New Britain herald., 1916-06-14
Why Madge Wisely Resolved Not to Try to Regulate Dickys
 "Public" Conduct

I heard a wheezy chuckle from the front of the stalled automobile in
 which sat. MT. Birdsall, the Marvin
 real estate agent, who was trying to find out the trouble with the machine, 1 had been witness with me of Dicky's impetuous embrace of the l pretty little woman framed in the l doorway of the big house. 1 Your husband seems to be a mite
 free with his hugs,' he said. Lucky ! Mrs. Durkee has a son as old as your
 husband, so you can't be jealous" I did not answer the man. His words seemed like insufferable fa-
 n1iliarity, but I realized that he meant
 no offense. I felt a foolish little relief,
 however, at hearing that the woman Dicky had embraced so rapturously was in reality Mrs. Durkee, the
 mother of Alfred Durkee, of whom I had heard Dicky often speak She
 looked so like a girl that I had not realized at first who she was As Dicky set her down he caught
 her arm and rushed her down the 1 path toward the gate. I saw that she was older than she had looked at a distance. The lines of maturity and L | puzzled me had any woman possess 1 ing a son as old as Dicky could look so girlish and youthful.
 Humble out, Madge," Dicky said as he reached the car. He opened the door and helped me to descend then turned to. the little woman, who, un- ruffled by his impetuosity, was smi1- ing at me.
 Mrs. Durkee, this is my wife Madge, next to you," he bowed gaylv. 'this is probably the sweetest woman on earth"
 1 Mrs. Durkee put out two dainty little hands, like a child's in small ness, and grasped mine
 II am so glad to meet you,, she said cordially. You probably are used enough to this boy by this time not to mind his extravaganza But l am keeping you standing out here. Come right in. I am so glad you hunted Us out so soon, Dicky"
 Dicky had the grace to look a bit foolish Mrs. Durkee evidently imagined we had come to Marvin especially to see her. I knew that he would have liked to have me ex- plain the situation to her, but I was just malicious enough to keep silent. I scored myself for being annoyed at Dicky's exuberant greeting of Mrs. Durkee. But l could not conceal from myself the fact that I did not like it.
 You Haven't Changed"
 Yet it was no prejudice against Dickys old friend that caused my discomfort. My first glimpse into the motherly little woman's clear eyes had made me feel that it would be very easy for me to like her exceed ingly. But Dicky's bizarre way of meeting his old friends, his utter lack of dignity, his disregard of conven- t:onality irritated me.
 ITS awfully sorry" Dicky stam- mered, "but we can't come in. You see we didn't have any idea you were cut here. I knew you had returned from England,. but my mothers health has been poor this winter, and i've stuck pretty close to the studio and the house. We're out today house hunting. We want to move out here pretty soon."
 Across Mrs. Durkees facc when Dicky spoke of sticking close to the studio flashed a queer little look It was so elusive, so evancsccnt that it was gone almost as soon as it came. Tn it I read amusement, Gicapproval, but more than anything else, compre- hension. wondered miserably whether by any chance she knew any thing of Dicky's studio life that I ought to know
 But there was nothing save eager interest in the face she turned up to mine.
 "Oh, are you going to move out here?' she exclaimed. That will be delightful. I said to Alfred only this morning that I was afraid I was going to be dreadfully lonely, for there is nc one we know out here, and I do rot like to get acquainted with the ne1ghbors. I think the less you have to do with your neighbors in a Il- lage like this the better you will get along with them.'
 She smiled so ingenuousy as she uttered the little paradox that Diclzy laughed aloud, and l could not help returning her smile, although I felt anything but mirthful At every turn I seemed to meet some vague sugges- ton concerning Dicky and his beauti- full model, Grace Draper. Even this old friend of Dicky's, I was almost sure, knew something of Dicky's studio which was shut out from me-
 Youre wise little geek" Dicky patted her shoulder caressing- ly. I frowned involuntarily at his slang, but Mrs. Durkee only laughed.
 You haven't changed a bit, have you, Dicky bird,' she said in the in- dulgent tone one would use to a, child I had a swift illuminative flash of comprehension of Dicky's character. He was the eternal boy, this husband of mine. Lillian Underwood knew 1t. I recalled her words of warning con- corning him as we exchanged confi- dences by her library fire. And this other old friend of my husbands evil