New Britain herald., 1915-12-30
Is Madge "Blind"?

light and I lay for several minutes trying to remember what it was that was expressing me. Then it came to me. This was the day when Jack was to land in New York after 8 years absence. I had three things to do during the day, each of which held possibilities of un- pleasantness.
 must telephone Jack at his old hotel, for he would not know where to find me. I dreaded immeas surably to do this with the possi bility of Dicky in the room.
 Gales dinner alone while I dined with Jack.
 I must break the news to Jack that during his years absence I had met and married Dicky.
 By tacit understanding neither Dicky nor I had mentioned Jacks coming since Wednesday, when he had made the scene about it before Lillian. He had been repentant then for his outburst, but I feared another when I should telephone Jack.
 However. it would be hours before Jack would reach the old-fashioned little hotel in the Greenwich village" section. where he had kept rooms for years. I turned over and tried to go to sleep again.
 But found it an impossible feat. tossed and turned until the first rays of sunlight came through my open window, and I heard Katie stirring in tho kitchen
 Then a possibility of which. queer ly enough, I had not yet thought, made me spring from my bed, shiver- ingly shut the window. and dress rap idly. The rooms were so cold I was glad to omit my usual shower. In his letter Jack had asked me to telephone to his "old diggings," know ing the possibility that I might have left my boarding house. But the thought had never struck me beforc that he might telephone Mrs. Stewart, with whom my mother and had lived for so long, to find out if I were still there.
 If he did so she would, of course, tell him that I had married while he was away.
 on to Mrs. Stewards.
 In some way must get word to Mrs Stewart not to tell Jack that I was married. I could not telephone such a message to her. Perhaps if I hurried I would get to her home and back before Dicky awakened. On Sundays 1t is his custom to sleep late.
 went to the kitchen, where Katie looked at me in astonishment. She had just returned from the early ser vice which she attended every Sunday morning.
 "You seeck, Missis Graham?" she asked anxiously. "You up so early"
 No, Katie, but I have an errand to which must attend this morning. I think I shall be back before Mir. Graham wakens. If he should inquire for me, tell him I have gone for @ walk and will be back soon."
 "All right. I feex breakfast right away"
 q only want coffee and roll, Katie"
 Dot foolish talk" Katie returned. 1T feex nice breakfast, you eat"
 Somehow, Katies matter-of-fact brusuueness relieved the tension of my nerves. I did up my hair, bathed my face and hands and finished dress ing then went to the dining room where Katie had laid my place I ate very satisfactory breakfast. Then,p utting on my outer garments, I let myself quietly out of the front door and walked swiftly to the nearest station of the subway. I had quite a long journey before l me- Mrs. Stewart, in whose home my ] mother and I had boarded for so many years, lived in rambling big house in l a quiet section of Brooklyn, near Pros l pect Park I left the subway at l Brooklyn bridge, then boarded an ele- 1 vated train which would take me with l in three blocks of the old place. l As I walked those three blocks 1 memories of my mother and of the l quiet years we had lived in the house | to which I was hastening came thick ! and fast.
 ] I felt guilty little pang that I had | not once gone to see my old 1andlady since my marriage. ] felt it still more | strongly when the maid having ad-
 mitted me, found Mrs. Stewart in the ! little sitting room which had been :! my mothers and mine. .I And is it yourself at last?" she }; asked responsibility, even as she kissed Z me heartily. "I thought you had for i gotten me entirely, so I did" "You know I could never forget , you. Mrs. Stewart" I said feeling a. very hypocrlte as I spoke. I dreaded to tell her that it was not my wish to see her but my desire to obtain favor from her that prompted my early 5 visit.
 "Of course, you're going to stay to dinner and why didn't you bring your ! husband along?" She shot the uues- tions at me nj the rapid fire fashion / I remembered. I mentally braced my . self to tell her the truth. A Promise and a Hint. l. Dear Mrs. Stewart" I said taking a her hand. You must forgive me, ? but I came today only on an errand,