New Britain herald., 1916-04-20
Why Madge Accepted Lillian Under woods Offer to Clear Up the Past.

As Mrs UnderWood's Shrill voice ] struck my ears I sprang to my feet 1 in dismay. I must have dozed as I 1 sat by my mother-in-law bedside, l for I had neither heard Mrs. Under l wood come in, nor Dicky's greeting 1 of her.
 l My first thought was of the sick 1 woman over whom I was watching. l Both Dr. Petit and the nurse, Miss ! Sonnot, had warned us that excite ment might be fatal to their patient. And the one thing in the world that might be counted on to excite my mOther-in-laW was the presence of the woman whose voice I heard in conversation with my husband. The elder Mrs. Graham knew or suspected or fancied--I really did not know which-that there was something in the past association of Ter son and Mrs. Underwood which made the presence of the woman in our home an insult to me. She had become so excited over the subject but an hour or two before that she nad had a slight heart attack, some thing from which we were all doing our best to guard her.
 Turning my eyes toward the sick woman l was thankful to see that the voices had not awakened her. I rose nOiselessly from my chair and went into the living room. closing the door after me. Then with my finger lifted warningly for silence I forced a smile of greeting to my lips as Lillian Underwood saw me and came swiftly toward me.
 "Dicky's mother is asleep,'' I said in low tone. 'I am afraid I must ask you to come into the kitchen, for she wakens so easily"
 Lillian nodded comprehendingly but Dicky flushed guiltily.
 Katie is in the kitchen,' he said hesitatingly.
 "I will attend to katie,'' I returned shortly.
 His disregard of my cautions con- corning his mother made me furiously angry. I wondered whether it were his natural heedlessness or whether in very truth the presence of this old friend of his made it impossible for him to think of anything save her
 As we entered the kitchen Katie looked up mildly astonished, from the vegetables she was preparing for dinner.
 katie" I said quietly, will you go dlu Slt Just OulSluS NlIS. IIdHdnl $ door for a few minutes. If you hear her speak or if you think she needs anyting, call us."
 Katie nodded, and in another mo- rr ent had dried her hands, exchanged her kitchen apron for a white one, and departed proudly upon her crrand.
 "Youve done wonders With that girl" commented Mrs. Underwood approvingly, as Dicky placed kitchen chairs for us.
 Katie is very satisfactory" I re- turned. My manner, I am afraid, was a triae stiff, but it angered me to have her utter so trivial a comment when such a real issue lay between US.
 Mrs Underwood shot me a keen glance. then she turned resolutely to my husband.
 You seer" she demanded. T was right"
 Dicl<y shook his head stubborn1y, hut Lillian turned to me.
 "You Shall Not''
 Mrs Graham" she said resolutely, Harry just told me this afternoon of his encounter with you and of his idiotc warning to you not to try to find out the reason of your mother in-law's aversion to me. I did not wait a minute, but came straight here to set things right if I could. 1t is abOminable for you to have heard surmises and not to know the truth. I should have told you long ago, but foolishly I thought as long as you were in complete ignorance you might as well remain so. But IIarry's news changed all that. Where can we talk without danger of Icing overheard?"
 She was smashingly direct, as al- ways. Even with the old resentment against her, which had been revived by my surmses concerning the secret between her and my husband, ] could not but admire the singleness Of purpose, the evident honesty of the woman before me-
 Dicky's voice interrupted her. hardly recognized it, hoarse, choked with feeling as it was.
 ''Lillian,' he said, you shall not Go this. There is no need for you 10 bring all those old, horrible memories back. You have buried them and have had a little peace. If Madge is the woman I take her for she will be generous enough not to ask it, especially when I give her my word of honor that there Is nothing in my past or yours which could concern her"
 You have the usual masculine idea of what might concern a Woman,' Lillian retorted tartly.
 An Engagement Made.
 But I answered the appeal I had heard in my husbands voice even more than in his words
 You do not need to tell me any thing, Mrs. Underwood,' I said gent IN nf