New Britain herald., 1916-02-17
Why Mrs. Stewart Said 'I'm Going to Talk to You Like a Dutch Aunt"

| 1t was hard work for me to obey Mrs. Stewards command to eat my ] supper. Every nerve was tense with anticipation of the meeting between l Dicky and Jack, which I could not avoid, and which I so dreaded. What ] was happening at my home while I sat here, my hands tied by my own l foolish act?
 | Now just cut out pecEing at this | and picking at that as if you were a l little bird instead of a strong, healthy, 1 young woman" Mrs. Stewards voice boomed heartily at me. Re 1 member, there's no trouble ill the world that can't be faced better on a l full stomach"
 I could not agree with her p1ilo- | sophy, but in some queer way her 1 homely words steadier and almost 1 cheered me. I did no realize it, but l the fact that Mrs. Stewart knew there was trouble was relief to me. I would never have told her gratuitously of any quarrel with Dicky but I knew that I should be glad to answer her shrewd questions and get her sen sible advice Above all things in CHlS CTlSlS l noeuou MTS. Stewart seemed heaven-sent for the purpose
 Mine is a healthy appetite, and I had eaten practically nothing since morning. At the dinner I had served to my mother-in-law I had been too nervous to do more than to pretend to eat. So with Mrs. Stewards cherry voice urging me on, and her vi nd I managed to make out a fair meal. But it was not up to Mrs. Stewards idea of suffciency
 "Therc Are Times"
 You've not eaten half enough" she grumbled when I had gently put aside her determined effort to pile my plate with a second helping. But then I suppose you can't help it with so much on your mind"
 She stepped to the door and rang tiny hand bell. Then she gathered up her precious pieces of china and put them in tiny dish pan. While the maid who responded to her ring was clearing the rest of the table and restoring things to their usual crder she did not utter a word. but quickly washed and dried her china
 
 the cabinet, dismissed the maid, and came over to me as I sat in her big chair looking drearily into the fire.
 'Now tell me about it." she said tenderly, as she perched herself upon the arm of the chair, looking for all the world like an energetic, ,notherly sparrow. She drew my head against her shoulder as she spoke
 My answer was a flood of tears as chung to her convulsively. The unexpected caress, for I had always thought Mrs. Stewart to be the most u1dem onstrative woman in the world, upset me more than anything else in the world could have done.
 There, there, there" she repeated in a caressing monotone, batting my shoulder until the storm had spenb itself. I felt that she would have soothed a frightened baby in the same way.
 ,,'I ought not to tell you anything" I said at last when I had controlled myself sufficiently to speak. Tt doesn't seem fair or dignified to speak of my husband to any one else"
 "Nonsense!" she retorted energeti- cally. Not but what that's a mighty good rule to go on most of the time," she qualified tBut there come times when a woman simply has to speak, and I imagine this Is one of them You're probably making a mess of things right now, and I'm older than you, and I've been through a good deal in my time. I may be able to help you stratghten things out a. little'' .
 "Keep My Mouth Shut
 How did you know anything was wrong?" I asked wonderingly. Did Jack tell you?"
 "so Jack is in it, too," Mrs. Stewart commented shrewdly. T thought so. But he didn't tell me a. word"
 "Then how-?" persisted, my face flushing at her tone.
 Brides of a few weeks standing don't appear suddenly with their luggage at their old boarding places to spend the night, no matter how much she may love her old landlady." Mrs. Stewards syntax was muddled, but there was nothing the matter with her powers of deduction How foolish I had been to think I could blind so shrewd woman's eyes with such a f1imsy excuse!
 There was a long silence. I could not bring myself to speak of Dicky. Mrs Stewart finally broke it.
 Well. Whats that husband of yours been doing now? I always knew he'd do omething.' Her dis like of Dicky spoke in every syllable. "Is he jealous of Jack?' The ques- ton was sharp.
 T am afraid so," I murmured.
 Good thing Jacks going across the ocean to the war; she unused, "unless-'' She gave me a long speculative glance and was silent for a long moment.
 Your husband must be an un- usually jealous man." she said after while. Jack is about the only rela-