New Britain herald., 1916-01-03
How Madge Met Jack.

"Jack!"
 It was after all, simple thing, this meeting with my cousin -br other that I had so dreaded. Save for the fact that he took both my hands in | his, any observer of our meeting would have thought that it was but a casual one, instead of being a reunion after l a separation of a year.
 I had seen him as soon as I turned the corner of Thirty-ei street and Sixth avenue. He stood in front of the ladies entrance of the Toxing ham, looking eagerly up and down. He was smoking one of the inevita ble long black cigars which I always as- sociate with Jack. As soon as he saw me he threw it into the street. l felt an indefinable little thrill clutch my heart as he did it. In the brotherly and sister1y relation with which Jack and I had grown up his cigar was a matter of course instead of courtesy. His throwing it away seemed in some subtle way forever to have destroyed the old relationship.
 Shall we go directly to Broquin's?'' he asked as he fell into step beside me- "It is so early we shall be able to get our old able and have good talk while we eat" ~'
 'I should like that I said. My voice sounded unsteady. This meet ing had upseC me strangely. 1 seemed to have stepped back years in my life. My marriage to 'Dicky, my l1fe With him, my very love for nm, seemed in some curious way to belong to some other woman. l was again Margaret Spencer, going with my pest friend to the restaurant where we Hao so often dined together.
 And yet in some way 1 1elt that things were not the same as they used to be- Jack was the same kindly brother I had always known, and yet there seemed in his manner a tinge of something different, did not know what. I only knew tha I felt very nervous and unstrung.
 Are you sure you feel perfectly we'll Margaret?" Jack asked solici- tously as we turned the corner from which we could plainly see the en- trance to Broquin's, with it's window boxes of evergreens bidding defiance to the cold outside.
 "Yes, indeed why?" I lifted my eyes to his for the first time since I had first greeted him.
 Mighty Good of You.'' The look in his made me drop mine again quickly. Why, I could not ex- plain even to myself.
 You look pale somehow, and your eyes are strained as if you were worrying over something? Are the pupils more troublesome than usual this year,"
 a"The pupils?'' I said inquiringly. sT1l, Jack supposed me still to be un- married and teaching. No, they are no worse than usual. Tell me about yourself and your trip. l am dying to hear your adventures"
 The words were idle, foolish but I could not stop to weigh them. All my faculties were centered on the prob lem-how best to tell Jack that I was married.
 Plenty of time for my adventures" Jack returned. "I'm going to hear all about you first. Here we are. Place looks natural
 "Yes, doesn't it? I haven't seen it since I dined here last with you.''
 "Reany?" He caught my hand in his as we went through the doors. "That was mighty good of you.''
 I had told him the truth. Broquin's had always appealed to Jack and to me because it was quiet, offered excel lent cuisine and service, and had never succumbed to the cabaret dance craze which had taken possession of most Of the New York restaurants. It's only music was that furnished by a really good orchestra of six pieces. The musicians evidently held the un- usual view that their function was to provide a pleasant undertone to the table conversation, not to drown it.
 But Dicky liked the livelier places. He had never taken me to Broquins; indeed, I never had heard him men, ton the place.
 The head waiter came toward us. Jack indicated a corner table which we had always taken when we could get it at Broquins I liked the padded wall seats which Broquin's provided for those tables at the sides and corners of the big room. This particular table had the best position in the room. From it one could see everything that went on, while being at the same time out of the main rush
 There could have been no more ideal place for quiet chat. It was so early that only a few belated breakfasters were in the big hall Later I knew all the tables would be crowded for BrOquin's made a speciality of Sunday midday dinners.
 Jack forestalled the man who came hurrying up to help me off with my coat. I knew that he remembered disliked having a waiter help me. As he removed the coat he looked qlizzi- cally at me.
 ''Schoolma'aming must be profita ble this year." he remarked "Thjs outfit