message to margaret 1 I pulled m myself together toge together had my baby in a ward joined a woman friend whose husband also Is overseas her mother keeps house for us minds rny my baby mornings morning I 1 am on a night shift and can take margaret out in the afternoons and put her to bed we all adore her every thin works smoothly and I 1 never have been so happy in my life now comes a letter from bob he h has as lost a all but the thumb from his bis I 1 left ft hand band and is discharged he Is co coming ming h home 0 me his letter says 1 I want you to look out for a little place for us the kid hooi suppose maybe I 1 can get my job back but it looks as it if id be doing dishes and washing baby clothes for awhile somehow I 1 never looked fol forward ward to my cifes supporting me but its only tor for a while his letter sounds so discouraged and bitter that I 1 simply dread meeting him again more than that the thought of his maimed hand band sickens bickens me I 1 have always had a perfect horror of physical disfigurement it if I 1 break up this present arrangement what other can I 1 make ive read your letters letter a to service wives and mothers asking them to make provision tor for the boys homecoming but I 1 have my child to think of too what is best for her her daddy want her and know her we have not an inch to spare even if it w would be pleasant to have a man in the house we have one bedroom emiles mother sleeps on the livin groom couch and margarets ret crib is moved every night into the kitchen this arran ment suits us gerfe perfectly but a mans presence is unthinkable when we were married I 1 had known bob almost a year but it was a year of dancing and dates no seri serious ous thought ever bothered us N uh hit utter letter sounds so 10 discouraged and t bitter that I 1 sim limply ply dread meeting him understanding one ol 01 of the hard but necessary tasks tas s growing from the wars war w ari s the understanding of ch changed ed dispositions of loved ones one who have endured the upsetting rigors of military life although seemingly changed as a result of their experiences in reality they are inwardly quite the same their attitude being a reflection of the hard grating of the shock of war against their ordinary dispositions to be able to restore their sense of tolerance to bring r back their balance of judgment is a task that will lead to a renewal of the old happy life the kind of life that makes this a perfectly natural world this task is a negligible one compared to the sacrifices made by those gallant loved ones ol of ours all over the world he was just one of the crowd when he was drafted he asked me to marry marry him and quite naturally I 1 did four months later he was gone out of my life again and that was 18 months ago bobs job before the war was with a farm machinery company he was a good salesman popular good looking amusing but he seems to have changed completely ely please give real thought to my happiness my rights in this matter before you answer me of course I 1 want you to say have a long talk agree to a divorce go your separate ways but I 1 will be influenced by what you advise whatever it Is sees happy outcome it seems to me betty that there Is material for a happy outcome here without the inescapable unpleasantness pleasant nesi of a divorce you be too deeply influent influenced e ed by what bob wrote you when he knew the baby was coming perhaps he was lonely homesick mosquito bit ten weary longing tor for the old serene rene happiness of his girl and his little florida bungalow perhaps he was worrying about money wondering how long it would be before he could get the right job after the war take the right care of you Peri perhaps laps it stunned him to think of you facing so great a responsibility and he wrote hastily not phrasing his letter tactfully not waiting to think things over the thought of that little red cap somehow touches me that may have been a peace offering to his little girl since you have no room tor for him have you some motherly woman friend who could take you all three into her home for a week or two or perhaps emily and her mother mothe would move out and give you and bob a chance to make each others acquaintance again you owe hi him in a real welcome affection and reassurance and a week of home life may work a miracle in him film if once he was popular good looking amusing he can be so again try to reestablish that happy little florida home |