New Britain herald., 1916-05-03

she ever were ill-treatod or nnb,,,n, should eNerclSe the legal right had and take her for six nontbs T would not be afraid to take bar ho fore any judge at the end of tho+ time and let her choose between ber father and me-"
 But how will you know?" asked
 Mrs. Underwood smiled faintlv,
 \ ''Spy" System,
 "There never has been q momor+ since l kissed Marion and gavo bo,, into the arms of her grandmother that have not known exactly how she was treated,' she said. "I have made it my business to know and T have paid libcrally for the know ledge. You see, about the time of ! the divorce MT. Morton had a legacy left nm. so that life has been easy Tor him financially. His mother has alWaNs kept a. maid. Every servant she has had has been in my employ. mere has scarcely been day since l lost my baby that from some un- observed place I have not seen her in her walks. | know every limo of her race. every curve of her body. every 1rlck 0f movement and expression | shall knoW how to win her love when the time comes. never fear"
 Her voice was dauntless. but her lace n1lrrored the anguish that must De her dallE companion. To see her nttle daughter, vet be barred from speaking to her. from embracing her. to know that the child vould not know her mother if she met on, face to face, I could imagine no torture more racking
 Why Nad@e Capitulated.
 One thing about the recital iarred upon me. This paying of servants. this furtive espionage was not in keeping with the high resolve that had led the mother to t"keep her Word' to the man who had ruined her life. And yet-and yet-T dared rot judge her. Tn her place I could not imagine what I would have done
 One thing I knew Never again would I doubt Lillian Underwood The ghost of the past romance be- tween my husband and the woman before me was laid for all time, never to trouble me again. Remem bering the sacrifice she had made for Dickv considering the gallant fight against circumstances she had waged since her girlhood, I felt suddenly un- worthy of the friendship she had so warmly offered me.
 I turned to her. trying to find words which should fittinglv express my sentiments, but she forestalled me with keleidOscOpic change of man. Ter that bewildered me.
 Enough hOrrOrs,' she said. sprlnging up and giving little ex- pressive shake of her shoulders as if she were throwing a weight from them. I'm going to give you some lCncheoen''
 "Oh, please-' I put up a protesting hand. but Mrs. Underwood was across the room and pressing bell before I could stop her.
 I thought I understood The grave of her past life was closed again. She had opened it because she wished me to know the truth concerning the cid sarbled stories about herself and IDicky. Having told me everything, she had pushed the grisly thing back into it's seDulchre again and had sealed it. She would not refer to it again.
 One thing puzzled me. something to which she had not referred-why had she married Harry Underwood? Why. after the terrible experience Of her first marriage, had she risked linking her life with unstable creature like the man who was now her husband?
 I put all questionngs aside. how ever, and tried to meet her brave, gay mood.
 q believe you are in a conspiracy With Katie to fatten me- I said. "She insisted upon my eating just twice the amount of breakfast needed, and here you are planning to tempt me again."
 Thank your stars you don't have to bant," she returned. "Ah, hereS Betty, now' as a, knock sounded upon the door.
 She crossed to the door with a swift. graceful movement, drew back the heavy velvet curtains, unlocked and threw open the door
 Strikes me ys,h all's mighty secret wifi yohr locked doors and curtains,' boomed Betty. There was a smile on her broad face. but her