New Britain herald., 1916-04-24
Why Lillian Underwood Talked
 Against Time.

ASa1DSt I1me.
 Tie hands of thetiny watch upon n.y wrist pointed exactly to 10 o'clock as l rang the bell of Lillian Underwood's apartment "Any time after 10,' she had said, and the feVerish desire to know everything she had to tell me of the secret which linked her past life to that of my husband made me reach her home upon the minute.
 The enormous negress, Betty, whom I rememb bered from my former visit to Mrs. Underwood's home, opened the door. Over her coal black coun- tenance spread a welcoming smile.
 "Oh. Mis- Graham, Mis- Lillian she expectin yoh, but she was called to the telephone jest now Yoh jest walk in heah an make yohself at home till she come.'
 I followed her into the wonderful living. room I remembered with it's ceiling, walls, woodwork and floors of ivory white, and rugs and draperies running the gamut of the different shades of red. Betty pushed forward an immense chair, into the depths of which I sank with all the physical SenSati tionS of having run a race. 1 began to realize that the prospect of the interview before me was upset ting me terribly.
 What's the mattah wifi yoh ?" sud- denly demanded Betty. "Yoh look .es lak yoh was goin to tumble ovah I'll jes rustic yoh a sip of wine, honey. Y oh set still till Betty gets back" She was gone before I could pro- test back again with a wineglass in her hand in another minute. She held it to my lips as authorita lively as a mother would a draught of 1 medicine to a child.
 Now yoh put dat down yoh, chile l Do as I tells you,' sharply, as I l waved the glass away.
 There was really no use resisting 1 her, although I had no possible need l for the stimulant. So I drank the l wine as the quickest means of getting 1 rid of the persistent woman, all though I felt supremely ridiculous. ] ''Why, Mrs. Graham, what is the l matter? Are you ill?'
 | Mrs. Underwood's solicitous voice 1 behind me only added to the em- barrassment of the absurd position in 1 which I found myself. I could cheer | fully have throttled the officious l negress who was literally pouring the contents of the wine glass down my l throat.
 "Is It Worth While?" 1 There was a deeped reason for my l resentment than my objection to be- 1 ing made ridiculous. Not for worlds l would I have had Mrs. Underwood l suspect that I was excited or upset | over the coming interview. And here she found me apparently fainting | away, with her maid administering g |, | yeXation.
 I sprang to my feet, almost upset tng the ponderous Betty as I did SO.
 T am not in the least ill" I did not try to conceal my annoyance. ''Y our maid decided that I needed the wine and proceeded to administer it l despite my protests
 Betty Shuffled off. muttering some thing underneath her breath which l knew to be an uncomplimentary 1 opinion of me. Mrs. Underwood threw a whimsical glance after her.
 There really is no doing anything g with Betty once she makes up her mind you need anything from mus tard plaster to a glass of wine. She will administer it if the heavens fall Her voice held a note of mechanical gayety which I understood. She, too, 1 dreaded the interview before us.
 I tried to meet her mood. "1t Is fortunate for me, then, that she did not decide I needed the mus tard plaster"
 Exactly" Lillian laughed aloud
 put the sound jared, it was so evil
 dently forced.
 ousht to fire her a dozen times day, she went on "h,1t sha is
 genuinely fond of m T he1;eve fo,
 she waits on me hand and foot .nd
 besides, I think told you before she
 is one of the best cooks in New York
 So put up with her oficiousness
 She put her hand on my ar,,, as
 she finished and drew me toward he,
 bedroom.
 How remiss I am!" she exclaimed