New Britain herald., 1915-10-27
The Heart That Loves-Forgives

cident had befallen him, l did not realize how intense had been my anxiety for his safety. had told my self over and over that nothing in the world could happen to two full-grown men, even if they were half-intoXi- cated. But Lillian Gales evident worry had affected me, and I had dis tressed myself ever since her phone with visions of Dicky in various dangers
 When I heard his voice, however, still urging with drunken insistence that I go back with Harry and him. self to Lillian's all night party my anxiety vanished and my anger re- turned. I purposely made my own voice as cold and incisive as I could when I answered him:
 You know I am not going back with you, Dicky. Where are you, and why do you not come home?"
 Where am I?" Dicky's injured voice floated back to me- I'm down in a place that's got an all-nisht license, I am, and Harrys with me, and here we're going to stay till you get ready to go back with us to Lips party. Poor Lii, having a nice party, and we don't dare go back without you. That's three of us LII hasn't got. Poor Lil!! DOT girl!'
 His voice trailed off brokenly. as if he were overwhelmed at the thought of Lillian's wrongs I spoke slowly and distinctly into the tele- phone.
 'Dicl<y. listen to me. Mrs. Under wood is very much worried about you and her husband. She wishes you to go back to her house at once. If you do not want to do that come home"
 But Dicky was adamant. 1T toll you I can't go back unless I take you," he reiterated. My patience sud- denly fled.
 Then stay there," I snapped child isly, and hung up the receiver.
 A Promise Kept.
 As I did so, I thought of Lillian Gale and the promise had made her, that if heard anything of our hus- bands I would call her up The task 1 was most distasteful to me, but I said l to myself that a promise was a i promise, and I turned to the telc- phone again.
 Chelsea. S64," I said in answer to centrals demand of "Number?" and 1 in another moment heard Mrs. Under woods worried voice. n-..
 "Yes, yes," she began. 'Is that | you, Mrs. Graham? Have you heard 1 anything?"
 "Dicky just telephoned," replied, that he and MT. Underwood are in some place with an all-night license, and that they intend to stay there until I came back with them to your house As I assured him that he was 1! expecting an impossbility, I suppose l they will stay there for some time."
 "Oh, dear!" she returned. "How I | wish you had come with Dicky this i evening. Then this would not have | happened"
 1T might as well have done so," agreed "I can imagine the state my head will be in tomorrow if this per- formance keeps up."
 My dear girl, I am so sorry" Mrs. Underwood's voice seemed to hold genuine contrition. Don't trouble to telephone me again, and l won't both- CT you with 'phoning. I know where they are, I fancy, at Hacks an all- night restaurant they both like. They won't be home until breakfast time, | so you may as well get some sleep" That is good advice" I replied | sm moothIy." I shall take it. Goody-by'' l and I hung up the receiver: | I could have laughed aloud at the idea of sleep for me which Lillian 1 Gale had so gibly advised. Sleep! Rest! I felt as if I never should l know the meaning of the words again. My eyes met Katie's. Hers round and eager with curiosity and interest I felt a sudden rage that any one should be witness of my emotions.
 Katie" I tried to speak kindly, but put note of decision in my tone which I did not think she would dis regard. "You must go to bed. cannot
 have you sit up here any longer. You
 will not be fit for anything tomor-
 row, and I shall want you feeling all
 right in the morning, for am afraid
 I may have a headache. Then l shall
 want you to take care of me. Please . look in at my door when you nave
 dressed in the morning"
 Katie evidently recognized the in-
 evitable in my voice, for she rose
 without a word and went toward the
 kitchen. At the door she looked back.
 You go to bed, too?" she queried
 anxiously.
 Yes, Katie, presently" l answered. You be sure to call me if you want me?"
 "Yes, yes, Katie, Goodnight" I
 felt as if the door would never close , behind her.
 :" All right, goodnight" and she
 had gone.
 Humiliation's Bitter Taste. I sat very still until heard her , shut the door of her tiny room. Then I sprang to my feet, every nerve a. l culver. Action of some sort was im- perative to me. I felt a primitive inn } pulse to throw my arms high above , my head and scream with all my might. That being denied me, I did the only thing I could do, began tc