New Britain herald., 1916-01-05
How Jack Made It Necessary for Madge to Break the News BluntIy


 Jacks voice was low and tense It held a masterful note I had never heard. Without realizing that I did so, I obeyed him, and lifted my eyes to his.
 What I read in them made me tremble. This was a new Jack facing me across the table. The cousin brother, my best friend since my childhood, was gone. I did not know this man who reached out his hand and covered mine as it lay on the table before me-
 I did not admit to myself why, but 1 wished, oh! so earnestly, that I had told Jack over the telephone of my marriage during his years absence in the South American wilderness, where he could neither send nor receive letters.
 No brother could have been kinder or nearer to me during all my life than this distant cousin Of mine had been. I had felt guilty at having married during his absence without his knowledge about it. So I had waited to tell him of my marriage until we should have finished the dinner to which Jack had asked me on the first day he returned from his exile.
 I must not wait another minute, I told myself
 "Jack,'' I said brokenly, there is something I want to tell you-I'm afraid you will be angry, but please don't be, big brother will your"
 Jack Declares His Love.
 There is something I'm going to tell you first,' Jack smiled tenderly at me, "and that is that this big brother stuff is done for, as far as I'm con- cerned. In fact, I've been just faking the role for two or three years back, because I knew you didn't care the way I wanted you to. But this year out in the wilderness has made me realize just what life would be to me without you. I've been kicking myself all over South America that I didn't make you care. I've just about gone through Gehenrla, too, thinking you might fall in love with somebody while l was gone. But I saw you didn't wear nybody's ring anyway, so said to myself, I'm not going to wait another minute to tell her I love her, love her, love her."
 Jacks voice, pitched to a low key anyway, so that no one should be able to hear what he was saying, sank al- most to a whisper with the last words.
 Did I StartIe You?"
 I sat stunned, helpless, grief stricken.
 To think that I should be the one to bring sorrow to Jack, the gentlest, kindest friend I had ever known.
 Worst of all, to think that by my l own short-sightedness and obstinacy I had let him tell me this secret, l which I knew he never would have 1 revealed if he had dreamed I was 1 married.
 Mrs. Stewart, my old landlady, had l hinted that Jack was in love with me. l
 My husband had told me point 1 blank that I would find out Jacks l brotherly attitude to be myth.
 And yet I had gone on blindly to l this. l had even removed my we'd ] Cing and engagement rings and hid 1 den them in my mesh bag that Jack might not know of my marriage be- 1 fore I was ready to tell him.
 Did I startle you, dear?" Jack leaned over the table, his face anxious, tender, close to mine. q shouldn't have told you here, I know, but couldn't keep it a minute longer
 "Oh, Jack, don't!" I moaned, and to my horror I began to cry. l could rot control my sobs, although covered my face with my handker- chief.
 There, there, sweetheart, I'll have you out of this in a jiffy" Jack wa!s at my side, helping me to rse get ting me into my coat, shielding me from the curious gaze of the other diners
 "Here!" He threw a bill toward the waiter. Pay my bill out of that, get us a taxi quick, and keep the change. Hurry"
 Yes sir, thank you, sir The waiter dashed ahead of us. As we emerged from the door he was stand ing proudly by the open door of a taxi.
 "Where to, sir" The chauffeur touched his cap.
 Anywhere. Central Park Jack helped me in, sat down beside me, the door slammed and the taxi rolled away.
 The only other time in my life Jack had seen me cry was when my mother died. Then I had wept my grief out on his shoulder, secure in the know ledge of his brotherly love. As the taxi started, he slipped his arm around he.
 "Whatever it is dear, cry it out in my arms" he whispered
 But at his touch I shuddered. and drew myself away. I was Dicky's wife. This situation was intolerable ] must end it at once. With a mighty effort, I controlled my sobs and. wiping my eyes, sat upright.
 Dear, dear boy" I said. Please forgive me. I never thought of this or I would have told you over the telephone.''
 Told me what?" Jacks voice was harsh and quick. His arm dropped from my waist