Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1919 — Turkey Red [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Turkey Red

By DORA MOLLAN

(Cooyrtcbt. 1»1». by th» MeClur* N«w»p&txr Syndicate.) The new doctor and his young bride excited much Interest in the small town of Carringford. After a week’s inspection, the consensus of opinion, even among the women, was favorable toward Mrs. Loring. “She’s quite pretty," said Mrs. Pettigrew, describing one of the new arrivals to her next door neighbor. “She has wavy black hair and black eyes; the type that can wear red, you know.” The minister’s wife gave a luncheon. Loretta Loring was very charming in a pale yellow gown. Her manner was naturally bright and vivacious, but when the little group had filed into the dining room and were seated around the table, which was decorated with red carnations, she became quiet ID at ease. The talk turned on childhood days. The hostess, with the good Intention of bringing the stranger Into the conversation, asked “Were you city or county bred Mrs. Loring?” Against her will the color flooded Loretta’s cheeks as she replied: “Scarcely either, Mrs. Atherton. My childhood days were spent In an orphan asylum.” There were murmura of sympathy; then the -subject was changed, and Mrs. Loring’s subsequent demeanor was attributed by the hostess and guests to the unfortunate question.

No one dreamed that the young doctor's wife had told a direct He In that reply, or that the color of the table decorations was the real cause of her changed manner. Dr. Loring had noticed this strange antipathy before. There had been the time when Loretta had begged him never to wear a red necktie if he loved her; and the Incident of a set of O. Henry, bound in red morocco. Therefore, though he was somewhat astonished, on returning home that afternoon, to find his wife in tears, the doctor was not surprised when she told

him the reason. Leaning down, he lifted Loretta In his arms. With a puzzled frown he said: “That horror of red Is a strange thing. Did you ever try to overcome it, dear?” As there was no reply he continued: “Did it ever occur to you, that it might be a birthmark Y* Mrs. Loring sat up. “Why, I never thought of that,” she said, eagerly. "It sounds plausible, doesn’t it? When I can't help showing it people would believe ” she stopped abruptly and shot a quick glance at her husband. “Dear,” the latter answered, “there are times when I think you know the real reason for that strange dislike and are keeping it from me.” Loretta tried to look him straight in the eye, but somehow failed. However, she shook her head. “Why, of course not, Hal. My past is an open book to you, just as yours is to me.” The doctor seemed about to make some reply, but he closed his lips tightly for a moment, then changed the subject. The Lorlngs were apparently very happy in their new home. As time went on the doctor built up a lucrative practice in Carringford. Loretta made many friends. But it came to be generally understood among them that the subject of her past life was one to be avoided. As the minister’s wife expressed Lt, “The poor girl seems so sensitive on the subject. Probably she led an unhappy life In that asylum, and the thought of it upsets her.” But Dr. Loring was worried about his wife. He had faith in her love and tried to believe her repeated assurances that she was happy. But there were times wljen Loretta thought herself unobserved. Then her expression changed; it became strange, almost desperate. There .were nights when she couldn’t sleep, or had horrible dreams. During the influenza epidemic Mrs. Loring was one of the numerous victims. The doctor, coming in one even-

Ing after an unusually hard day. offered to relieve the nurse for a while. As he sat down by the bedside Loretta said, with a trace of hysteria in her voice, “Hal, Tve been thinking. Suppose 1 don't get well. Suppose I should die. Why- —** “Nonsense 1” said her husband; "you must put those morbid Ideas right out of your head. You’re coming along all right.” The patient looked at him strangely. “But If I do,” she persisted; "If I should go with this awful He on my conscience—l must tell you.” Stroking his wife’s head. Dr. Loring bade her not to talk then. “Tell me some other time," he said. “Here, dear, take this " and he gave her a sedative tablet and a little water. But Loretta was not to be quieted thus. “1 know I will have to give up your love If I tell you why 1 hate red so.” Her face flushed, her Vyes wide. She pushed aside the restraining hand on her shoulder. "Hal," she said, “I lied to'you the first time we met. I never saw the Inside of an orphan asylum —and I know all about my parents. They drank themselves to death soon after I was sent to the reform school for theft. I was kept there four years, and once I tried to escape. They found me and took me back —and put a turkey-red dress on me as a badge of disgrace and made me wear It for months. The very sight of the color brings It all back.” Mrs. Loring's voice died away in a weak sob. She was exhausted and lay with her eyes closed, so she did not see the expression of her husband’s face as he asked, gently: “Why did you steal, Loretta?” Without opening her eyes the girl replied: “Because my mother beat me. She wanted something to pawn for drink.” Dr. Loring gazed into space thoughtfully. Then he spoke: “You were better than L Loretta. I stole because I was too rebellious to work.” His wife opened her eyes wide and looked at him In amazement “Hal!” she exclaimed. “What are you saying? What do you mean?” “You thought your confession was news to me, dear. But It Isn’t I knew It before I married you. Your foster mother told me. She thought It best for me to know.”

"And you married me knowing that!" Loretta seemed to be speaking mostly to herself. “You didn’t think I was utterly disgraced forever? Oh, Hal IT “How could I think that unless I was willing to think of myself, too! And, Loretta. I don’t. I know It was the best thing that ever happened to me when 1 was put into the state Industrial school. For I came under the Influence of a man there who made me what I am.” “Hal!” sobbed the wife. “I wish you had told me. It would have saved me so many unhappy hours.” “But you’re never going to have any more of them, dear; and we 11 just shamelessly run away from the first glint of red. I won’t have those memories brought back to you.” “But I won’t mind that any more,” said Loretta, drowsily—the sedative was taking effect. “You know—and love me just the same. Nothing else matters.” And the doctor sat looking down at his peacefully sleeping wife. “Let him who is without sin,” he quoted In his thoughts. Then, after a moment, as he straightened himself in his chair and squared hia shoulders, he added quietly aloud, “At her—and at me."

“But If I Do,” She Persisted.