New Britain herald., 1916-02-16
What Happened After Jack Left.

As the full realization Ol what Jack meant to do came to me dashed to the door of Mrs. Stewards upstairs sitting room with a wild idea of calling him back.
 He must not meet my husband, even though his purpose was to send him to me. I knaw Dicky's hot. quick, ungovernable temper and Jacks more deadly, slow rage Dic1y would totally misunderstood Jacks reasons for coming. I was afraid that the things my husband might
 say to my brother-cousin would be too much for Jack to bear.
 But my rush came too late As I opened the door I heard the out side door close, and an instant later Mrs. Stewards voice evidently ad- dressing the empty air:
 Well now, what do you know about that?"
 Of course, it was impossible for me to go into the street to call Jack back, as with a heavy heart I returned to my chair and waited for Mrs. Stewart The idea of telephoning Dicky came to my mind, then the re- mem brance of his angry face and cutting words stopped me. No mat ter what happened my self respect would not permit me to move first toward a reconciliation.
 Mrs. Stewart was not long in com ing. She hustled into the room with clean table linen over her arm, in the same energetic fashion I had known and admired so many years.
 With the quick, deft movements which are as much a part of her as ere her sharp, tWinkling eyes, she re- moved her work basket and some books from her reading table, pushed it nearer the open fire, and laid tho cloth with places for two.
 "Whatever possessed Jack Bicllett to rush away like that when he had promised to eat his last supper with me?' she grumbled.'
 A Regular OId-Time Spread.
 I did not answer, for I knew by ox- l perience that she would talk on 1 and on about everything in general ! If she happened to hit upon a fresh grievance she would forget the or , 1sinal one. I devoutly hoped some thing would happen to mar the us- ! ually good service she received from her maids, anything to divert her at tention from Jacks reasons for i leaving.
 'tHe can't fool mo with his lame excuse of Something highly import ] ant he had forgotten " she went on, i laying the napkins opposite each i other with geometrical precision. Something's in the wind." She gave me a shreWd glance as she went to l little ld-fashioned corner cup board built into the wall and took | out pepper, salt, mustard, oil and vinegar. The homely preparations ook me back to the days when Mrs. Stewart would smuggle my mother md myself into her sitting room for . supper keeping the meal a secret from the other boarders because of ! the petty jealousy which might re- suit.
 Seeing you take out those condi- nents reminds me of old times," I said.
 "OId times that would better have she retorted grossly, talk ing out a tiny jar of strawberry pre- serves of her own making, a dainty 1 of which she knew I was particular ly fond
 My heart almost echoed her words Surely the peace and quiet of the old days at Mrs. Stewards, even With their deadly monOtony, were better than the kaleidoscopic, tempestuous il1e l nad lGO as DlcKN \ Wlle.
 How good of you to thing of those strawberry Dreservesu I made an- other desperate effort to change the subject.
 "They've been waiting right here l for you or Jack Bickett ever since I 1 put them up. I wouldn't waste them | on the trash I've got in the house l now"
 Even through my misery 1 smiled, l as I had done many times before, 1 at the peculiar attitude held by Mrs. l stewart toward the bOarders in her ] house. Her house was a model for 1 comfort, service and cuisine; she did 1 everything she could for the comfort i of her paying guests" but admit l the most of them to any intimacy !! whether she would or not.
 Is Mrs. Stewart Clairvoyant?
 "Wen make it a regular old 1 tune spread" she went on kindly, 1 taking own cups, saucers and plates 1 of thin, old china, which l knew l she prized because they had been 1 Der mothers. She never allowed the { maids to touch them, washing them l herself in her own sitting room l upon the rare occasions of her using l them
 "Oh, Mrs. Stewart protested. l "I am always so afraid of breaking l ore of those pieces'
 Nonsense, child!' she returned. 1 "You're not the kind that breaks 1 things-unless it's a heart" she went l on in a lower tone. m afraid l you've done that without meaning it.
 A knock at the door saved me 8 l reply, for which I was grateful. I l knew that she ment Jacks heart, | and I most certainly did not wish l her to pursue that subject any l farther.
 That's Annie's knock. I thought !