New Britain herald., 1916-01-06
Madge Discovers the Loss of Her
 Rings

It seemed an eternity before Jack spoke. The taxi rolled on northward and turned into Central Park. As it flashed past one of the walks bordered with empty seats under the leafess trees, he turned his head and said quietly:
 Would you like to get out and walk little? The air here is stifling." "Oh, yes,!' I said quickly. T can't breathe in here"
 He sent a quick, plying glance at me, then took up the speaking tube.
 "Stop the car, please" The chauffeur obeyed instantly. As the man held the taxi door open for us to aiight, Jack spoke to him.
 Wait here for us," he said. We are going to walk @ little.' The chauffeur hesitated a moment as if he were about to speak. I could not imagine what he wanted.
 Did you wish to pay for the ma chine now, sir '' he said deferentially. Jack looked at him blankly for moment Then he brought out his Din book.
 Afraid I'm going to skip?" he asked kindly "How much?"
 Oh no sir, One twenty-five. sir.
 Jack handed him a two dollar bill.
 That will pay you for part of your wait' he said. 'I'll settle gain when we go back"
 'If I might suggest sir tho chauf- feur said, "this is a, very bad place for the machine to wait. Just two CT three blocks farther along this path there is a parking place
 "All right, we'll find you. Let's see, your number is-'
 "J-7845. sir
 Jack scribb1ed it on a card he took from his pocket.
 "Go ahead We won't be long,"
 The chauffeur touched his cap, jumped into his machine and the next minute was out of sight around the curve.
 Dicly and Jack Contrasted.
 I could not help contrasting Jacks treatment of the chauffeur with the way Dicky would have acted under similar circumstances.
 If driver had dared to ask for pay rnent of his bill before Dicky was ready to dismiss him, my husband would have scored the driver roundly,
  do other ridiculous things. and dis missed him instantly.
 I knew that in reality Jack had as hot temper as Dicky, and a far more dangerous one if really aroused. But, while Jack had been trained to con- trol his from his babyhood, Dicl>y had never learned to restrain his in the least.
 time I voluntarily contrasted the two men, Jack Bickett, the cousin who had been brought up with me, who was the only brother I had ever known. was the 1 only man in my life until I met and married Dicky.
 I adored my husband. I had mar l ried him after a whirlwind wooing 1 during Jacks absence in South l America. No thought of Jack in any l other light than that of brother had ! ever crossed my mind.
 But two or three times since my 1 marriage I had wondere1 why I had 1 ot fallen in love with Jack instead l of Dicky. I had always stif1ed the ] thought almost before it came It ! seemed so disloyal to Dicky.
 Now the disloyalty seemed doubled. l Against Dicky's unreasonable and l angry protest, I had gone to dine with l Jack. my first meeting with my brother-cousin after his years ab- l sence. Foolishly I had waited until the dinner was over to tell him that I was married.
 And the result of the waiting had teen that before I could prevent him Jack had told me that he had loved me for years.
 Jack in love with mel could not realize it.
 A queer little wonder crossed my mind. Suppose I had known of this a year ago Would I have married Jack, and never known Dicky? Would I have been rappier so?
 Then there rushed over me the realization that nothing in the world mattered but Dicky. I wanted him, oh! how I wanted him. Jacks suf- fering, everything else, were but shadows. My love for my husband, my need of him-these were the only cal things
 I turned to Jack wildly.
 "Oh, Jack, I must go home!'
 Yes, yes, presently, dear. Sit down here a minute
 He indicated bench near us. The air was crisp. but the sun was shining DrlgntlN ana was WdTnllN c1du. 1 sat down, more because it did not seem possible to disobey the command in Jacks voice than through any rolition of my own.
 Margaret" Jacks voice was so different from his usual one that I started almost in fear.
 "Yes, Jack"
 'I don't want you to reproach yourself about this. I understand, dear. The right man came along, and of course you couldn't wait for me to come back to give my sanction.''
 "Oh! Jack! I ought to have waited; I know it. You have been so good to