New Britain herald., 1915-11-12
What Madge Feared.

."I cannot do this for Dicky, I l cannot meet these people and pre- | tend cordiahty for them, when all the time I disapprove of them so | strongly. I cannot, l cannot" Face downward upon the bed in l my room, where I had thrown my self when I fled from Diclzy's revela- tion of Elizabeth Marsden's domes- tio problem. I repeated these words l over and over to myself like t he batter of a prayer.
 Theoretically I have always be- lieved in larger freedom, greater op- portunities for women. My mother was suffragist in the days when the ] fight for suffrage meant something. But of the other issues which women have been facing in these strange l latter days I had no conception. When I was years, however, another woman, my mothers most l intimate friend, had run away with my father. I have never seen my father since. I do not know, nor do I care, whether he be living or dead But to me the very name of a wom- who could claim as her lover the father of another woman's child has always been anathema.
 Yet here one of my husbands friends, who has to be my own guest, was such a woman. I thought of Lillian Gale, with her sensational di- vorce record, and her constant as sumption of being Dickys best friend. And these two women Dicky evidently meant to be my associates in my new life. It was unbearable! l told myself as I lay fighting out my battle.
 But, unbearab ble or not I did not see any way out. They were to be my guests in a few hours. The laws of hospitality forbade my being any, thing but cordial to them in my own home.
 I made a sudden, swift compromise with my own soul and hurried out before my courage should leave me
 I found him still assiduously she'll ing the almonds, but his face looked troubled. I laid my hand on his shoulder, and at the touch he drew me down to the arm of his chair.
 "Dicky," suppose my voice trem- ! bled, for the grasp of his arm tight l; ened around me as if to give me courage, "I am going to be very frank with you. I cannot pretend to you that I am pleased with the thought of having Mrs. Underwood
 
 Marsden as guests. But can prom ise you that when I am with you, either at our home or wherever your crowd meets, I will treat them with all courtesy. They shall never know my feeling. On the other hand, please do not ask to make intimates of them to have them meet my friends or do the. thousand and one little, chubby things that women friends usually do." .-
 Dicky threw back his head and laughed uproariously. To me it was no laughing matter that we were dis cussing. I. tried to get away from the encircling grasp of Dicky's arm, but r it was too strong for me. Don't be angry at me for laugh ing, sweetheart" he said, "but the idea of Lil or Bess wanting to meet your friends, or to do any of the ordinary social stunts women do is the funniest thing I have stuck yet. Lil and Bess! can see lem at some feminine function. Yes, the maid left yesterday. Isn't it awful the l trouble it Is to get servants nowa- days? No, the baby Is named after his aunt on the fathers side. Is it l true they are going to wear hoops again?" Wow!" And Dicky doubled over in enjoyment of his own imita- tions
 If I had not been so angry I would l have laughed also, for Dicky has a trick at mimicry, but I was bitterly | offended. I wrentched myself free and stood up.
 twill you kindly tell me why you
 should expect me to show any cour-
 tesy to your friends when you sneel
 
 What do you mean?" Dicky
 sprang to his feet In amazement
 Then flush spread over his face
 that as any reflection on youl friends
 You said you had to laguh at thu idea of those women wanting to mee my friends"
 Dicky grinned again. "Madge, i
 you could hear the venom drip iron
 the words those women,' you would
 agree that I had cause for thinking you were insulting my friends, in stead of the shoe being on the othel : foot"
 First, I apologize for everything
 said, or didn't say, for what . meant or didn't mean, for living, il
 fact" said Dicky playfully, but a
 he saw my face quickly chaiged hi ] tone.
 , Let's clear up one thing" he be
 gan. eff you have any kind O. ioea floating around in that noodl, of yours that either Lillian Gale o, , Bess Marsden fills the bill as my idea ;, l of woman, you are very much mis taken. They are big women, both o: them, in every sense of the word l They are dear old friends, and I lik; t them immensely. But I have an idea , of my own, and you ought to know
 who answers the description-unles.